DIY: BMW E39 Glove Box Latch Removal

Difficulty Level

Tools/Supplies Needed:

• phillips screwdriver

Procedure:

• first start by opening the glove box and gaining access to the two phillips screws on the inside
• remove the two Phillips screws, be careful so the handle does not fall onto the floor
• remove the top latch portion
• remove the outside handle
• then remove the inner mechanism, it maybe stuck from sitting sometimes it is required to add light pushing pressure

Video tutorial on how to remove the glove box latch on a BMW E39 body style. If you are having issues opening the glove box, the part which causes this is the plastic tumbler assembly wearing out on the corner by regular usage. You can either purchase a new part and do the replacement or purchase a used part from the local auto wreckers. The downsides to purchasing a used part is that it may have a short life expectancy and if you do not code the key to your existing one, a separate key is required to unlock the glove box. This particular tutorial was done on a 1997 BMW 540i.