» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 0 Replies, 514 Views | | | | | | 06-14-2013, 02:41 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atlanta Posts: 12 | Needed new window regulator AGAIN! Why? Hi from Atlanta. I'm the original owner of my 1998, got it new in Germany. I just had to replace my driver's side window regulator for the third time. Through the years, the glass has popped off-track several times. It goes "CRACK", then there's a sickening glass/metal grinding sound, and if I'm lucky, the glass doesn't fall down into the door. I can grab it, jam it with two hands back into the track, and fiddle with the control button until the regulator catches and holds it. Always one of the regulator "scissor arms" is bent. I've had fix-it guys force the bent part straight, replace the fuzzy tracks, use a different type of grease, and sometimes just replace the whole damn regulator. Just a few days ago, it happened again, and I coughed up $450 for this car's THIRD regulator replacement. Everything about this car is tip-top, but the DAMN WINDOW won't behave! So, hit me with some wisdom: what makes these regulators bend so often and apparently so easily? (Only the driver's side is a problem) I'm not Crazy Window Guy, I just use it normally. And the part cost about $110, the labor $340. Seem high to you? Thanks. DJ | | | 06-14-2013, 03:40 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Elizabeth City, NC Posts: 3,877 | I followed this guide 4 years ago, my windows are still working great. http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20666 __________________ ~Dave~ 98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop 11 128i space gray slicktop 13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry Search | RealOEM | | | 06-15-2013, 03:26 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 1,106 | its likely that the rails the window slide on are bent and they are not fixing them. | | | 07-25-2013, 10:46 AM | #4 | Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 51 | Quote: Originally Posted by hotmilk400 its likely that the rails the window slide on are bent and they are not fixing them. | Are you talking about the rails attached to the door it self? Not the regulator but the rails inside of the door. | | | 07-25-2013, 12:30 PM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,275 | Quote: Originally Posted by killergopher Are you talking about the rails attached to the door it self? Not the regulator but the rails inside of the door. | Yes. They need adjusted as well. By adjusted, I mean bent by hand either one way or the other. I had to twist both of mine in order to get it right. __________________ Sean 1995 Active | | | 07-26-2013, 03:26 AM | #6 | Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 51 | Can you just buy new inner rails and replace them? | | | 07-26-2013, 06:26 AM | #7 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Quote: Originally Posted by killergopher Can you just buy new inner rails and replace them? | won't work, they still need to be aligned properly. | | | 07-26-2013, 06:49 AM | #8 | Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 51 | So just start bending and twisting until you think you might have it working right, lol love it.... | | | 09-08-2013, 06:47 AM | #9 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 5 | Both my windows have fallen down so many times the mechanic has jammed them shut. Says the only way to fix them is to replace the entire door. If there's something I can do to get them working again I'd be in heaven as I'm more of window air guy than an A/C air guy. Guess I'll start taking the panels off myself... | | | 09-08-2013, 12:53 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by Billy Both my windows have fallen down so many times the mechanic has jammed them shut. Says the only way to fix them is to replace the entire door. If there's something I can do to get them working again I'd be in heaven as I'm more of window air guy than an A/C air guy. Guess I'll start taking the panels off myself... | If the regulator is beyond repair, it just needs to be replaced. Find a new mechanic. Sounds like he's a a hack. I'd question how he does other repairs that he really doesn't know how to fix. I replaced my regulator and the window is now fine. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 09-08-2013, 06:13 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | Your already paying the same price a dealer would charge to do it,, if you had the dealer do it it comes with a warrantee.. Just a thought.. Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 09-08-2013, 06:20 PM | #12 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 5 | Hey! Where'd that link in my message come from? I def didn't add that. Pretty creepy. Anyway, I saw the lengthy thread about the problem, so I'll take the panel off and take a look at what's up. My hunch is the regulator is fine, the window channels are broken. If that's the case I'll have to see if someone can help me find a way to mount them. Dealership said the same thing about replacing the doors a few years ago. Last edited by Billy; 09-08-2013 at 08:46 PM. | | | 09-09-2013, 12:02 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by Billy Hey! Where'd that link in my message come from? I def didn't add that. Pretty creepy. | The link is sometimes added to generate a little revenue for the site. The window channels are pretty strong. I don't see how they could bend. They do get caked with grease though. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 09-09-2013, 01:54 AM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | Mine have bent.. It seems to happen when the auto close in the up direction happens in conjunction with the mechanism going tango uniform.. I've found silicone spray seems to help the tracks a bit, I cleaned them with hot water and simple green, then let them dry then soaked them in silicone. Probably ruins hte rubber eventually but They were too stiff to let the window move. Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 09-15-2013, 02:12 AM | #15 | Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: green bay Posts: 1 | I had the same problem with me driver side window, The window majestically got on the wrong side of the window channels wile it was going up and broke both plastic regulator clips and twisted the arms on the regulator itself. On top of that being fun when it broke i was trying to roll the window because it started raining. I ordered the new clips and getting the window back into the guides was a puzzle but the arms were so bent every time i tried to roll it back up it would pull apart the clips, but eventually i got all the geometry right and it finally rolled up and its never came back down.lol I used white lithium spray grease so the new clips wouldn't stick | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |