Glove box stuck locked - 1986 BMW 5 Series

My best advice is pull the glove box cover open a small amount take a small flat head screw driver and try to reach in and release the latch good Luck let me know Mike L.

Shoot a good amount of WD-40 into the lock next to the key, get a 5 inch locking plier locked onto the head of the key, move the key a bit back and forth, in and out then pull it out, while you hold the door of the glove compartment closed with your other hand.

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Is the latch stricker bent or loose inside the glove box?

Usually something gets lodged to the top of it. Pry at the sides a bit, and have a look inside. If there is something lodge, dislodge it by pushing/pulling it to the sides. Last resort, force open by prying at the center. You will need to replace the box or the locking mechanism.

improvise ,you will find a way to open it ,pull or push the two plastic bars that operate the locking bits on the end

Welcome to Fixya

The car might be stucked in Valet mode. Use the black key that you have to open the trunk, it overrides the Valet Mode. The key goes in a hole that is between the X and the K on the emblem on the rear of the car.

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A pair of pliers a piece of cloth and a good dose of WD40

Wrap the cloth around the key after sending a jet of WD40 into the lock opening grip the key with the pliers using the cloth to stop it getting damaged and gently push and pull on the key.

If this does not free it rock the key from side to side and pull at the same time

Failing that it is down to brute force and a trip to the dealer for a new lock

The lid "locks" into place by two retractable nibs on the outer sides of the glove box that are supposed to retract back into the lid housing when you lift up on the release lever.
If you can get a flat piece of metal like a slim jim down the sides of the glove box lid, you should be able to push the nib back into the housing, thus releasing the lock hold of the lid.
I just had to do this today when my Hyundai Tiburon glove box closed and refused to open agian.
It seems like the latch has a tendency to malfunction after a while and no longer is able to active the retraction of the nibs on each side.
Mine was retracting only on one side, so I could see that it was kind of "trying" to release but was still locked in place.
I hope this helps some
Good luck!

The most common cause is something inside the glove box jammed in the latch. Push glove box door release , and GENTLY insert a flat putty knife, plastic knife, or similar type tool in the groove of door, GENTLY try to pry open the door. U will probably (hopefully) find a napkin, map, or glove (does anybody actually put gloves in the glove box?) jammed in the inside latch. Let me know how u make out.

hello first thing to check is were the box mounts at the bottom of the door hinge assembly undo the screws you should be able to lift the door enough to release the lock inside goodluck