Hood Cable Replacement

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jamesw

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Hi Gang,

My car came w/ a broken OEM hood cable. After searching around here and reading, I decided to replace it with a bicycle cable - which looked like it would work. It was never able to get enough tension to pull the hood down into the fully latched position and it broke after a few weeks :-(

Does anyone have a suggestion or a link to where I can buy the OEM part or equivalent?

Thanks,
James
 
Available from your BMW dealer For around $7-$8. PN 51231800579. Check here www.penskeparts.com for an easy-to-use parts catalog and list prices. Or here www.getbmwparts.com for slightly better deals but spotty service ( in my experience). Many, if not most, dealers offer a 10% discount if you are a BMWCCA member and charge no shipping, unlike online vendors.
 
jamesw said:
car came w/ a broken OEM hood cable. After searching around here and reading, I decided to replace it with a bicycle cable - which looked like it would work. It was never able to get enough tension to pull the hood down into the fully latched position and it broke after a few weeks :-(

Does anyone have a suggestion or a link to where I can buy the OEM part or equivalent?
Click to expand...

Following up on Luis' post, you are looking for a "bowden cable." PN 51231800579. It is probably available from most dealers if not many other auto chain stores for a nominal sum.

As you note the cable design is fairly ubiquitous and used in many applications. Similar cables can be sourced from motorcycle, auto, marine, aviation and bicycle suppliers. Biggest issue is usually the length of cable and size of ferrule that fits into the hood release handle. Tightening is somewhat intuitive, as it might be with tensioning the gearshift and/or brake cable on a bicycle or motorcycle. You did not describe where your makeshift cable broke. As with original equipment, not all parts are the same and that even includes cables intended for inexpensive bicycles.

hth

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300px-Universal_Brake_Cable_Ends_2.jpg
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Thanks guys - that is very helpful.

My original cable, and bicycle cable both broke where the cable is terminated at the circular ferrule that rides in the under-dash handle.

I checked my dealer and it's a special order item, so I ordered it online because I'm impatient...

Cheers
James
 
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There are some threads regarding the hood release lever. If it's coming off you could have an odd angle between cable and catch and perhaps that is why the cable is self-destroying.
 
Weird,

I ordered the part number 51231800579 from getbmwparts.com and it has a tag on it stating that it is an OEM BMW part - but it looks nothing like the cables in the photos posted. It is not a braided wire, it is a solid strand, It does not have the big cast-on cylinder in the end - which I assume from inspection rides in the handle/lever. It has a small ferrule cast into one end and a bare end on the other :-(

Cheers
James
 
i oredered the same cable one month ago
they sent me a cable as you describe
that is ok for the purpose, and btw it is exactly the same as the old broken cable that replaced !
 
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