what are the chances

[dtharp113]

of re-attaching the cable to the heater valve whilst the heater box is still in the car?

I've manually closed the valve so there's no pressure to get it hooked up (particularly when the temps are +90!) but, it will be winter.

Anyone successfully attempted this?

[esty]

isn't the heater valve outside the car...to the right of the wiper motor....

[jgerock]

Dennis -

You will need small hands and possibly a mirror to help you get that cable into the holder. Then pray you don't break the barrel clamp that holds the cable in place.

[BillWilliams]

This did NOT work

This did work:

[thehackmechanic]

Your lady always wear white when she's working on your car?

[BillWilliams]

Yes sir.

Here "the lady in white" is making my console

Helping me drop the suspension/motor

She was the driver when we pushed it into the shed right after it came back from paint

I was the brake man

[ray_]

Maryland is not that far from northern Virginia.

;-)

Ray

[dtharp113]

This did NOT work

This did work:

Maybe I shove my hands in the freezer until they shrink....

[Mike Self]

Unbolt the arm on the heater valve that the heater control cable fastens to, AFTER noting carefully which way the arm is positioned so you'll get it back correctly.

Then you'll be able to actually see the little hole in the pinch bolt that the control cable goes through, and be able to tighten it.

Finally reinstall the arm, now fastened to the cable, onto the heater control valve.

Hope that works for you--it has for me many times.

mike

[dtharp113]

Wouldnt our lives be easier if that cover plate (over the heater box) was hinged-allowing easy access ?

W,ordering if there's a (good looking) way to do that. The cover doesn't add any structural support, right? So not a big deal to cut it and weld a piano hinge?

[c.d.iesel]

..."the cover doesn't add any structural support

right? So not a big deal to cut it

and weld a piano hinge? "

yikes! i'll make believe i didn't hear that!

must be the heat.

[fourtii]

Bill-

Does she have a sister? I could use help like that on my project cars...you're a lucky man!

[02Les]

Wouldnt our lives be easier if that cover plate (over the heater box) was hinged-allowing easy access ?

W,ordering if there's a (good looking) way to do that. The cover doesn't add any structural support, right? So not a big deal to cut it and weld a piano hinge?

As far as know, it supports the Hood bar and the driver side washer nozzle (on Tourings). I don't see it as a structural member.

On an E24 (maybe other later BMWs?), it doesn't support the Hood Bar, and it is removable.

[BillWilliams]

Fourtii - she has several but none would tolerate our foolishness. I hit the jack pot!

[dtharp113]

..."the cover doesn't add any structural support

right? So not a big deal to cut it

and weld a piano hinge? "

yikes! i'll make believe i didn't hear that!

must be the heat.

Really?! Even if it did, you could drop a strut brace and that'd take care of the issue, right?

Obviuosly I'm not an engineer. I merely play one on TV