So, how did this happen, then?

[Busterboo]

Go to car, sense something wrong. Press fob. Heavier-than-normal pressure on handle 'trigger' and window doesn't drop the usual 2cm on opening door. Try to close door, can't. Try again, harder. Closes, but with little movement between latching and actual shutting. Then realise window top is outside roof.

Remember watching Turkish traffic policeman opening locked BMW to tow away. Big screwdriver between window and roof. Has someone tried this on mine? Think … go to passenger door. Ditto, window shut but outside roof. (But no fingerprints/smudges on either window or marks on doors.)

Get into car, shut door, try to operate front windows. Nothing. Rears fine. Try roof. Nothing. Search for faults on on-board computer. 'No Faults.' Manually check radio, CD, lights et cetera. No problems. Get out, shut door and realise can re-insert closed window under roof with firm thumbs. Do both, all looks fine, but … driver's window goes 'out' when I open door again. Decide to drive to gun club to ask someone to thumb windows closed with me inside to see if they'll work then … and to shoot.

Arrive, re-thumb driver's window shut, lock car with fob and walk to Reception. Oscillator on DTL clay trap broken. No shooting. Double bo//ocks. Go back to car. Press fob to open. Handle fine. Windows do usual initial drop. Get in, windows rise normally into correct position. Try to open & close fronts, no problem. Try roof, no problem. Drive home, try all again, no problems. Tried again just now. Fine.

So, how did this happen, then ? What caused it?

(I think I know and the answer's not electrical. A clue is that I have a very strong neighbour I collected from A&E yesterday.)

 

[Cees Klumper]

Well, maybe not related, but when I reconnect battery on our 2008 Volvo C70 after disconnect, it takes a few 'cycles' before the windows will do their normal 'drop' on opening the doors. Similar when the battery was starting to go. So electrical disturbances on that car cause what you experienced. Battery all good?

 

[clarker63]

(I think I know and the answer's not electrical. A clue is that I have a very strong neighbour I collected from A&E yesterday.)

The only time I've had this was when the windows were frozen, they didn't drop and I pulled the door open (it was hard to do). When I closed the door the window was outside the frame. Fortunately when it defrosted everything was ok.

Strange that both windows did that though, and I can't see how your neighbour could affect your drivers side...

 

[Anonymous]

Had this issue on disconnecting battery for intended swap..then when power re applied had that issue..engine start and then normal shutdown all ok

Could be the battery on its way out or corroded / intermittent connection on terminals..or IBIS faulty/thinking battery flat..

 

[helmik]

Strong neighbour slammed the door maybe?? Something to do with air pressure.
Mick

 

[flybobbie]

Couple of weeks ago got the glass over the door frame, the seat belt got jammed in the door.
The door closed but was a fraction open so the glass missed the seal.

 

[Busterboo]

Strong neighbour slammed the door maybe?? Something to do with air pressure.
Mick

Bingo! Or, at least, this is what I suspect.

He slammed the door harder than I've ever heard a door slammed before and I think the air pressure forced both windows out of their seals.

They're fine now and both doors open & close normally. Next time I give him a lift, I'll play the chauffeur.

 

[Smartbear]

Strong neighbour slammed the door maybe?? Something to do with air pressure.
Mick

Bingo! Or, at least, this is what I suspect.

He slammed the door harder than I've ever heard a door slammed before and I think the air pressure forced both windows out of their seals.

They're fine now and both doors open & close normally. Next time I give him a lift, I'll play the chauffeur.

But there shouldn’t be any meaningful air pressure Buster, don’t forget the windows stay down a touch until the doors closed, allowing any residual pressure to escape before it can blow your eardrums/windscreen etc out.
Rob

 

[Busterboo]

But there shouldn’t be any meaningful air pressure Buster, don’t forget the windows stay down a touch until the doors closed, allowing any residual pressure to escape before it can blow your eardrums/windscreen etc out.
Rob

I understand the system, Rob, but I think the force he applied may have defeated it.

That apart, the engine was running when he slammed the door and was driven for another 15 minutes before I put the car in the garage. So, if there was a low battery problem, it happened after that and meant that both windows dropped and then rose outside the top seals in the garage. In these circumstances, I can understand them dropping if there were a low battery, but not dropping and rising, not least because the latter needs quite a lot of energy.

What do you think?

 

[enuff_zed]

But there shouldn’t be any meaningful air pressure Buster, don’t forget the windows stay down a touch until the doors closed, allowing any residual pressure to escape before it can blow your eardrums/windscreen etc out.
Rob

I understand the system, Rob, but I think the force he applied may have defeated it.

That apart, the engine was running when he slammed the door and was driven for another 15 minutes before I put the car in the garage. So, if there was a low battery problem, it happened after that and meant that both windows dropped and then rose outside the top seals in the garage. In these circumstances, I can understand them dropping if there were a low battery, but not dropping and rising, not least because the latter needs quite a lot of energy.

What do you think?

Hmm, I think Rob's point is that the windows drop when you first open the door and do not rise again until the door is shut. They don't go up again once the door is open. I know this as it continually frustrates me, trying to clean and dry the bottom half inch of glass!
Therefore, unless your friend opened the door, exited and shut it all again within about half a second, there should have been a gap?
Were you in the car at the time, with your door shut?
Even if he had generated enough pressure, it would then have had to force your driver's door window out from it's seated position.

Would love to be proved wrong, but I feel your supposition may be masking a different issue................. which you'll never know unless it happens again.

 

[enuff_zed]

So, in short, although it's a bit of a 'pane', you'll need to wait for another window of opportunity.

 

[Silverstar]

But there shouldn’t be any meaningful air pressure Buster, don’t forget the windows stay down a touch until the doors closed, allowing any residual pressure to escape before it can blow your eardrums/windscreen etc out.
Rob

I understand the system, Rob, but I think the force he applied may have defeated it.

That apart, the engine was running when he slammed the door and was driven for another 15 minutes before I put the car in the garage. So, if there was a low battery problem, it happened after that and meant that both windows dropped and then rose outside the top seals in the garage. In these circumstances, I can understand them dropping if there were a low battery, but not dropping and rising, not least because the latter needs quite a lot of energy.

What do you think?

Hmm, I think Rob's point is that the windows drop when you first open the door and do not rise again until the door is shut. They don't go up again once the door is open. I know this as it continually frustrates me, trying to clean and dry the bottom half inch of glass!
Therefore, unless your friend opened the door, exited and shut it all again within about half a second, there should have been a gap?
Were you in the car at the time, with your door shut?
Even if he had generated enough pressure, it would then have had to force your driver's door window out from it's seated position.

Would love to be proved wrong, but I feel your supposition may be masking a different issue................. which you'll never know unless it happens again.

Slightly off topic, regarding cleaning the windows and the glass dropping half an inch. I saw in a video by White Details that you can actuate the lock manually to fool the car into thinking the door is shut and hence the windows will rise all the way to the top allowing you to clean that bottom half an inch. Basically using a screwdriver you manually actuate the lock with the door open and once you finish cleaning just pull on the door handle and the lock will release. Not sure if I explained that well!

 

[firebobby]

Your neighbour sounds like a right one, I wouldn't let him near my car if he slams the door that hard. Tell him to bloody walk

 

[enuff_zed]

Slightly off topic, regarding cleaning the windows and the glass dropping half an inch. I saw in a video by White Details that you can actuate the lock manually to fool the car into thinking the door is shut and hence the windows will rise all the way to the top allowing you to clean that bottom half an inch. Basically using a screwdriver you manually actuate the lock with the door open and once you finish cleaning just pull on the door handle and the lock will release. Not sure if I explained that well!

That's worth a try. Cheers.

 

[Busterboo]

Thanks all.

If it happens again, I'll get a new battery.

 

[srhutch]

Strong neighbour slammed the door maybe?? Something to do with air pressure.
Mick

Bingo! Or, at least, this is what I suspect.

He slammed the door harder than I've ever heard a door slammed before and I think the air pressure forced both windows out of their seals.

They're fine now and both doors open & close normally. Next time I give him a lift, I'll play the chauffeur.

But there shouldn’t be any meaningful air pressure Buster, don’t forget the windows stay down a touch until the doors closed, allowing any residual pressure to escape before it can blow your eardrums/windscreen etc out.
Rob

Agree, can't see how this would happen.

 

[Busterboo]

Bingo! Or, at least, this is what I suspect.

He slammed the door harder than I've ever heard a door slammed before and I think the air pressure forced both windows out of their seals.

They're fine now and both doors open & close normally. Next time I give him a lift, I'll play the chauffeur.

But there shouldn’t be any meaningful air pressure Buster, don’t forget the windows stay down a touch until the doors closed, allowing any residual pressure to escape before it can blow your eardrums/windscreen etc out.
Rob

Agree, can't see how this would happen.

Well, it seems that it did. I didn't use the car until yesterday and only then saw that he's knocked the passenger window out of alignment.

Mind you, he's a big lad. Ex-prison officer. Used to shutting doors hard.

 

[Smartbear]

But there shouldn’t be any meaningful air pressure Buster, don’t forget the windows stay down a touch until the doors closed, allowing any residual pressure to escape before it can blow your eardrums/windscreen etc out.
Rob

Agree, can't see how this would happen.

Well, it seems that it did. I didn't use the car until yesterday and only then saw that he's knocked the passenger window out of alignment.

Mind you, he's a big lad. Ex-prison officer. Used to shutting doors hard (and leaving the windows open for prisoners to escape)

There you go, I’ve fixed that for you no need to thank me
Rob

 

[Busterboo]

Agree, can't see how this would happen.

Well, it seems that it did. I didn't use the car until yesterday and only then saw that he's knocked the passenger window out of alignment.

Mind you, he's a big lad. Ex-prison officer. Used to shutting doors hard (and leaving the windows open for prisoners to escape)

There you go, I’ve fixed that for you no need to thank me
Rob

 

[Nictrix]

Would the fact you were still in the car after he slammed the door shut not mean that when you exited the car the window at least on your side would have returned to normal when you closed your door.