Is it possible ot open the bonnet from the outside and because of where the car is parked, no access to the boot or interior....don't ask! (but yes I did exit from the passenger door...but as the battery is now dead flat...it wont open, even manually from the inside).

 

The Bonnet is cable released. The battery should not have any effect on it. It has to be released from the interior. When faced with a broken cable there is a way to drill thru the inner fender and manually release the bonnet. It may not feel like the bonnet is releasing but once the handle is pulled it shop pop up. If it isn't you might try someone hold the interior handle in position for release and try gentl to lift the bonnet up.

 

Thanks Vern.


Only problem is I cant access the interior, well apart from a 4inch gap as the car is next to a wall, so no access, leverage or means to pull the lever.


Thanks,




Brett

 

Can you not open the boot with a key to access the battery?

 

A couple of things come to mind...

Do you think you could shift it with a trolley jack or two until you can get access to the boot release key hole, or a door??

Or if your need is only to charge the battery, then I believe that the larger starter motor connection and the alternator connection are permanently live to the battery and can be just about accessed from under the front of the car once it is jacked up and secured. Just don't try jump-starting it from another car, there's a good chance of silently frying all sorts of expensive electronics.

Having said that, a small 12v battery might be connected there to let you use the remote to unlock the door so that you can move it.

It may be worth mentioning that the manual says that any battery connect/disconnect must be swift and 'clean' i.e. connected in one movement instead of lots of touch-and-go with all the sparking and voltage spikes that might bring. If a connection is not achieved in one clean go, it suggests leaving it for a while (30 mins?), and then trying again. Tread gently....

 

I take it the 4" gap is on the driver's side? And is it a coupe or drophead?

 

Thanks everyone.


I found my solution last night in the form of wheel dollies....although the car is in park I can manually move the car to gain access to the drivers door...for £30 its a bargain!


From there I can pop the bonnet, connect a jump pack to terminals in the engine bay on top of/next to the strut to power up the wiring system and open the boot with the fob in the normal manner....and then jump start via the battery...


As for the boot key, well when I lost my keys previously the dealership made no mention of having to change that lock as well....

 

How in the world did you park the car in such a manner that you could not access the doors?

I would be surprised that the replacement key job included a replacement ignition and door lock unless you specifically anticipated theft of the car as a result.

 

This sounds like you...
backed yourself into a corner
are between a rock and a locked car
got into a tight squeeze.

 

Just for anyone's future reference. On my 2003 second series, 4.2L, I manually released the hood latch when the hood/bonnet hasp was loose/out of position and jammed by peeling back the inner plastic wheel well liner and inserting a screwdriver through a rubber-booted opening into the engine well. By pressing it up against the horizontal latch cable, it quickly released the latch. This episode was with the right/passenger-side latch. Not sure about the left-side. Other members may know more.

 

Unless it is too late...You would be better off to disconnect the battery, charge it up, then reconnect it and start the car. Others here have warned that jump starting can do damage to the electronics.

 

I think you missed post#7. He doesn't have a key for the boot. Jumping the battery is safe IF you follow the procedure in the owners manual.

 

Since a few ppl have made mention:


I backed my car in (UK car) so drivers door only about 3-4 inches off the wall, reason is my landlady who is permanently on crutches, parks next to me, so this was to leave maximum room for her.


So yes, I exited from the passenger door, which you will all know has no manual key lock mechanism. So with a dead flat battery...quite stuffed you might say, albeit with the best of intentions.


I also have a battery charger on order, so wheel dollies will let me slide the back across so I can enter the drivers door...battery pack to terminals under bonnet, then fob to open boot...then remove and charge the battery....


No, not planning to park that way again soon...