BMW Center Plate - Genuine BMW 51238166681

Product Information

BMW Hood diagram for 740i, 740iL, 750iL

A hood lock (also called a hood latch) is a mechanical locking device that secures the vehicle’s hood in place when closed. It typically works with a release cable and safety catch, ensuring the hood stays shut during driving while still allowing access to the engine bay when needed.

• Hood not closing or latching securely, leaving it loose or partially open.
• Difficulty opening the hood, often due to a stuck or corroded latch mechanism.
• Rattling or unexpected hood release while driving, creating a serious safety hazard if the lock fails completely.

About Genuine BMW

The original parts used by BMW to build your car are available as replacement parts under the “Genuine BMW” brand. When ordering a Genuine BMW part you are guaranteed to get the same part that you would pick up from your local dealerships part department. Genuine BMW parts have been built to BMW’s stringent standards and are the same quality of the original parts used to build your Ultimate Driving Machine.

You may not realize this, but the parts that make up your BMW are not necessarily manufactured by BMW. No cause for concern, as BMW designs the part, hires a manufacturer, and ensures its quality to you. In fact, many of these manufacturers have been making parts for BMW for decades. In our industry these manufacturers are called OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers), and these are often brands you recognize, including Lemforder, ZF, Sachs, Bosch, Valeo, Zimmermann, Siemens VDO, Corteco, and more. Don’t be surprised to open that Genuine BMW parts box and find an OEM branded part inside, simply with the addition of a BMW logo.

Be sure to keep an eye out for OE tags on our product pages to quickly identify parts coming direct from OE manufacturers. That extra bit of insight could save you some serious money while shopping! Refer to our OE Academy for further information regarding the OE/OEM tags throughout the site.