Window regulator?

[quattro PETE]

Driver side window does not go down. When I press the button, I hear some moaning/groaning noises, but the window does not move. The mechanic is telling me I need a new window regulator. Is this possible?

Last time I had a window regulator fail, there was no action and no noise from the door at all. This time I actually hear it.


What happened was the car was parked outside overnight with temps well below freezing. When I got to the car and pulled up to pay the parking ticket, I tried rolling down the window. All I heard was a snap and then these moaning/groaning noises, but the window stayed up. Is it possible just some linkages got snapped (due to window freezing), but the regulator is still OK? Or are these linkages part of the regulator and cannot be replaced by themselves?

[MacLoGoS]

The regulator is cable drivin and is the entire unit. The snap noise could have been the cable snapping or just falling off the metal guides. I would open up the door panel and take a look before ordering a new regulator. Could be as simple as putting the wire back on the guides. Also another failure point is the plastic wheel the motor spins inside of the regulator. They become brittle over the years and internally fail.

[quattro PETE]

Also, he's quoting me $500+ for a new OEM regulator and labor, and is giving 3-year warranty on it. He said the non-OEM part that he could alternatively substitute would only cost me $50 less. Seems pretty steep. I think I paid less at the dealer, when my right side one went out a few years back.

EDIT: I see it's under $200 online. I think I am getting ripped off here.

[Only1Balto]

The bulb on the cable that sets into the window guide came out on both of my rear windows. It would seem like an easy fix to make sure this doesn't continue to happen, however I don't recall ever seeing a fix. There was mention of a ziptie fix that works fairly well.

Eventually I'll probably get them replaced at autozone since they've got that warranty.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447297

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Yes, that's a lot for parts and labor. Its a 30-45 minute fix.

[quattro PETE]

Just checked with a local BMW dealer: they want $525 for parts and labor, so about the same as my indy shop, but I would expect an indy shop to be cheaper. Ugh..

[MacLoGoS]

Replacing the regulator is not hard at all. Took me 40 mins last i did my drivers front. Remove door panel, Disconnect battery (to avoid airbag warning light or possibly deployment), Remove the airbag, Remove the padding under the door panel, At this point you will see the mounting points for the window. I removed my window from the door completely for easy access but thats up to you. Locate all the mounting bolts i think there are 5 or 6 dont remember. Once you have all the bolts out you can remove the regulator. Make sure to remove the motor from the regulator and swap over. Installation is reverse of removal. Pretty simple once you get in there to check things out.

When i ordered my replacement front regulator i picked up a OEM unit for $150. 500 bucks for 40 mins of work is ridiculous. One thing to mention here is that even with a brand new regulator the cables were slipping out of the guides. I took a pair of vice grips and slightly bent the guides into place to hold the cable properly. Just make sure that one the regulator is finally installed that you do a couple of test runs to make sure the cables are moving freely and not getting caught up. If i didnt inspect mine i would have had a early failure for sure. Good luck!!

There are also alot of vids on youtube that show the entire process so be sure to check some of those out before diving in.

[Only1Balto]

H (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrL6rlYl504#t=291)ere's a great write up on the back doors. Essentially the same. Easy peasy.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=556902

[Skwisgaar]

I used this one for my fronts. I had to replace both this summer. I like it because he doesn't speak. I hate listening to most of the guys that do these videos... they just ramble.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFSejMDRuOI

Like others have said, it's really easy to do the fronts. The backs are a bit more complicated and the regulators cost more. Prepare for one of them to go soon... E39s eat window regulators. I think I've been through eight OEMS and one URO. The URO lasted about six months.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

You can't do a window regulator???? What kind of man arghhhhh..... ahhhh never mind....
Dood, roll up your sleeves and try taking care of it yourself, if you think the mechanics are asking too much, that guy is asking too much, but if you don't know how to do it, don't want to, then I have no pity for you, if all you do is whine about the cost of getting it done. It is a piece of cake, just do it, you'll feel better about yourself when you get done. You do own some tools? If not, good luck...

[quattro PETE]

Sheesh... you have certainly picked the right screen name for yourself.

Not everyone is a born mechanic. While I do have a bunch of tools, over the years I've found out that I typically break something else while fixing another, and in the end I would have just saved myself the time and aggravation if I just let someone else do it in the first place. I did attempt to do my other window regulator a while back, and failed miserably. I don't mind paying someone to do it while I do what I get paid to do. But just like I don't like ripping people off, I wish others would not try to rip me off either.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Was just joking around, and at the same time trying to motivate you to do it and save some bucks.

[MacLoGoS]

Purchase a plastic pry tool!! It will be your best friend with jobs like these.

[RyansBMW]

Find yourself another indy. For parts and labor, you should be looking at ~$300 tops.

[OnTheFence]

Pete,

Sometimes, the regulator cable just gets derailed. Other times, it's just broken.

Are you interested in try to learn how to do this yourself?
If you are, we can walk you though it. It is a reasonable job for a beginner, but you need to have the motivation.

Otherwise, they are billing you $500+ b/c of the cost of the part.
If there is a sound, then the motor is fine, and you might need a new regulator b/c cable got messed up.

[Only1Balto]

Sheesh... you have certainly picked the right screen name for yourself.

Not everyone is a born mechanic. While I do have a bunch of tools, over the years I've found out that I typically break something else while fixing another, and in the end I would have just saved myself the time and aggravation if I just let someone else do it in the first place. I did attempt to do my other window regulator a while back, and failed miserably. I don't mind paying someone to do it while I do what I get paid to do. But just like I don't like ripping people off, I wish others would not try to rip me off either.


Welcome to the club!!! Seriously, its a part of the whole learning experience. I cannot tell you how many bone headed moves I've done in the past. Sitting in the garage with my gut wrenching at my own stupidity, sulking in misery at how a simple 30 minute job turned out to be 4 hours of cursing, justifying, and denial. Not to mention trying to get my story straight before I went in to tell the wife that the car now has "another" problem that needs to be fixed, costing $xxx amount of dollars, and it has to be towed. Its all a part of the game we play. However every mistake is a learning experience, and every successful repair is a stripe on my shoulder. Soon the mistakes became less and less, and although there will never come a point where mistakes are never made, once you make them, you're able to easily repair them.

Honestly, few things rival the feelings of accomplishment and a job well done, than when you rebuild an engine from the ground up and start it for the first time. However, to get to that point- you've got to start somewhere. And a window regulator sounds like as good a place as any.

[cnn]

As the car gets older, the price of Genuine BMW regulator has come down a lot.
Don't use aftermarket part, BMW part is cheap enough now...PN 51-33-8-252-393 ---> $134:
http://www.huskerparts.com/parts/index.cfm?searchText=51-33-8-252-393&make=BMW&action=oePartSearch&siteid=215771

This is a very easy DIY. I posted some info for rear regulator, but similar principle for front regulator.
You can do this under 2h using basic tools (screw driver, Torx keys etc.).

[OnTheFence]

Well said, Balto!

If you have interest in fixing it yourself, this is doable for a beginner.

Here is a write-up about examining or replacing the regulator.
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2126611-DIY-Front-window-doesn-t-go-all-the-way-up-(E39)