Adding coolant/anti-freeze (brand)

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by trader4

Thank you for telling me what an "appropriate" post is. Are you going
to call for me to be censored again, because my opinion doesn't agree
with yours? I don't base my opinions on just my experience, but also
what I've seen many others report. I suppose you never do that, do you?
In this case, someone basically asked what was up with changing the
tank as PM. It told them that some people are doing that because the
tanks are a known problem. I guess I should have said, "my tank's
still OK, so no need to change yours." Of course, then that wouldn't
be the right answer either.

Regarding overheating screwing the tank, I just went by exactly what
you said. And I stand by what I said about that. If BMW tanks can
fail because of an overheating incident, then they surely aren't much
of a tank. Exactly how hot do you think a tank can get? It's 2015,
not 1950. BMW doesn't know about modern plastics? Good grief.

You are hopeless, simply completely hopeless.

I've never had or even suggested you be censored. However, I think it would be best if you were banned from the forum as a deliberately disruptive individual detrimental to and in violation of the rules and spirit of the forum.

It's unfortunate that you haven't considered the many many attempts offering helpful advice. I find it hard to accept that some people just don't have the capability to learn from their mistakes. It's depressing. I try to find logic in your actions. I want to believe you are young and you still could learn with more life experiences. Makes me feel better. Other than that, I hope you always live a long way away from me.

FYI-- I have never replaced a CV boot either.

[A B Able Truck]

While this thread has taken the road of no return to the original topic - and - I haven't read any posts about the window regulators, but I do have a friend that said he replaced two on his BMW. I also deal with electrical issues several times a week.
You need to consider -
As with any electrical issue, but especially an electrical component with a load. Electrical connections have a tendency to overheat and loose contact. A dealer is more likely to replace a window regulator then repair a connection. If you do the repair yourself, inspect the connections before just replacing the component.

[jfoj]

I know this is off the original topic, but somewhat on the topic at hand, window regulators.

I know the E46 sedans and wagons have problems, the coupes and convertibles rarely have have issues. Some of the problem is the glass sticking to the actual door glass guides and the upper channel/gasket when the car sits. Cleaning and maintenance can help keep the glass from sticking and will likely keep the window regulators alive.

It seems that the less a window is used, the more likely the regulator is to fail. I have been very lucky to only have 2 window regulator failures that I can recall in the last 25+ years.

One was on my 1996 Chevy Impala SS which I have given to my son, car has 50k miles on it. One of the nylon slides split, a very common problem on these models, replaced it with a nylon roller rather than a slide, I think a $10 ebay kit as I recall.

My most recent failure which I just resolved yesterday was on my daughters 2003 VW Beetle Convertible, the rear window regulator failed. We are original owners and this car is 12 years old. What happened is a plastic part where the 2 cables meet that raise and lower the window finally failed. Part of the plastic that held the end of one of the cables finally cracked and broke cause the cable to let go.

My point is window regulators fail on all makes and models for differing reasons. If you have a vehicle that is experiencing multiple failures, especially on the same window, something is WRONG. The failure needs be be analyzed and understood. Then some form of corrective measure needs to implemented.

Suggest you read this thread from E46Fantics about regulator failures and updated regulators. There is a lot of good info about everything from window tint causing problems to sticky and dirty window tracks as well as vehicles being subjected to a lot of heat and the window becoming glued to the gaskets/slides.

It's time to get serious about window regulators - E46Fanatics

I am not tying to feed the drama, just trying to point out some useful and factual information and before someone keep complaining about repeated problems, sometimes you need to stop an analyze what is really happening.

[Helihover]

"I am not tying to feed the drama, just trying to point out some useful and factual information and before someone keep complaining about repeated problems, sometimes you need to stop an analyze what is really happening."

Yes.
Problem is NO ONE, except maybe, just maybe, BMW, has anything to analyze.

As said before, forums are mostly negitive, so it would be impossible to base anything, as far as data is concerned, off of a forum.

[jfoj]

Originally Posted by Helihover

Yes.
Problem is NO ONE, except maybe, just maybe, BMW, has anything to analyze.

You do not need BMW to "analyze" anything for you, you can analyze the problem yourself.

The problem could be due to a weak design or part, or the problem could be user induced in one matter or another. Either due to lack of use or abuse.

Abuse could be trying to open the window when it is iced up (someone is located in the North East!) to even how hard a door is slammed. Maybe not "intentional" misuse, but sometimes you have to stop and look at the much bigger picture.

Kind of like expansion tank failures, many of they are due to either overfilling the expansion tank and there is no room for expansion to a expansion tank cap that dues not vent properly.

And correct, many forum members here and on every forum come to share experiences, compare problems, and understand how to fix specific or common problem. The only real way to solve problems over the Internet is if there is a common problem that many people have personally addressed.

Uncommon problems are very hard to solve over the Internet without being able to get hands on with the vehicle.

Anyway, I hope everyone uses the correct coolant, not worth the risk with mixing, many parts stores both chain and local import stores now stock coolant for German and Asian manufacturers. Even my local Advance Auto stocks BMW brand coolant as well as CHF-11s power steering/hydraulic fluid.

Also I always fill the expansion tank to the low side. As I recall BMW states the coolant fill should be checked at 68F. There is quite a bit of expansion and contraction of the total engine coolant fill over a few degrees so this must be considered as well.

Happy motoring and love your BMW!

[bcredliner]

[QUOTE=trader4;1056421]

Originally Posted by jfoj

You do not need BMW to "analyze" anything for you, you can analyze the problem yourself.

The problem could be due to a weak design or part, or the problem could be user induced in one matter or another. Either due to lack of use or abuse.

Abuse could be trying to open the window when it is iced up (someone is located in the North East!) to even how hard a door is slammed. Maybe not "intentional" misuse, but sometimes you have to stop and look at the much bigger picture.

Kind of like expansion tank failures, many of they are due to either overfilling the expansion tank and there is no room for expansion to a expansion tank cap that dues not vent properly.

And correct, many forum members here and on every forum come to share experiences, compare problems, and understand how to fix specific or common problem. The only real way to solve problems over the Internet is if there is a common problem that many people have personally addressed.
QUOTE]


Agree that you can do some failure analysis yourself. In the case of the
window regulators, I think I've identified part of the problem. The most
recent failure here is at the top of the slide attachment where it connects
to the cable that lifts the window. The cable has a little barrel shaped
fitting crimped on it. That press fits into plastic on the slide. That is
all that holds it in. In this one that failed, the plastic had started to
break away, so that the cable would pop out. It looks to me like the
failure could be prevented or lessened by securing the cable laterally
with two cable ties, one above where the cable connects, the other
below it. That keeps the cable firmly seated in the slide. Without it,
I think what happens is that barrel crimped on there tends to work
around, gradually wearing on the plastic, fracturing it, etc until the
plastic can no longer hold the cable and the cable pops out. I just
repaired mine using two cable ties. I would recommend doing that
on any replacement ones.

Good to know

[Ricky Bobby]

The window regulator ziptie fix has been on E46Fanatics for a few years now. Others have used copper wire as well and it has worked great for them

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

The window regulator ziptie fix has been on E46Fanatics for a few years now. Others have used copper wire as well and it has worked great for them

I was going to say... that's 99% of the time how the regulator fails. That metal clamp that holds the cable in eventually pops out of the plastic part. Zip ties, copper wire (I like this one), etc... will work great to keep the cable in the plastic part even if the plastic fails.

Like so: