Someone on this site suggested that it was 'very easy' to fit a new bonnet release cable.  They suggested tying a string to the old cable and pulling it through.  I assumed that this meant fitting a new inner cable through the existing outer jacket.  However, I understand that the whole thing comes as a complete assembly and the inner cable has a one end moulded into the release handle and the other has a nipple on it, so the inner cable cannot be removed.

The Haynes manual says:

• Open the bonnet and support it in the fully open position. (this is obviously an 'idiot's guide'...)
• Unscrew the release cable clip from the front body panel. (I assume that it is obvious what this clip is)
• Disconnect the end of the release cable from the locking spring under the front body panel.
• Remove the driver's side lower facia panel.
• Open the flap covering the fuse box to expose the 4 lower facia panel securing screws.
• Remove the 4 screws, then lower the panel and pull it towards the driver's door to release the two securing clips.
• Withdraw the panel from the facia.
• Disconnect the release cable from the release handle.  If necessary, remove the release handle from its retainer for access to the cable end (How do you do this, if the cable is supposed to be moulded into the handle, as Vx told me?)
• Pull the cable through the grommet in the engine compartment bulkhead into the engine compartment.  (Wouldn't be able to do this if the handle is moulded on to the cable; I assumed that it must be pulled through from the engine bay into the drivers footwell.
• Release the cable from any remaining clips and cable ties (does anyone know how many of these there are and how easy is it to get to them behind the V6 engine?) and withdraw it from the engine compartment.
• Refitting is the reverse of removal, but ensure that the cable is correctly routed and,on completion, check the release mechanism for satisfactory operation.

Any tips, or advice?  Is it worth tying a string to the end of the cable to re-route the new cable round the engine bay?

Brilliant, thank you - I'll let you know how I get on.  Sounds easy enough...

Vx wanted to charge

OK so I've disconnected the bonnet release cable nipple from the locking spring.  This is not explained in the Haynes manual and it is difficult to see how it works because it is hidden under the front body panel and the top of the radiator hides it from behind.  Once you have slackened the cable, you can use a lever in the catch to slacken the tension & then use a screwdriver through the narrow slot to lever the cable forwards out of the loop on the locking spring.

I've tied a piece of string to the end.  I've cut a couple of cable ties and pulled the cable back round the engine bay and through the grommet in the engine bulkhead - not as easy as it sounds because of the tightness and angle of the grommet and the fact that it is hidden behind part of the loom.

I've also unscrewed the 4 screws and detached the driver's side lower facia panel - it is quite difficult to get at a good angle, with good light to see where these are.  I've detached the nipple from the release handle, so that it was easier to pull the cable and string through the grommet into the driver's footwell.

What I can't work out is how to detach the release handle mechanism from the metal panel.  It is obvious from the replacement handle that there are a pair of plastic spring clips that hold the mechanism in place.  What I can't see is how you get at these clips to squash them to release the plastic body from the metal panel - or can you just force them by levering on the body somewhere.

I'm stuck until I can find out how to detach the release handle mechanism from the body...

I'm also concerned about pulling the new nipple and cable back through the grommet, without breaking the string, because it is so tight.

Can anyone advise?  Thanks.

without sounding rude , you could have greased up the grommet to aid pulling the cable through .
i only ever took my release handle off [email protected] and it kinda fell off so as to putting it back in if they are spring clips give it a smack in position with the palm of your hand

yep i think your right mate , the haynes is crap since they changed them a few years back and yep once youve done an awkward job its easyer the second time around , fingers crossed that you dont have to do it again though .have you noticed how many times in the haynes it says refer to section blah blah for this and section blah blah for that when your half way through doing a job on the car , lots of page flicking with oily fingers isnt a good idea and i tend to use spanners as bookmarks then need one thats being used for a book mark and loose the damn page

ha i read it first then get stuck into the job then get stuck and end up flicking through it .
their was a post on here somwhere just the other day about a maual for the v6 , sammy g i think started it