Brake adjustment verses cable
 

I have a 2010 e60 with the N52k.

The emergency brake needs adjusting because the handle comes up too high.

I know the issue is NOT a worn emergency brake shoe pad, but the issue IS a stretched cable.

Because its a stretched cable issue should I be adjusting the cable and tightening up the slack in the cable or should I jack the car rear end up and adjust the brake pad adjustment screw?

I was going to say just tighten the screws under the handbrake lever but then I see that Pelican says to tighten it at the wheels. On the E46 there are two cables under the handbrake lever and they can be adjusted equally but it appears the E60 is a different setup.

From the Pelican report it looks like I need to adjust the parking brake adjustment screw on the wheel.

But then it says, "Release the cable tension by engaging the service lock. Press the spring (green arrow) with a flat head screwdriver until the hook locks (yellow arrow) the spring in a compressed position. If the parking brake lever is not fully released, you will not be able to engage the service lock.

Why can't I just adjust the parking brake screw on each wheel without touching the service lock?

If you suspect the cable side to need adjustment, what I'd do is take off both rear wheels and remove the brake discs. Adjust the handbrake screw in the console until the cables are taught, just to the point of beginning to operate the parking brake shoe lever, but not yet operating them. Then move to the the rear wheel adjustment procedure.

When you use a screw driver to adjust the rear wheel adjustment device, will moving the rear brake adjustment lever upwards or downwards equate to 1 click on the handbrake lever?

No, I don't think so. The rear adjuster procedure talks about spinning the rear wheel until it cannot turn anymore and then unloosening the adjuster 8 clicks.