E85 Window Regulator

[GreySquirrel]

Until a week ago, my windows worked perfectly. Then, without warning, my passenger window made a crunchy noise, then refused to go all the way up. Suspecting the window regulator, I looked into pricing.

BMW dealer wanted £500 for one!

Pattern parts were available for between £75 and £120 online.

A repair kit (basically a replacement cable and a shedload of work) is from around £12

So a huge difference.

To cut a long story fairly short, I went with a £79 pattern part, delivered in 2 days, and a perfect (if challenging) fit. Now working perfectly.

But look at the photos of the old one! How the hell this was still working a week ago is beyond me! The plastic was so chewed up that there is no way I could have fitted the repair kit, and the cable was on the verge of total failure. There were no warning signs, and the window worked perfectly up until that point (maybe a little slow)

 

[bigwinn]

When they go, they really go pop

 

[Roberltd2]

Glad it all worked out with the pattern replacement. I was in the same predicament last year but went for one from a breakers as I'd heard that pattern items could be a bad fit sometimes.
I then bought a repair kit to renew the original. This included a bobbin which was just as well because as you say, the original was really chewed up. It was a hell of a job getting the new cables into place though.

 

[smorris_12]

I bought a rewiring kit as I was convinced there was something up with my driver's window. It was an inordinate faff and I ended up modifying it (somehow, I forget) as it was waaay too tight on the pulleys. Next time I'd get a full mechanism.

If anyone wants to feel better about themselves, I've changed three Land Rover regulators recently for people, two 2018 cars and a 2021. They go for a passtime apparently. Makes me less inclined to object to doing it on a 20 year old car!