DIY: Window Regulator Rebuild

[Frankie]

Don't replace window regulators, rebuild them!

• Window Regulator Rebuild

[4liter]

Great tutorial

Sent from my LGLS676 using Tapatalk

[cyclops2]

excellent work, one of nicest DIY procedure docs I've seen. Thanks.

[nmlss2006]

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.

[Frankie]

...is the pulley then held onto the axle... by the grease?

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.

[BMW750V12]

Thank you !

[Frankie]

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:

• Window Regulator Rebuild

[dme88]

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:

• Window Regulator Rebuild

Can't you make a replacement pulley all togheter? So one can just drill out the top pulley.
What have failed for me over the years has only been the clamping from the wire to the window holder, never the pulleys :-)

[subzero32]

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.

[Frankie]

Can't you make a replacement pulley all togheter?

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.

So one can just drill out the top pulley.

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.

[BKKMotorWorks]

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?

[Frankie]

I'm doing a rear reg. rebuild. The type with the motor fixed to the bottom.

It sounds like you're working on an E39 regulator. My DIY is for E38 regulators (as I previously stressed). I have experience rebuilding E39 window motors, but not E39 regulators. And I'm not aware of any cables sold separately for E38.

[Frankie]

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.

[Old525i]

Are the repair pulleys still available?

[Frankie]

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.