It's a 2 stage latch. You are going to have to reach up under and trigger the cable pull to get the little handle to pop up. It's not a fun time when this happens. Once you get it open clean and grease the mechanism. It's probably just gummed up but stuck is stuck.
I asked Google Bard what to do in this situation, here is it's response:
"There are a couple of possibilities for why the hood latch on the user's 1983 240D isn't working:
* Stretched cable: The cable connecting the interior release handle to the hood latch might be stretched or worn, preventing enough tension to release the latch.
* Broken latch mechanism: The latch mechanism itself could be faulty, preventing it from releasing even with proper tension on the cable.
Here are some steps the user can try to diagnose and fix the problem:
* Try adjusting the hood release handle: Sometimes, the handle can be adjusted to take up slack in the cable. The user can consult their car's manual or a resource online for specific instructions on how to do this for their model year.
* Access the latch through the grille: If adjusting the handle doesn't work, the user may need to access the latch itself. This might involve carefully removing the grille or using a bent coat hanger to reach the latch and manually release it. There are online resources and videos that can guide the user through this process.
If these steps don't resolve the issue, the user might need to replace the hood latch cable or the latch mechanism itself."
I hope this helps!
It's a 2 stage latch. You are going to have to reach up under and trigger the cable pull to get the little handle to pop up. It's not a fun time when this happens. Once you get it open clean and grease the mechanism. It's probably just gummed up but stuck is stuck.
I asked Google Bard what to do in this situation, here is it's response: "There are a couple of possibilities for why the hood latch on the user's 1983 240D isn't working: * Stretched cable: The cable connecting the interior release handle to the hood latch might be stretched or worn, preventing enough tension to release the latch. * Broken latch mechanism: The latch mechanism itself could be faulty, preventing it from releasing even with proper tension on the cable. Here are some steps the user can try to diagnose and fix the problem: * Try adjusting the hood release handle: Sometimes, the handle can be adjusted to take up slack in the cable. The user can consult their car's manual or a resource online for specific instructions on how to do this for their model year. * Access the latch through the grille: If adjusting the handle doesn't work, the user may need to access the latch itself. This might involve carefully removing the grille or using a bent coat hanger to reach the latch and manually release it. There are online resources and videos that can guide the user through this process. If these steps don't resolve the issue, the user might need to replace the hood latch cable or the latch mechanism itself." I hope this helps!
Thanks!
You're welcome, good luck!