Just bought an '04 R53. Previous owner says he replaced both ebrake cables; and they do appear new. With the nut at full adjustment at the handbrake lever there is zero engagement of the parking brake; it's as if the cables have too much length. The spring mechanism at the rear calipers does not appear to be putting tension on the cable ends. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

routed wrong?

Caliper end not installed correctly?

 

After messing with this it seems that the spring mech on the calipers are just frozen. I can tap/pull them to where the spring should return them when the handbrake is released and the cable lengths are fine inside. Once the handbrake is pulled and released the springs do not pull back the slack. Will this require a rebuild or new calipers?

 

Are you 'up north'? Possibly encrusted with road salt etc ... (move to FL)

I'd give a soak with PB Blaster first ... or WD-40 if you can't find PBB ... soak for a few hours and work the mechanism and repeat a couple of times. If they don't free up you are looking at rebuild/replace

but be careful where you spray because ya don't really want this to get into the pads or rotors .....