There are plastics around the metal cord that that breaks off easily. The replacement realy just replaces those crappy plastics. If you use ties, it works very well. Check out e46fanatics.com board and you will see picture of the fix. Maronha don't know jack about the ties. Even if you buy new regulator, the plastic will break again after number of uses. Plastic ties does a better job. As I stated, the plastic ties works for me so far and hasn't broke off. It's probably out last the plastic pieces that comes with the regulator.