What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[Salty B.]

Between work travel and cold weather I wasn't able to replace the rt rear window regulator which failed last month with a loud KRONCH after putting the window up at 80mph followed by the window falling into the door. I had a strong suction cup holding the window up for a few weeks after I took the door apart.

On disassembly the old one had mostly come apart and the so-called "repair kit" parts did not fit — I assume BMW used multiple OEMs for regulators? — so I ordered the whole thing for $40 off eBay. Never finished the job until today as it's a freakishly-warm Saturday for this time of year. Works great!

I dread pulling/replacing door cards. So many broken clips and mounts... and hot glue seems to work really well for sticking those back on, better than the black JB Weld I used on the driver's door card, which has to come off again along with the left rear to replace the vapor barriers (I found two good ones in the junkyard! but not for the right sides), check the regulator carriers for tight bolts, and replace the rear left DLA with the junkyard part I've had for over a year. It tested good.

Anyone ever figure out where that tiny orange LED goes in the door release area? I could not find an opening for it. Same with the other doors. So the insides are being uselessly illuminated...

After cleaning the IOC valve last month, no more "FUEL TRIM RICH" codes. That was becoming annoying af. One less annoyance.

Next: replace the brake light switch, which after reading about that looks like far more of a pain in the ass than it should be. Hope that gets rid of that brake switch implausibility code. Then the thermostat, although it does not run hot, because it too is throwing a code.

[andrewwynn]

I had the same query about the orange light. I thought should light up the door pocket but no lens to stuff it into.

I just checked on my e70 and the lens is the entire length of the pocket maybe we just keep missing it?


–awr–

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[g300d]

It's part of the parts list whenever we need to open the door cards, something to stick the door card clips on with. JB Weld and similar 2-part epoxies also work well IME.

I seem to remember a small led in the inner door handle recess? There is a hole for that there IIRC?

https://imgur.com/a/h1I0wIn

[Salty B.]

Originally Posted by g300d

I seem to remember a small led in the inner door handle recess? There is a hole for that there IIRC?

https://imgur.com/a/h1I0wIn

Pretty sure that’s only on the front doors; even though the rears have the little LED wired into the harness there’s no hole for it in the handle recess, unless my eyesight has suddenly taken a turn for the worse.


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[wpoll]

Originally Posted by Salty B.

Pretty sure that’s only on the front doors; even though the rears have the little LED wired into the harness there’s no hole for it in the handle recess, unless my eyesight has suddenly taken a turn for the worse.


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Different trim spec - some had 'em, some didn't. All fours doors on mine have the inner handle LED...

[Salty B.]

Today I didn't do anything to/with it because Weds night as I was leaving my friend's place, the driver's door DHC* decided to let go. As in there was a crunch then the outside handle just kind of let go and is now useless and floppy. Temps here have been hovering around freezing, but no rain or noticeable condensation.

I can still open it from the inside but obvs that's a pain in the ass.

So I'm trying to decide whether to order a new aftermarket one and apply @andrewwynn's zip tie reinforcement to it, or try to fix the old one**. The DLA was replaced two years ago with a new OE BMW part ($$$), so that should still be OK.

*I'm assuming that's what failed.
**according to the prior owner's records, he replaced it in 2019 with a $25 part so either it's Amazon junk or he got it from pull-a-part.

edit: found what claim to be "made in Germany" Continental-branded DHCs on ebay, anyone ever bought one of these?

[wpoll]

Haven't tried them but the look OK and are a decent price for a pair!

Did you note the seller? Andrew Auto Shop!

[andrewwynn]

Continental is a very good OEM part manufacturer


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[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Haven't tried them but the look OK and are a decent price for a pair!

Did you note the seller? Andrew Auto Shop!

I didn't notice that's funny


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[X5chemist]

The X5 had a few days off from driving. Back to daily driving in colder weather. I'm still not convinced of road noise humming. I'm starting to make it out better. Rear bearings are still my best guess. With winter weather here and unless one gets really bad, I'll wait to early spring to replace both rear bearings.