Today's Window Regulator Question.....

[ChiefRider]

My last door surgery was to replace the plastic "clips" that attach the glass to the regulator- these seems to be doing just fine. This failure occurred when I fully lowered the window, and it will now not move. I have accessed the door interior and applying power to the mechanism the window will strain to move up/down but will do neither even with assistance.

How might I get the glass into position so I can access the attachment bolts to remove the glass and then remove the regulator? I have gone thru a few videos and threads, but haven't encountered this yet- Thanks for the wisdom.

[andrewwynn]

I used gorilla tape.

Is it a front window? When mine did this, the window rotated back at the top and gets stuck. I dropped tape down and just had to pull the topl forward half an inch and I could raise it with the motor.


–awr–

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[ChiefRider]

I did see that post, and tried the tape- I couldn't get the window to move. After I got access to the door interior, I applied power to move window up, while trying to lift the window from below, still no luck. The motor attempts to lift it but the window won't move.

I noticed that with the window down (after it failed) the exterior door handle would not return to its fully relaxed position- it would remain slightly proud of that, perhaps 1/8-3/16". The plastic clips attaching the glass to the regulator seem fine, and the regulator cable appears to be taught.

[80stech]

Get some light in there and have a good look, there must be something out of place and binding.

[ChiefRider]

Follow-up. After reading the posts, I went back to see if I could move the glass in the driver's door at all. Where at first it felt solidly connected to the regulator, I was able to move it around a bit at the rear attachment point. Putting power to it once again and more firmly pulling up on the glass I was able to move the glass up, aligning the window in the service position. The bolt attaching the glass to the regulator had backed out. Everything appeared to be intact, so I fished out the nut in the bottom of the door and reassembled. I didn't have access to the appropriate torque wrench so tried to judge how tight I could safely assemble and buttoned it back up.

I have owned my X5 for 8+ years now, and consider it perhaps the best daily driver I have ever owned. Driving the M54 6 speed has always been a pleasure, and at well over 200k miles it still doesn't squeak or rattle, handles and runs great. I do wish the door mechanicals (and a few other bits) were more robust!

I always appreciate the assistance here, thank you.