Weird Window Treatment

[Bmwtvboy]

Wow, another issue with the X and I am still dealing with O2 codes. Minor one, Daylight running light, out, fog lamp, out.
This time it's truly weird , it's the front passenger window.
1. Window went down, light clunk noise, then wouldn't come up.
2. Remove door panel. Window was jammed down. With switch wiggling, and pushing up on glass the window went up. Checked all cables and sliders.
3. Lubricated everything I could get to including the 20 year old rubber window gasket/seal. Window goes up and down fine. NO film on this window.
4. Issue: Window jams when it goes all the way down-even with the window gasket/seal in the door. Won't come up without be wiggled, forced by hand. There is vertical smudge lines on the inside of the glass.
Is this a regulator issue? Seems to work fine. Is there something wrong
'with the adjustment and if so, how does one adjust the glass?
Seems troublesome.
Thanks in advance.

[crystalworks]

Sounds like one or both of the clips broke. That would allow the glass to move and grab some grease causing that smudge as it goes up and down.

These things.





Could be in combination with a regulator slider failing. Full failure of that though drops the window glass into the door. If you're in the door doing the clips... replace the slider as well and add a zip tie around the part that holds the cable. You'll never have problems again. At least not with that particular window.

[andrewwynn]

I've had this happen twice. Bolt in the clip came loose and fell in the bottom.

FYI best way to help the window into the track when this happens is gorilla tape. Make A handle you can grab the back of the window and help it in the groove

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Sounds like one or both of the clips broke. ...

Attachment 79134...

Sounds right to me.

But BTW, something I notice about that pic ...



(All this is based on looking at the windows + clips, etc. on my 2001 E53. I assume it is the same throughtout all E53 and probably well beyond that)

Those clips are supposed to go through the hole in the window, and then that little ledge at the bottom is supposed to fit snugly against the bottom edge of the window. That way it is all a single supporting piece, with load distributed, etc. Nice design if only the material were more durable.

That dimension (distance between the hole and that little ledge) is one way the clips are different for front vs. rear. The rears are also wider, different color plastic, use only one vs. two, higher price ...

So if you try to use a front clip in a rear window on my car, there will be a gap of about 4.5mm (from memory) between the glass and that ledge. And if you tried to use a rear clip on a front window, that ledge would be up against the face of the window, not the bottom edge, so providing no support.

Ill-fitting clips could be a cause of OP's problem, if clips are the problem.

So I noticed in the photo, there appears to be about a 3mm gap there. ??? That's a problem, right? Where did the photo come from?

BTW, I once had one of those screws come loose, so I now always (LOL, I have to get "in there" far more often than I should) use blue Loctite when reinstalling. I also replace the clips with new BMW ones whenever they need to come out from the glass - I find they will often crack, even when pretty new.

[crystalworks]

Not my pic. From another site. Good info on front vs rear. My clips were aftermarket and came as a set, will have to double check their fitment next time I'm in there for something. So far I've done the 2 fronts and right rear.

[Bmwtvboy]

Just sad. Yes, I have done this entire replacement before on all three window. This is the last. I'll check the reg slider/rails. I have some clips from prior jobs and hopefully they fit fine. This gets really, really old after awhile and supports the fact that BMW is no more a leader in quality manufactured vehicles. Not withstanding their amazing inline 6. I'll miss this money pit when it dies.
People and cars go to FL to die, it's flat and easy. LOL>

[andrewwynn]

Window regulators break mostly because nobody ever lubricates the window guide rails. The felt is more or less self lubricating for 6/7 years but after ten it's not slippery any more. Silicone or Teflon spray can reduce the strain by half.

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by Bmwtvboy

Just sad. Yes, I have done this entire replacement before on all three window. This is the last. I'll check the reg slider/rails. I have some clips from prior jobs and hopefully they fit fine. This gets really, really old after awhile and supports the fact that BMW is no more a leader in quality manufactured vehicles. Not withstanding their amazing inline 6. I'll miss this money pit when it dies.
People and cars go to FL to die, it's flat and easy. LOL>

LOL yes, I know what you mean. I've been in the doors a ridiculous number of times - window clips, regulator clips (sliders), regulator, door lock actuator, door handle carrier (x4 !), door lock cylinder (twice! - same little casting failed exactly the same; solution is to only use it in case of emergency) - all failed within 5+ years, between about 160 and 200k miles. Ridiculous. Never had anything even 1/10th as bad as this on all the doors on all the other (non-BMW) cars I've ever owned.

But then again, I often remind myself that just about everything else on the car is great or better, so I'm still very happy with it.

[Purplefade]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Window regulators break mostly because nobody ever lubricates the window guide rails. The felt is more or less self lubricating for 6/7 years but after ten it's not slippery any more. Silicone or Teflon spray can reduce the strain by half.

Amen to that

I use a dry lube on mine just about every 60 days wether they seem like they need it or not and I’ve (thankfully) done window clips only once in my 9 years of ownership. (On three different doors LOL... but only one time )


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[Bmwtvboy]

Yes, I do sometimes remember given that I drive with window down as often as possible. But I must say, regular maintenance has kept the sunroof working flawlessly. Clean n lube every 6 months. I have to get the bike back on the road, then I'll work on the X. It's cooler now in FL so not so bad to work outside. I'll check the clips, I did spray dry lock lube on the reg rails and then did slide up n down much better. It's a process.