front window wont go up

[matthew gleeson]

I cut both cables. The guide in the rear runner was movable but the front one seemed to be stuck. I wasnt fully sure if the window was supposed to be free when the cables were cut so I detached the vertical runners and managed to break the glass away from them and got it pushed up tight with a pce of wood. I couldn't see any of the pulleys or glides especially since the window was stuck down. Not really lookin forward to fittin the new regulator ( which i now need for sure ), but i figure i'd better eliminate the other possibilities.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by matthew gleeson

I cut both cables. The guide in the rear runner was movable but the front one seemed to be stuck. I wasnt fully sure if the window was supposed to be free when the cables were cut so I detached the vertical runners and managed to break the glass away from them and got it pushed up tight with a pce of wood. I couldn't see any of the pulleys or glides especially since the window was stuck down. Not really lookin forward to fittin the new regulator ( which i now need for sure ), but i figure i'd better eliminate the other possibilities.

To be honest, the regulator replacement isn't really that hard. Here is a link to a good thread. Plenty of good info here. Be sure to buy the 2 black plastic clips that hold the glass to the regulator as well as the regulator itself.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...regulator.html

Here is a direct link to the DIY I used.

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...nt-bmw-x5.html

Just to let you know, when my regulator broke, the window rolled down like normal and then simply wouldn't roll up. Just like yours. Sometimes you hear a pop and the windows just falls and other times it goes silently, like mine did.

I also meant to ask you if you were getting the same result when you pushed the switch on the drivers side as well as the switch on the door you are having problems with.

[matthew gleeson]

you have been a great help, many thanks.

[matthew gleeson]

I replaced the regulator and motor, the fault remains, I was able to manipulate the window into going up and down by reversing the wires going into the motor. All now points the the switch. Anyone here tried fixing one of these (with the folding mirrors) ?

ps. Regulator job quite essy. (when you know how).

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by matthew gleeson

I replaced the regulator and motor, the fault remains, I was able to manipulate the window into going up and down by reversing the wires going into the motor. All now points the the switch. Anyone here tried fixing one of these (with the folding mirrors) ?

ps. Regulator job quite essy. (when you know how).

Matthew, I am sorry the regulator didn't fix your problem. It sounded like the hundreds of other regulator issues based on symptoms. I haven't had to replace a switch, so I don't know much about it.

What window is this again? If it is any window except the drivers, will it go up and down when using the drivers door switch?

[matthew gleeson]

the drivers door switch. I wouldnt mind getting it opened and trying a different switch, ( moving one of the lesser used back ones ) I also see plenty for sale without the folding mirrors / so if there was any way of replacing part of the switch module it would make the fix a bit less expensive. Even to swap the wires to one of the back window switches in the meantime.

Anyone have the wiring diagram ?

[JPuma]

This is happening to me as well. It was raining the night I parked the car in the garage. Rolled the windows up and the next day when I got in the vehicle the Front left window did not roll down anymore. When pressing the switch up I hear the clicking and the lights dim so that means the motor is working, but pressing to go down does nothing. Checking from a working window you hear a click going up and going down no matter what. I too am thinking it is the switch. A wiring diagram should be online, there is a BMW X5 WDS online WDS BMW Wiring Diagram System - X5 E53 that you can access. Now I have to roll my sleeves up and figure this out.

[JPuma]

Update: I dont think its the switch that failing. You can activate the window roll down by pressing the unlock button and holding it on the remote and all windows will roll down. My driver side is not rolling down. I dont know much about about how the motor and regulator should operate, so any help here would be appreciated. Does this sound like the regulator? If the regulator is just mechanical, then wouldnt it be the motor thats failing. If there was a problem with the regulator and the motor is still good, would there be movement or at least if I go in and try to push the window down, shouldnt it move if the regulator is just stuck?

I know I had problems with a window guide and though I fixed it in the past, when the window goes up, it would go up slower then the other windows. So maybe that put strain of the motor and it finally went. I do hear the clicking when pressing the window button up, but not down. The clicking is just a relay im assuming in the motor assembly, so thats not a sign to indicate the motor is good and the fact that the remote window rolldown feature is still not bringing the window down, rules out the switch being bad.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by JPuma

Update: I dont think its the switch that failing. You can activate the window roll down by pressing the unlock button and holding it on the remote and all windows will roll down. My driver side is not rolling down. I dont know much about about how the motor and regulator should operate, so any help here would be appreciated. Does this sound like the regulator? If the regulator is just mechanical, then wouldnt it be the motor thats failing. If there was a problem with the regulator and the motor is still good, would there be movement or at least if I go in and try to push the window down, shouldnt it move if the regulator is just stuck?

I know I had problems with a window guide and though I fixed it in the past, when the window goes up, it would go up slower then the other windows. So maybe that put strain of the motor and it finally went. I do hear the clicking when pressing the window button up, but not down. The clicking is just a relay im assuming in the motor assembly, so thats not a sign to indicate the motor is good and the fact that the remote window rolldown feature is still not bringing the window down, rules out the switch being bad.

The regulator typically breaks where it connects to the glass, so you may or may not see movement of the glass if it fails. This is generalizing, but typically if you are having an issue with your window it is the regulator, not the motor or the switch.

FWIW, when my regulator failed, there was little to no movement of the glass when the switch was pressed.

[amacman]

The left front window on my X5 is raising slow and sometimes stopping before it`s closed .

I checked out all connectors and the guide seals before I went as far as removing the door card .
everything looked to be in order . I suspected the motor at fault so I removed the regulator and motor .
I found a broken wire on the winding .the photo shows the broken wire on the rotor exactly as it came out of the stator . FYI the rotor unscrews from the gear housing .
I repaired the broken wire and refitted the motor but it made no difference .
many of the wires in the winding are scorched blue so a new motor is required .