BMW Window Regulator Metal Pulley Retrofit Kit

**dville** · 07-26-2015, 09:58 AM

I have made some prototype metal pulleys to replace the pink plastic pulleys that break and cause stuck power windows.

The Front Window Kit comes with 4 pulley wheels and instructions: $100
The Rear Window Kit comes with 2 pulley wheels and instructions: $60

If you want to save time I will buy a new aftermarket window regulator (without motor), install the metal pulleys on it and ship to you.
This option takes more time of course.

Front window regulator with metal pulleys installed (no motor):$210
Rear window regulator with metal pulleys installed (no motor): $185

You will have to spend $6 for some additional hardware (more if you don't live near a Home Depot hardware store) to secure the pulleys.

Paypal accepted, PM me if you are interested.

**dville** · 07-31-2015, 01:12 AM

Parts you need to rebuild a regulator

Tools you will need to rebuild a regulator

**dville** · 07-31-2015, 04:02 PM

FRONT rebuilt regulator with 4 new metal pulley wheels

REAR rebuilt regulator with 2 new metal pulley wheels

**dville** · 08-17-2015, 10:43 PM

**first540i** · 08-18-2015, 05:52 AM

very nice design! i have personally thought about this recently when i was replacing my window regulator for my e38.

i was thinking to myself, wouldnt it be great if the wheels were metal? then it would never crack and fall apart!

i would have purchased these if i havent already spent $300+ on a new regulator...

**joekitch** · 08-18-2015, 04:23 PM

hmm, doesn't this overlook the other big regulator problem? (the metal bog on the cable slipping out of its track in the plastic piece)
although that may be more a problem for the e46

**dville** · 08-18-2015, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by first540i

very nice design! i have personally thought about this recently when i was replacing my window regulator for my e38.

i was thinking to myself, wouldnt it be great if the wheels were metal? then it would never crack and fall apart!

i would have purchased these if i havent already spent $300+ on a new regulator...

Don't worry, they WILL break again.

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Originally Posted by joekitch

hmm, doesn't this overlook the other big regulator problem? (the metal bog on the cable slipping out of its track in the plastic piece)
although that may be more a problem for the e46

I have worked on many E38 regulators and have never seen the failure mode you described. That is a weak link of the 3 series.
On the e38 I have only ever seen broken pulleys.

**joekitch** · 08-19-2015, 02:59 PM

hmm, in that case, are the e39 regulators close enough to design for these pullies to work on them too?
it seems like there's a lot of data about the e46 and e38 regulator failure modes but the e39 is way more nebulous

edit: PM'd greentiger who mentioned swapping e38 regulators into an e39 in this post
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...9#post27667989
it bolts up exactly the same as an e39 regulator BUT the e39 bolts need to be used as the e38 bolts are a little too long.
assuming that the metal pulleys are the ONLY failure point of e38 regulators, a junkyard e38 regulator + these metal pulleys might be the ticket to very long lasting window regs

**jmy60** · 11-02-2015, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by joekitch

hmm, doesn't this overlook the other big regulator problem? (the metal bog on the cable slipping out of its track in the plastic piece)
although that may be more a problem for the e46

I have had this problem with both my rear regulators...the cable came out because the metal lug (or bog as you called it) comes out of the carrier. I fixed this by drilling a 3/32 inch (or 2.5mm) hole in the carrier and into the lug. Then I installed a tiny Philips head course thread screw into both the carrier and the lug. Holds it all in place. On the second window I did, I realised I didn't need to remove the regulator...did it in situ with a short drive battery drill...Haven't had any issues since.

**jmy60** · 11-02-2015, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by dville

I have made some prototype metal pulleys to replace the pink plastic pulleys that break and cause stuck power windows.

The Front Window Kit comes with 4 pulley wheels and instructions: $100
The Rear Window Kit comes with 2 pulley wheels and instructions: $60

If you want to save time I will buy a new aftermarket window regulator (without motor), install the metal pulleys on it and ship to you.
This option takes more time of course.

Front window regulator with metal pulleys installed (no motor):$210
Rear window regulator with metal pulleys installed (no motor): $185

You will have to spend $6 for some additional hardware (more if you don't live near a Home Depot hardware store) to secure the pulleys.

Paypal accepted, PM me if you are interested.

Do you still have a kit for the front window on the E39? And would you send to an address in Australia?

**dville** · 11-11-2015, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by jmy60

Do you still have a kit for the front window on the E39? And would you send to an address in Australia?

Making a new batch and will update marketing one done. Hope you can hang on for a bit

**jmy60** · 11-12-2015, 07:06 AM

Your work inspired me to turn one up on my lathe. Already fitted... but keep me in the loop anyway. I'm sure the reg on the other side will go and I'll not have the time to make me up another. This one took me ages!

**dville** · 12-07-2015, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by jmy60

Your work inspired me to turn one up on my lathe. Already fitted... but keep me in the loop anyway. I'm sure the reg on the other side will go and I'll not have the time to make me up another. This one took me ages!

New batch of wheels available for shipping anywhere in the world.

**shenofjo** · 01-02-2016, 11:55 AM

My rear window started making this horrible crunchy sound and doesn't roll up completely anymore. I haven't got a chance to open it up, but research sonde like this pulley broke apart. Is this basically what I need? If so can I simply do the reinstall of the pulley without removing the regulator? Let me know my options and I'll be purchasing.

**dville** · 01-02-2016, 12:57 PM

You will have to take the glass and regulator out to replace the regulator.
Send me a private message by clicking on my username and I can get a metal pulley regulator shipped to you.

To save money if you have a wicked set of tools like the pic below, I can sell you a kit for cheap to rebuild your regulator

**shenofjo** · 01-02-2016, 01:14 PM

I'm asking here in case others have the same question. How do you replace the motor on the regulator? Does it also require special tools? And ya I don't got those fancy tools so I'll be getting the whole assembly.

**mgoods50** · 01-09-2016, 03:30 AM

Good on you for doing this. Years ago when I still had mine, there was talk but nothing came to fruition.

The motor itself usually lasts forever, but I know you can find them. I don't recall offhand from memory, but I don't remember anything special about replacement.

**dville** · 02-20-2016, 02:04 AM

New design wheels, new install kit, easier to install by reusing factory parts...
Many regulators rebuilt, many shipped and installed.

**PhreshBimz** · 08-08-2017, 05:12 AM

Hey man you still got these I got a ton of people that would do a group buy!!

**dville** · 08-08-2017, 06:26 AM

I used to rebuild them myself after work, one at a time. 1-2 hrs each.

I don't anymore because it was not profitable.

My buddy has the metal pulleys for sale still.
His email address is on my page here:
http://e38.weebly.com/windows.html

**shenofjo** · 08-08-2017, 01:57 PM

Glad I got one when I had the chance.

**PhreshBimz** · 08-08-2017, 08:18 PM

You are the man so I would basically just buy the pulleys along with a window regulator and swap the pulleys out myself. That's so awesome that you made these though!

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Will these also work on an E39??