Door handle carriers .. any brand recommendations?

[Bottomfeeder]

Originally Posted by deepblonde

So you actually didn't install your new carrier? Just repaired your broken one?

I did install the new carrier, and also did the reinforcement with the steel zip tie on the new part ... so hopefully it will outlast the car (and/or me!) I also did the zip tie fix to the old/broken part, but am just keeping it around as a backup.

Best regards,

Chris
Lockhart, Texas
2005 X5 3.0 Schwarz Black
2002 X5 3.0 Titansilber

[80stech]

The main thing is to have it lubed well. I have replaced 3 of the 4 carriers with various brands and one OE, I just lubed the forth and replaced the cable and none have failed again, that's with kids and -40 days in the winter and 500k km. No zip ties. Do NOT take Andrew Wynn's advice on cutting off the counter weight.

[Bottomfeeder]

Originally Posted by 80stech

The main thing is to have it lubed well. I have replaced 3 of the 4 carriers with various brands and one OE, I just lubed the forth and replaced the cable and none have failed again, that's with kids and -40 days in the winter and 500k km. No zip ties. Do NOT take Andrew Wynn's advice on cutting off the counter weight.

The OEM part came pretty well lubed, but I added a bit here and there. I'm grateful to not be dealing with -40 temps - temperatures in my part of the world rarely get below 20º F and not for very long. Our weather challenges tend to be on the other end of the spectrum. :-)

The door handle carrier I replaced was clearly the original part, and this particular car has not lived a very rough life, to say the least. Always garaged, I bought it with 18K on the clock in 2019.

I like the steel zip tie idea as a reinforcement at the point where the part failed, but I didn't grind off the counter weight ... just didn't see the need. Time will tell, and I will check in again if there's ever a failure. Not to tempt fate, but I've not had any door handle carrier problems on my other X5, a 2002.

I pay a lot more attention to how I open the doors on the old X5s these days. :-)

Best regards,

Chris
Lockhart, Texas
2005 X5 3.0 Schwarz Black
2002 X5 3.0 Titansilber

[BondoBen]

I agree with Andrewwynn regarding the steel zip ties. I also soldered the ties so as to prevent slippage. I go one step further and disassemble the gearing so as to move the lever/actuating arm one tooth higher/over so the handle opens immediately upon pulling. No college courses on how to open a BMW door handle. Just do it the Japanese way. Pull. It's just a bit harder to re-install the cable onto the latch mechanism but works much better. And as I said......it saves me time from instructing people on how to open a BMW door.