I would not accept a shipment where the platter and cartridge were not removed. Padding can help it survive without the transport screws engaged but an in place platter will likely cause damage. You are correct that the cord is necessary for arm movement as it goes around two pallets that are driven from the arm motor.

Ok thank you,  and by platter you mean the metal disc with the slots in it? So damage, would be like scartches from the needle on that disc?

Is the piece visible on the picture included on where I have to attache the loop from the string? Could some point it out. I want to be prepared in advance of  getting the beogram. Although if it isn't scratchfree I'll send it back.

Yes, the platter is the metal disk that the record supports and when shipped from the factory it is removed and in its own styrofoam piece. The stylus will not scratch it but if its loose it can destroy the cantilever that holds the stylus as well as the tonearm.

To reattach the cord, download the service manual from either the Members area here or Beomanuals.com. You will see the pictures.

Most likely the plastic piece that the spring hooks onto is broken.

I always fix the broken pin with a small cable tie.

Thanks a lot. Great pictures. Thuesday my package should arrive. I'm curious on how murphy's law will address me. :)

My Beogram 4500 has arrived and according to the pictures I see above here, there is a spring missing like shown in img_3946.jpg here above. Can I easily obtain that or replace it with something else? I also think the plastic pin is indeed broken but I don't see any marks from something being broken off, its seems clean as a wistle. There woudn't by any chance be different models regarding that part? The buildyear was 1988.

UPDATE : I found the spring when I loosened the transportscrews. So according details in the picture above I got the wire in its place , so thanks for that. But there still seems to be an issue about alignment/position off the gear (endposition and such). Can anyone help with that?

Also, I think there isnt even a needle present in the mmc5 stylus. See picture included.

But he used the 3 transportscrews, they where tight and the platter wasn't dancing around.

So I gues his claim about the beogram that had a revision was false?