e21 Glovebox Broken - Help !

[guerciotti]

Hi,
I would appreciate it it someone could help me with my glovebox.

All was working fine until I recently opened it when I had too much weight in the glovebox. The glovebox opened fine leaving me with the piece in the photo in my hand !

The glovebox mechanism works fine and I can open it by lifting the small metal clip but I can't see to re-attach the handle to the glovebox itself. Any ideas? Looks like I am missing a pin or something but not sure.

Alternatively does anyone have a spare one that they can sell to me? I'm not worried if it doesn't lock.

Thanks in advance.

[Jeroen]

That's correct, there should be a pin there. Better put up an ad in the wanted section!

[uwbuurman]

Yeah, but how did it go missing? Seems like it is locked in there?

[Wilmo]

Mine is gone as well. Since some years I open it with the little metal lever. I believe something broke, but never really investigated. Will take a picture tonight.

[e21paddy]

It must be the week of broken gloveboxes, mine went on Sunday also! Interested to know if there's a fix!

[Manitoba]

Mine broke 2 years ago, I replaced the mechanism with an e30 one. Also thanks to the forum here, because I did not know they are the same.

Greetz,
Walter.

[guerciotti]

Thanks for the feedback.

Uwbuurman - yes I thought that something had broken off but I searched extensively in the footwell but couldn't find it !

Manitoba - after doing a bit of searching on the web it would appear that the glovebox lock is indeed shared across various BMW models at the time. I've looked on RealOEM but I can't see the part. Do you have a link to where you bought it from?

Thanks all

[Manitoba]

I am sorry, guercotti, but I bought it from a forum member (Groentje_me). Can't help you with the official part number.

Greetz,
Walter.

[Wilmo]

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E30-2 ... #1848873_9

schmiedmann.de/de/produkt/18294-neu?produkt=51-16-1-848-873

[Jeroen]

As far as I can see the lockable version is NLA so I'd try to buy a decent used example and swap locks, is widely used indeed (E21-E23-E28-E30 etc)

[mr edd]

I bought one of these pattern parts off ebay .For a e30 so slightly different shape but fits well..(you have to transfer the lock cylinder from your original handle)...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/For-BMW-E30-E34-E36- ... Sw-yJcLxGu

same seller has the rear part of the latch for sale as well.....

[uwbuurman]

Well, compared to a type 1 box it is different, but type 2 are the same right?

[Jeroen]

As far as I know that's correct

[e21paddy]

This is what I've been left with, cannot seem to figure out what I need to manipulate to release the latch? Any pointers guys?

[Manitoba]

There should be some kind of hook attached to the lock on the glovebox itself. This can be moved sideways, which opens the glovebox.

As said above, try and find an e30 handle; switch both locks and you're good to go.

Good luck.

Greetz,
Walter.