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Thread: 1997 540i rear window rolling up and down backwards

  1. #1
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    1997 540i rear window rolling up and down backwards

    I have a few threads on this. All seem to have the issue with the motor having the polarity swapped. The other threads all seemed to have an issue with both switches. Mine is an issue only with the drivers switch.

    I am leaning towards a bad switch, or a faulted switch? I took the door apart today(drivers door) and noticed nothing odd about the switch. The connectors can't be backwards and all the switches face the same direction. Thoughts?
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  2. #2
    geargrinder's Avatar
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    So you're saying the back sweat switch works OK but not the 'master' switch.

    Could it be that a jerkbag PO reversed the motor polarity, then tested & "fixed" it by reversing the pins on the back seat switch because that was easier than pulling the door apart?

    I'd pop the back seat switch out and see if the color codes to that are factory correct. If they aren't you can either fix it the right way, or, re-pin the connector to the drivers switch to match. Although I'd wonder, if its "hack fixed" that way, if the 'auto windows open/close' functions w/ the key and remote would work in reverse. I bet they would... meaning you basically can't use the feature unless it's fixed properly.

    BTW you don't have to pull the drivers door apart to take the switches out, it comes right out the top. Just be super careful about prying around the edges, you can break the outer edge of the top plastic 'trim' plate.
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    So you're saying the back sweat switch works OK but not the 'master' switch.

    Could it be that a jerkbag PO reversed the motor polarity, then tested & "fixed" it by reversing the pins on the back seat switch because that was easier than pulling the door apart?

    I'd pop the back seat switch out and see if the color codes to that are factory correct. If they aren't you can either fix it the right way, or, re-pin the connector to the drivers switch to match. Although I'd wonder, if its "hack fixed" that way, if the 'auto windows open/close' functions w/ the key and remote would work in reverse. I bet they would... meaning you basically can't use the feature unless it's fixed properly.

    BTW you don't have to pull the drivers door apart to take the switches out, it comes right out the top. Just be super careful about prying around the edges, you can break the outer edge of the top plastic 'trim' plate.
    Yes, auto up/down with the keys is backwards too.... It's great
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  4. #4
    geargrinder's Avatar
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    OK that confirms it - I'd be pretty sure I'm right.

    They got the whole door back together then were like "ohisht!" and didn't want to tear the door down again.

    To be fair, might not have been the PO, coulda been a shop PO used.... oh, no wait... its' this car isn't it... nawww that was definitely your PO!!!
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  5. #5
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    Is it possible that the switch is just installed physically backwards? IIRC the plug can only be installed one way.

    I did that when I replaced the switch trim on the sport seats in my 528i. When the thigh bolster switch on the passenger seat is activated pressing it forward retracts the bolster and pressing backwards extends the bolster. Opposite of how it should function. I know it's wrong but I didn't want to remove the trim piece again, and since it's the passenger seat which isn't used much anyway I decided to leave it alone.

    If I ever sell the car I'm likely to forget to mention it to the new owner.

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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    OK that confirms it - I'd be pretty sure I'm right.

    They got the whole door back together then were like "ohisht!" and didn't want to tear the door down again.

    To be fair, might not have been the PO, coulda been a shop PO used.... oh, no wait... its' this car isn't it... nawww that was definitely your PO!!!
    I'll tear into it next week while I'm off work.
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  7. #7
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    You are still dealing with a polarity issue even though everything is hooked up correctly. A motor will plug into any location and function, just maybe backwards. Also, there are two styles of rear regulators. I experienced your same problem after repairing my regulator with a newer style one but using old style motor. I had a pile of parts when i put mine together so i can't confirm which motor or location I used.
    I know your previous owner didn't do you many favors but maybe he replaced the regulators and got the motors swapped (or early to late wind backwards) and was too lazy to take it all apart to fix.
    Now when I repair a regulator, i check up/down direction with the drivers switch and reverse the motor wires in the plug accordingly
    Of course I have a dog who likes his window down and this has been seriously testing BMW's quality.
    Now, the most important question? Have you made peace with your car and is this your new favorite daily driver? All that talk about selling it had me worried.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Late to the party i see, started my post and got interrupted.

  8. #8
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    Classic reg job fail.

  9. #9
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    To reverse the polarity you have to switch wires at the motor plug to door harness (means panel has to come off). Ifyou just reverse the wires at the switch it only fixes the door switch, not master switch if I'm not mistaken.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by wagons ho View Post
    You are still dealing with a polarity issue even though everything is hooked up correctly. A motor will plug into any location and function, just maybe backwards. Also, there are two styles of rear regulators. I experienced your same problem after repairing my regulator with a newer style one but using old style motor. I had a pile of parts when i put mine together so i can't confirm which motor or location I used.
    I know your previous owner didn't do you many favors but maybe he replaced the regulators and got the motors swapped (or early to late wind backwards) and was too lazy to take it all apart to fix.
    Now when I repair a regulator, i check up/down direction with the drivers switch and reverse the motor wires in the plug accordingly
    Of course I have a dog who likes his window down and this has been seriously testing BMW's quality.
    Now, the most important question? Have you made peace with your car and is this your new favorite daily driver? All that talk about selling it had me worried.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Late to the party i see, started my post and got interrupted.
    Favorite dd? Not by a long shot. I've had some very nice dd's but that was before this commute. It's a nice driver though and does what I ask.
    Quote Originally Posted by wagons ho View Post
    To reverse the polarity you have to switch wires at the motor plug to door harness (means panel has to come off). Ifyou just reverse the wires at the switch it only fixes the door switch, not master switch if I'm not mistaken.
    The master switch is the only one with an issue.

    I'll pull the door panel off this next week(I'm working till Monday) and look at it then.
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  11. #11
    geargrinder's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DustenA View Post
    The master switch is the only one with an issue.
    Well not exactly. The auto-windows functions are reversed you say, so, yeah... its gotta be the motor wired backwards then the switch polarity after-hacked.

    The GM/ZKE doesn't know that the motor is in reversed, so anything it does - either on its own (auto close) or because of being commanded by the drivers switch - will be reversed.

    Just checking the WDS, the 'reverse the pins on drivers switch' hack wont' work anyway.

    Drivers switch module talks data over the P-bus to the ZKE and that's how it controls the other windows - not through dedicated wires.

    I should have known that for reasons of prior painful events but didn't occur to me.

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  12. #12
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    So the back seat switch didn't work right, it was in upside down. I just reversed the wires at the motor. Works good now. If I replace the regulator I'll fix it. If I don't, I'll let the next owner know.
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  13. #13
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    Simple fix
    Remove the widow regulator and unscrew the 4 torx head bolts off the motor. Slide the Silver metal box off the motor, turn it 180 degrees and slide it back down the motor and reinstall torx head screws. Put window regulator back in door and is
    Problem fixed
    Now your widow switch will work like it suppose to

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    Last edited by cazal740i; 05-26-2017 at 02:08 AM.
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  14. #14
    geargrinder's Avatar
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    Puzzled over how that worked for a sec but then realized that'll reverse the contacts to the commutators. Got it.

    Seems like his wire swap at the motor is gonna work 100% fine unless somebody else ever replaces the motor again.
    In a case like this these days, I'll do stuff like I'd stick a piece of painters tape inside the door under the card and write something like 'note - wire polarity reversed, motor in backwards' on it for the next guy and/or my senile-self.
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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    Puzzled over how that worked for a sec but then realized that'll reverse the contacts to the commutators. Got it.

    Seems like his wire swap at the motor is gonna work 100% fine unless somebody else ever replaces the motor again.
    In a case like this these days, I'll do stuff like I'd stick a piece of painters tape inside the door under the card and write something like 'note - wire polarity reversed, motor in backwards' on it for the next guy and/or my senile-self.
    I keep a detailed log of all repairs, date, mileage, receipts. So I'll pass it to the next owner. For the limited use the rear window gets(i commute alone, I don't use this for anything but my commute) I wasn't tearing the regulator out.
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  16. #16
    geargrinder's Avatar
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    And if its all working w/ the wire swap I'd call it good. Pulling the regulator is a lotta work just to be anal OCD about the inside of the door when it's 100% functional.
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  17. #17
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    Well I agree pulling out the window REG out of the rear doors on either e39 or e38 is a PITA but if u raise the window all the way up , remove door panel, remove the weather guard you can slip a torx head screwdriver to 3 of the torx heads screws and a small torx head bit to the inside 1 and remove the metal BOX and turn it 180 deg...What I had to do....saved me a lot of time
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  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by cazal740i View Post
    Well I agree pulling out the window REG out of the rear doors on either e39 or e38 is a PITA but if u raise the window all the way up , remove door panel, remove the weather guard you can slip a torx head screwdriver to 3 of the torx heads screws and a small torx head bit to the inside 1 and remove the metal BOX and turn it 180 deg...What I had to do....saved me a lot of time
    I have 9 cars that I have to keep running. when it comes to a repair like this, it just doesn't rank high enough lol. The window works.
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