Don't replace window regulators, rebuild them!
Great tutorial
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excellent work, one of nicest DIY procedure docs I've seen. Thanks.
1997 740iL; 5/96 build. Purchased 12/04. Off the road build project 2013 - 2021. back on road 3/2021. Became daily driver (only vehicle) 6/12/2021. Still not completed. Stay tuned as the adventure continues.
Very good work, but I do have a question: is the pulley then held onto the axle... by the grease? That doesn't seem prudent.
Nope. The upper regulator mount points adjoin a bracket up inside the door cavity. This serves to pinch or sandwich the upper pulley post. The upper pulley isn't going anywhere after the upper regulator mounting screws are in place.
EDIT: Added additional verbiage to DIY for clarification.
Last edited by Frankie; 01-21-2018 at 04:11 PM. Reason: update
Thank you !
Just suffered a left rear window regulator failure. The OEM part was 5 years old, according to its date stamp. I learned a few more things and therefore updated my DIY to reflect this additional experience:
[E39 540i] - with S/C ESS kit (plus some upgrades)
[E34 540iA] - Gone
Damn, I should have done this a few months ago instead of taking a chance with a used one. Ohh well, the driver front is not far from failure so I'll bookmark this for sure.
Just keeping it reliable and looking decent.
Replacement pulleys are available from the link in my DIY (sold by a third party vendor). If you'd rather make a pulley yourself, you can.
Not sure I understand. The pulley will be broken away already. If not, there's no need to rebuild your regulator.
EDIT: I see from a post in the E39 forums that you just finished a rear window regulator job on an E39. Please note E38 and E39 regulators are different, and tend to suffer different failures. This may explain your confusion with my DIY, which is written for E38.
Last edited by Frankie; 08-01-2020 at 12:00 PM. Reason: E39 vs E38 regulators
I'm doing a rear reg. rebuild. The type with the motor fixed to the bottom.
I've bought the cables, have wound them on, but I'm coming up 1-2" short. That's with the large tensioner spring fully compressed.
I've assembled it without the spring to check fit (so I'm not fighting the compressed spring), same thing.
I've checked the length against my original cables (mangled) - same length.
I'm stumped.
Any ideas?
Last edited by Frankie; 08-04-2020 at 10:13 AM.
Last week, right front window regulator failed. As suspected, an upper pulley broke (by the door lock). Replaced broken pulley with metal pulley, and replaced failed rubber bumper end-stop. All working now.
IMG_0669.JPG IMG_0670.JPG
Updated my DIY with additional information from this experience: Window Regulator Rebuild
NOTE: metal pulley wheels will not be available much longer from the source mentioned in this thread. I will attempt to acquire a dozen. Then, others may contact me for these wheels.
Are the repair pulleys still available?
Yes, metal pulleys are available. $35ea or $60/pair. $8 shipping. Venmo, Zelle, or personal check (no PayPal). Send PM, or e-mail in DIY link above, if interested.
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