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Thread: broke the vertical bolt that tightens....

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Portland OR
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    02 540i Sport

    broke the vertical bolt that tightens....

    the positive cable to the battery....

    Any idea if I can get a replacement? Also the positive cable will not fully tighten against the battery post, do I need a full cable?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
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    3rd Rock
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    Some
    wrong size battery?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Omaha, NE
    Posts
    4,196
    My Cars
    1998 528i 5-spd 102K
    Which bolt did you break?


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Portland OR
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    02 540i Sport
    No bat is correct...just overdid it...

    OK CNN so you see the nut which you tighten in the main red cable where it connects to the battery? The nut that tightens a vertical bolt that has a sadle on the bottom of it...the saddle pulls the clamp tight...that bolt/saddle thing, I broke the bolt only from the saddle...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2006
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    Omaha, NE
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    1998 528i 5-spd 102K
    Did you strip the thread or did you break (snap) the bolt off?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
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    1998 528i 5-spd 102K
    The BMW battery bolt has "hooks" at the bottom. When tightening the nut, the "hooks" tighten both sides of the battery terminal to establish a tight connection. See pic.

    The goofy BMW engineers don't offer the bolt as a separate item!
    And you don't want to know the cost of the entire red cable assembly, it is something like $300 plus labor (very labor-intensive to replace the red cable!!!). This is because the red cable has an explosive charge built into it. In the event of an accident, the explosive charge detonates and electrical cable is severed to prevent fire, electrical sparks etc. This is why this red cable is very expensive.

    Your options are:
    1. Ebay (I doubt you can find the battery bolt)

    2. Junkyard

    3. Try VW part:
    www.1stVWparts.com
    Positive battery cable T-bolt:
    PN: 6X0-915-138
    $6.00

    You can see the VW design uses the same setup, for $6.00, you cannot lose much:
    http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothrea...ostid=62768633

    Report back what your solution is, so others may benefit from!

    PS: If I remember correctly, the torque is around 5 Nm (basically tighten until it stops and give it a slight tug!).
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by cnn; 03-13-2010 at 10:15 PM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Portland OR
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    02 540i Sport

    YES! That should do the trick

    Many many thanks, this forum rocks...

    Thanks CNN

    Pat

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Omaha, NE
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    1998 528i 5-spd 102K
    From what I gather, the VW part comes with the bolt only (no nut). I may be wrong.
    Anyway, don't throw away your broken nut/bolt yet!!!

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    pameyer,

    Any Update?

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    1998 528i 5-spd 102K
    pameyer, any update for the rest to know?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    West Michigan
    Posts
    14,422
    My Cars
    98 540iA (Prd 11/97)
    I don't think he is subscribed to the thread.
    Try PMing him.

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