I’ve read lots about window regulators failing on the E53 but it’s only just happened for me, after 14 years. It was the passenger front, and the black clips had disintegrated. My thought is that this is possibly thermal - why would that window have the problem? The car has been parked for eight years in the same orientation during the day, and that door gets all of the sun. The rear door is screened for much more of the day by foliage.
I think that you folk in warmer climates just get more heat for longer, and these little clips don’t like this so they give up quickly. A theory to be shot at!
I also found that to replace the clips you don’t need to remove airbags and all of the foam like liner. Just the bottom third gives access to the fittings.