Window regulator…maybe

[Henn28]

Front pax side window was moving very slowly on the way up this am. Motor seemed to be straining. Of course I suspect a regulator getting ready to come apart, but I can’t recall the slow movement before. Normally they are working fine, then the window just drops when some cheap plastic bit breaks and the cable unspools. Is the slow motion movement a symptom? I suppose it could be a motor as well…any way to test these window motors? They aren’t super cheap so I’d rather not replace it if I don’t need too. However, if I need to go into the door, I should knock it “all” out once. That card is pretty beaten up.

My records show that I installed this regulator in Sept 2021. I didn’t make a note of it, but I’m betting it was a cheap one.

[andrewwynn]

Dry/silicone lube on the guides front and back usually speeds up the window 30-50%.

The extra strain no doubt encourages the regulator breakage that were used to seeing.

once you lubricate the window, then do a race between the passenger and driver window and compare the speed.

usually, the lubrication will do the job. If the driver window is still slower. There’s a fair chance. The motor is wearing out, but it’ll usually be OK if it’s even 20 or 30% slower it doesn’t usually fail.

[getty150]

Yep! dry lube easily found at Walmart.
One of the first lessons I learned as a older model BMW owner...saved me big time that was almost 9 years ago.

Sent from my TMAF035G using Tapatalk

[Factory6speed]

In the past I've used white lithium grease on window tracks. Not sure what's the best chemical. The sunroof grease is pretty nice but might be a bit thick. A credit card with the microfiber towel around it is a good cleaning tool.

I've yet to have one fail on my bimmers but have had extended battles with them in Honda and GM cars. Usually they slow down then one day at the worst possible time it falls down. Use masking tape not duct or gorilla tape to hold it up.

My driver's door is a complete trainwreck, it has an Amazon regulator that currently works, but makes a bunch of noise and runs super quick like it's on 15v. The passenger side is untouched but fairly slow these days. The rear ones are still perfect.

[Henn28]

Thanks gents. I've got some dry silicone coming from amazon and will give it a try on all four windows.

Headed to the Garage to pull the lower oil pans off and get to work with some plastigauge on the crank and rod bearings. So far my old 4.4 seems to be in good shape, so I'm hopeful it won't have any lower end problems other than maybe needing some new bearing shells.

[andrewwynn]

I like the CC and towel idea. I try to clean out those tracks any time i have the door open.