E39 - K&N Filter

5 Series Beamer

fig. Boot - Rear Fuse Cluster

Workshop

Contents Page

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Diary of a Second Hand 17 year old Beamer (Maintenance - Battery Drain included...,
BMW E39 520i year 2000 Engine 1995cc)
M Series.

Workshop/Diary - Adjusting or Replacing
Parking/Emergency/Hand Brake

continuation pending.....

I had a problem with my Hand brake, so I was told, when visiting a garage for an MOT

12th June 2015 - As money is tight, I got to search on Ebay and other possible sources to try and find a new n/s front brake hose, checked prices for control arms and then the replacement boots and finally hand brake cables. I ended up finding the rubber brake hose (Ebay - Keep_driving £6.99), two new handbrake cables (Ebay - parts2clear £19.90) and rubber boot replacement - set of 3 universal with grease (Ebay -rtgroup11 £7.99).
They all eventually arrived, and I had 10 days to return the vehicle for MOT retake, the clock was ticking and I couldn't really do anything until the parts arrived.

The handbrake cables were reasonably priced from eBay £19.90 compared to the BMW dealership, they wanted £57 for the pair plus Vat.

19th June 2015 - Yesterday the sun had got to me and I was bushed through dehydration. Today, however I was ready to tackle the handbrake. Rear wheels off, car mounted on jackstands, unbolted the cable on the handbrake, couldn't see the cable connection bracket so assumed it was under the vehicle and some models vary, depending on the year of manufacture. With a crawl under the car and a lengthy search I could just identify the brake cables entering into the bodyshell, there was body mounding all around them and no bracket. I decided to rip the centre console out and trace the cables back, having to split the carpeton top of the tunnel to get access, (not ideal) only to find the cables came in from under the car through the moulded silicon, (situated centre on top of the tunnel, just at the point where the back seat meets the

fig: Source - Handbrake shoe layout

a. Make a note of your layout
b. Note: think larger spring on top
c. Note: finger adjuster on right

Continued....

tunnel) from this point the brake cable seemed to be fed through two tubular steel pipes to the handbrake lever. For the job to succeed It required the moulding or dried silicon 'splat', (done during manufacturing, one can presume) to be broken or at least some holes made for the new cable to be threaded through. At this point, I decided there had to be a better way of sorting this job out.

fig: Source - Handbrake cable retainer

Adjuster

The tubes submerge through the tunnel at this point.
Note: Even when the seat is removed, access is limited and tearing the carpet across the top may be the only option.However holdfire on this until reading fully this section....

Note: This is not required

*If in doubt, take a picci with a smart phone*

NOTE: Updated Procedures 2017 Page 65a +