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ThreePointFive



Member Since: 03 Jul 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 226
United Kingdom 1988 Defender 90 V8 Petrol HT Bonatti Grey
Bonnet Release Handle Upgrade
I don't normally go in for the 'billet = better' stuff, especially where it's a downgrade in usability. However, my TD5-style bonnet release pull handle has broken where the steel cable is retained in two plastic eyes on the rear, one has snapped off.

Clearly in this case plastic is the wrong material for the job. In the spirit of making the car last as long as possible, I wanted an aluminium version. I can't find one anywhere by the usual perveyors of overly-blingy tat billet upgrade specialists, have I just not looked hard enough? Does anyone know of one?

For reference, I am looking for the TD5 style one. One life - get one.
Post #1073206 12th Aug 2025 8:00am
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leolito



Member Since: 07 Jul 2025
Location: Sofia
Posts: 15
Bulgaria 
Can't help you locating on, but I've suffered the same fate and disappointment with my P38, especially there were a couple years for various reasons the bonnet had to be opened ... almost daily Laughing
I broke the handle two times, and I never pull "hard", it just snaps.
Never found a metal replacement, but BT parts are so cheap is worth keeping one around as spare.
For the Def might be a richer market though, but if "blingy" will cost several units of the plastic one ....

EDIT: I add a question that maybe is offtopic, but why is the handle to open the bonnet "exposed" in the Def? I've had a Jimny years ago, and I've seen also on friend's and family's small Suzuki the lever for the bonnet is inside the glove box - lockable, which seems to me a sensible decision.
True, there is no place "lockable" in the dash anywhere on a Landie, but are also Soft-Top models made like this? Any workaround anyone had made?
Post #1073207 12th Aug 2025 8:06am
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TexasRover



Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1298
France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White
Mounting the bonnet release inside the car was an afterthought, since originally on the series there was none. I did not realise they were fragile, better stock a spare
Post #1073213 12th Aug 2025 9:40am
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ThreePointFive



Member Since: 03 Jul 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 226
United Kingdom 1988 Defender 90 V8 Petrol HT Bonatti Grey
It's not necessarily a known weak point but I can only attest that mine broke. The lack of obvious "upgrades" suggests it's not that common a failure point.

I guess people want £60 vent knobs more than they want a rugged bonnet release catch. One life - get one.
Post #1073353 14th Aug 2025 11:27am
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