Wire on backside of self-leveling relay bracket? (archive)

Using these images I attempt to focus in on the "little wire" that runs across the energizing leads on the backside of the relay socket for the self-leveling hydraulic unit in Brett's 745i.

I need to replace this little wire and whatever electronic piece is in it, because as you'll see, the thing is broken. 8-(.

Here's a description of the images (I sent this via email to Kevin and Jens, already, but not sure they got it intact):

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http://home.centurytel.net/venice/SelfLevel/20020302B-BMWLEVELIN_00003.JPEG
- shows the entire hydraulic unit with reservoir removed from right rear quarter panel location in '85 745i (my son's car). Relay is to the left of the picture below the reservoir. (Kevin: note the diode we initally thought might be the mystery component is actually on the lower righthand side of this picture at the end of two wires... and that's a shadow along the left side of that diode wire... so just ignore that.)

http://home.centurytel.net/venice/SelfLevel/20020302B-BMWLEVELIN_00004.JPEG
- zooming in on the relay of interest

http://home.centurytel.net/venice/SelfLevel/20020302B-BMWLEVELIN_00009.JPEG
- this is the relay part flipped over so that you can see the back side of the socket that relay's plugged into. Notice the metal wire toward the bottom of the image that has some sort of small black plastic part at the midpoint where the wire's broken in two. Before I broke this little wire, it had some sort of black insulation covering it (like shrink wrap maybe). I took that off so I could try to identify what was inside.. There may or may not have been more to the "small black plastic part" at the middle of this little wire... it may even have looked like a regular resistor at one time... don't know, because I couldn't find any other small pieces on the garage floor... This wire goes directly between the two "energizing" leads for the relay -- those leads that you'd apply 12 volts across in order for the relay to become energized...

Does anyone know what this "mystery" wire/component is? Was it an "afterthought" or fix provided by factory or dealers later in the manufacturing process? Any ideas appreciated.

Or, if anyone has access to this component and could take a resistance reading with their ohmeter, perhaps that would give me the needed ohm requirement, if indeed it was a resistor... Thanks much!

Kevin emailed me copies of his wiring schematic and legend, but I just can't locate this little wire there. (Thanks, buddy.)

All the best, Rick (today I'm doing the brakes) Johnson

--
Rick & Kate Johnson
Venice Ranch
http://home.centurytel.net/venice/
1985 735i (Wife's); 1985 745i (Son's)

Follow Ups:

1N4004 diode an equivalent for this application? RickOregon 19:16 3/03/2002 (2)
- Bait & switch scheme, the 4004 is TWICE the price! Kevin Heiner 19:44 3/03/2002 (0)
- Re: 1N4004 diode an equivalent for this applicatio Kevin Heiner 19:37 3/03/2002 (0)
Good Job Kevin! Stevecots 82 732/(2) 84 745 CHI 16:37 3/03/2002 (0)
Re: Wire on backside of self-leveling relay bracke Kevin Heiner 12:39 3/03/2002 (2)
- Kevin, appreciate your extra effort.. thanks! 8-) RickOregon 13:23 3/03/2002 (1)
  - Re: Kevin, appreciate your extra effort.. thanks! Kevin Heiner 14:21 3/03/2002 (0)

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