I have a real head scratcher that im at a loss with, the bonnet release cable has either sliped or snapped on the 411 and the bonnet is now stuck shut anyone got any non destructive ideas of how i can open it i have been all round it to try and find a sneaky way to get to the catch but have failed to come up with owt. It happened before on my 72 bug but that was easy as all you do is angle grind the handle in two then rotate the two halves to the left voila the bonnet lifts off from the catch but alas no handle on the square. HELP this is doing my head in.
I would try posting this in the 411/412 forum.
Anyways, I dont have my car here to check, but it may be possible to remove one headlight and then break the black plastic piece behind it. I know you can pull the cable from inside the trunk. This seems like a relativley non destructive way to try it. Keep us posted on it.
All sorted now i removed the headlight bezel then the two lamps then to seperated the cluster plate from the black plastic moulding you have to get a little bit brutal and hammer the tabs in the centre to release the bracket slightly then you can undo the centre bolt with your finger tips and your in then its just a case of reaching in to realse the catch voila the bonnet opens. Happy Dayz
If the cable has not actually broken off of the front latch....you ccan simply grasp the tube after removing the headlight bezel...with a hook. Pull on the plastic cable cover and the cable will pull with it and release the hood.
When you get it back open, lube the cable with a squeeze bottle of transmision fluid. Drain the excess....andit will never get stiff again...ever. Ray
OK
its easier Yet harder than it might seem
Just did it today
"Thank God for Long Arms"
i did what ya said and seperated the becket from the holders
then realized they were just spring clipped in
Took them out an i could get up to my shoulder in the trunk
pulling at the cable did nothing
10mm wrench and i took off the bolts holding it on and tada....
open
i found that the whole latch is bent but i might have done that
but i now need another latch...
anyone got any non destructive ideas of how i can open it i have been all round it to try and find a sneaky way to get to the catch but have failed to come up with owt. It happened before on my 72 bug but that was easy as all you do is angle grind the handle in two then rotate the two halves to the left voila the bonnet lifts off from the catch but alas no handle on the square. HELP this is doing my head in. 
