Window regulator gone!

[obewan]

Couple of weeks ago I heard the dreaded grinding noise from driver side window, looked around on here and the symptoms all pointed to the regulator
Anyway it cleared up a day later
Thursday, there was a bang when I put the window down, window went back up then nothing
I can still hear the motor running though.

Ordered a new regulator (and some spare clips) from the local dealers.
A work colleague is an ex Ford mechanic, swears it's easy and has done loads of them. Still want him to gave me a hand though!
His tip was not to get an aftermarket one as they never seem to fit correctly and don't last
Anyway as he still helps out at a local garage in his spare time (and I'm getting it delivered there), BMW gave me it at trade price - £147
Should have been £162

So that's the job for next weekend - printed off a couple of 'how to's' from here - wish me luck

 

[gingertosser]

ouch £147 for a bit of steel cable

 

[sk93]

hate to say it, but your mate shouldn't have told you not to get an aftermarket repair kit.
the motor is still fine as you can hear it, and that's the major and most expensive part.

The cable kit is about £45


get your mate to provide the beers

 

[obewan]

hate to say it, but your mate shouldn't have told you not to get an aftermarket repair kit.
the motor is still fine as you can hear it, and that's the major and most expensive part.

The cable kit is about £45

Hmmm we both looked at them on E-bay, then the self doubt kicked in and I went for the BMW part - think Europarts were selling for around the same price so wasn't really sure what quality I would be getting for £45. My mate said you can get alignment issues
Anyway done now - typical, good week-end and I can't get the roof down

 

[sk93]

I initially thought that, but bought one anyways.. bit of a pain in the bum to begin with, especially if you don't pay huge attention to the old one when taking it off.. but they do work perfectly fine, and the alignment can be fixed with the both under the door.

but glad you got it sorted nonetheless

 

[obewan]

Thanks for the advice sk93, I'll bear that in mind if the other side ever packs in

 

[Mafoo]

Let me know how you get on. I have my drivers side go a year ago and had an indie change it.

A year later and it went again yesterday (same side !!!!)

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[wowser]

just replaced my passenger one. Part was £135 from bmw specialist in newport

 

[obewan]

Re: Window regulator gone!

Unread postby wowser - Tue May 27, 2014 4:33 pm
just replaced my passenger one. Part was £135 from bmw specialist in newport

How did it go?
Hopefully mine should arrive tomorrow, ready to have a go at the week-end

 

[T2FFN]

I swapped mine the other week. Was a couple hours total, including soundproofing while in there. Pretty straight forward, alignment spot on straight away simply checking it with door closed not moving. Hardest bits were getting the new regulator back in the door and lined up, then understanding how the glass sat at the open side of the door. Couldn't see this on old one before removing so played with it until it seemed to slot into place. Not a difficult job if you're remotely handy, I'd kick myself paying £180 fitting I was quoted if I knew it was only 3hrs work at a relaxed pace, in the sun, chatting to neighbour...

 

[richardjgreen]

my stealer charged me nearly £900 to do ours ouch

 

[wowser]

only charged me 1.5 hours labour to do the job, works fine now

 

[T2FFN]

my stealer charged me nearly £900 to do ours ouch

WTF???? Come with a new door, sports seats and 4 tyres???

 

[itguy]

I replaced my drivers door one with a new cable only kit. Worked perfectly.

The cable is TIGHT on the pulleys but it does go on and there is a technique to do it by winding it on.

If my passenger one ever goes I'd do exactly the same. Can't see the point in spending more than is needed doing this job.

 

[obewan]

Well, 2.5hrs later that's that job done
Used a couple of how to's off here - pretty straight forward just a bit fiddly (like many have said)
Only issue was that the old cable had snapped and managed to jam the window preventing us dropping it to getting the regulator out
After cutting away the cable and gentle pushes & tugs it came free

Re-fit was much quicker and the window worked perfectly immediately - no adjustment or re-setting
Good feeling of achievement and great to have it working again

One tip I would add to the instructions mentioned above is that it is not necessary to completely remove the door membrane
We left the bottom third of both sides and lower seals intact and peeled it back - less risk for future leaks. However the compound remained very sticky so easily re-attached.

Now just want the sun to come out

 

[tartan-ninja]

Mine went last week...3 days after getting my Z.... took a couple of hours and not the hardest job either...adjustment is easy and even the auto fuction on the window seems to be ok....