Extra ground strap on negative battery cable - what is it?

[BrianK]

I bought a negative battery cable from, I think, an e24. It has an extra ground strap. What's it for? Can I just cut it off?

Pic:
https://instagram.com/p/1WTNzuuAcY/

[demetk]

Don't cut it off. It connects to the driver's side fender ground. That cable is a nice upgrade.

[RonW]

My guess is that the bare woven E24 cable connects the battery to the chassis, like the short brown cable does in the E28. The long brown E24 cable is the main engine ground, and connects to the left engine mount. On the E28 the main engine ground is short and woven, and connects the right engine mount to the chassis.

[BrianK]

FWIW, It's from an e23.

As has been said, the braided wire goes to the fender ground, the brown cable goes to the engine mount.

[RonW]

FWIW, It's from an e23.

As has been said, the braided wire goes to the fender ground, the brown cable goes to the engine mount.

That part (12 42 1 286 746) was also used in the E12 and E24.

[garageboy]

I enjoyed reading your service history.

Yeah I'm weird that way because mine's in Excel...