Glove Compartment Won't Open

[dpz8]

My glove compartment won't open. Seems to be permanently locked. I tried using the key to unjam it but no help. Any suggestions?


I believe I ran across posts in regards to this problem a while back but was unable to locate the tread.

[macfly]

I also can't find the previous threads on this subject, which I remember had an exploded view of the mechanism. Anyhow it is a very common fault with the cars, and to the best of my knowledge there has never been a suitable fix. I have replaced the latches on three of my Z8's, and they have all malfunctioned again. I'm sure that you've already checked, but make sure that the lock on your phone compartment cover opens, as it is locked by the same circuit that locks the glove compartment, a couple of times I've though that the lock was dead again when infact it was just the electric lock doing it's job.

[dpz8]

The center phone console still opens. Is there some other way to open the glove compartment? I am curious on how BMW Service would open it to replace the latch?

[macfly]

The best way from my memory is with the key inserted, turn it one way, wiggle it, try the latch gently, turn the other, and repeat, until it eventually catches and opens. Be gentle, it doesn't take force to do it, once it aligns properly it opens easily, if you try to force it you'll just break it, and it'll then be a real pain to get into.

[harvey2]

When my latch failed on a trip a few years ago I could not get to my passport and wallet which I had stored in the glovebox so was a bit desperate. So I fiddled around with it for about 15 minutes or so and finally got it open by adding a bit of upward pressure by hand from the bottom of the glove box door near the hinge. I don't know why this helped, but it worked several times before I got the thing fixed.

[macfly]

I just found the old thread, it wasn't here it was at the old place, but it seems the diagrams are lost.

from 2003
We need someone who can make us good one. I have taken two apart myself now and the mechanism is a very simple pair of plastic plates that slide over each other. As you pull the latch down one plate slides over the other, and as it does a spigot in it moves along a groove that in turn pulls in the two outer catches. The reason it keeps failing is that its made of plastic that is to soft and flimsy for the stress this puts on it.

If an engineer took these two small plastic pieces and cast, milled or fashioned them from something stronger like aluminum or steel, then the issue would vanish. The design looks fine, it seems that it is just the components are too flimsy to support the force of the action.

I will have a look at mine once more, and see if there is a way to get a better one made up, as we spoke about it, but never did it.

[Lupin]

This website is absolutely, FANTASTIC.
Today my glovebox would not open so I tried pushing from the bottom, as suggested by Harvey.
It didn't work pushing, so I gently hit it from the bottom a few times with my hand and ...voila' It is now open.:thumbsup:
So now I can access the fuse box and see why my radio is not working...:mad:

[LarryG]

Speaking of the fuse box within the glove box, can someone explain how it is accessed. Can the cover be removed?
Thanks,
LarryG

[Lupin]

yes you can remove it , there are a couple of clips on the side, work on that and it will open.
Before that you may want to push or pull, I don't remember exactly, the clip far away (the one forward) so the fuse box will come down vertically and then will be easy to open it.