Re-installed hood using bracket marks same as it came off far as I can tell. While off I cleaned and lubed the latch, which is now hard to pull..
Enough to make me think the cable doesn't like it. Any thoughts on what changed, what to check and adjust to ease the pull on the under dash handle to pop the hood ?
Adjust hood latch
The cable isn't bad to replace if you can get the hood open. The pain is when you're on the side of the road and the handle breaks, and you don't have vise-grips. 
Adam Wilson's FAQ is very good, I think. I used it when I replaced the cable on my parents' E21.
http://www.firstfives.org/faq/hoodlatch ... h_faq.html
That said, I'm going to think that you have some part of the mechanism just slightly off to the point where there's more drag. I'd make some minor adjustments and see what happens. It could even be something as simple as re-tensioning the cable.
I will say that while you do this, you should have the LHS grille out in case you adjust it the wrong way. You should be able to release it manually with a screwdriver.
It would also be a good idea to check the handle in the cabin for cracking/fatigue - as well as the cable where it slips through the handle.
Adam Wilson's FAQ is very good, I think. I used it when I replaced the cable on my parents' E21.
http://www.firstfives.org/faq/hoodlatch ... h_faq.html
That said, I'm going to think that you have some part of the mechanism just slightly off to the point where there's more drag. I'd make some minor adjustments and see what happens. It could even be something as simple as re-tensioning the cable.
I will say that while you do this, you should have the LHS grille out in case you adjust it the wrong way. You should be able to release it manually with a screwdriver.
It would also be a good idea to check the handle in the cabin for cracking/fatigue - as well as the cable where it slips through the handle.
Thank you. I pulled the grill to see the latch and clean and lube. There are rubber plugs in the hood that can be screwed in and out to adjust the spacing in front. Moving those into the hood seems to have reduced the tension on the bracket / mechanism.
Interesting that what looked like the exact same position as came off needed adjusting.
Interesting that what looked like the exact same position as came off needed adjusting.