Window problem: Regulator, Clips or Motor

[440films]

I have a window that has some issues but I'm not 100% sure what's going on. I've been reeding all the threads on window regulators for years now and I always anticipated my X5 would have a failure. Well it happened this weekend.

My buddy and I were golfing and after the round I started the car to get the air going because it was 100 degrees outside. I also rolled down the windows. Well, you can guess what happened, my buddy closed the door with the window down. The window won't move up more than an inch.

I removed the door panel and saw that one of the clips that holds the window was a little askew. I corrected it in to position with my hand only. I was able to push the door up and the window will go. But if I roll it to the bottom it will get stuck again.

The motor does seem a little sluggish when rolling up on both the driver and passenger windows compared to the rear windows. Not awful but noticeable.

So I'm wondering if I need to replace to regulator, the clips or the motor. Any help is appreciated.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Sounds like the cable is binding. I personally would replace the regulator. There are other wear items besides the clips. I just find it a PITA to do the clips as well. Mr.BMW has a Video DIY on how he has the clip stay in place. Looks like he used 12 or 14 GA wire to sinch the clip in place.
My $.02, replace the regulator.

[TerminatorX5]

your motor maybe getting tired, or, like the GTR said, cable is binding or the window is not aligned in the window channels. Be prepared to replace the whole regulator - not as scary as it seems, considering that you were able to remove the panel, which means you know what you are doing... generally, regulator can last a bit longer than the clips, so if you did not play with the motor too much, you might be able to salvage the motor for a later replacement, maybe in 6 months or so... Get the new clips, line up the glass, get yourself some graphite lube and lube the grooves that the glass is traveling on, see what happens... prepare for regulator replacemnt, stock up on the plastic clips (I bought myself 20 of them, at $1 some a pop, I'd rather have them laying in the garage for a quick triage)

[Bayerische E53]

It is probably not the motor. I had nearly this EXACT problem in my X5. This is what happened in my X5: my front left window was going up very very very slowly but would come down effortlessly. I thought that it was the regulator. When I pulled the panel off, I saw that the regulator and cables were all fine. So then I thought it was the motor. At that point I figured I'd just swap the entire assembly (regulator and motor) for a new one as I was "already in there." So, I picked one up from a parts recycler. When the part came in, I realized that the recycler sent me the driver's side regulator and motor - after I had already removed the OEM regulator. Needless to say I was upset. To make it worse, because I was going on a 4,000 mile road trip, I didn't have time to send the regulator back and swap it for a new one. Then, in a moment of sheer luck, I caught a glimpse of something I have never seen before...

When you look at the screws you are referring to, you will see that there is an aluminum piece that sandwiches the glass onto the regulator itself (the screw is what pulls everything together). The regulator cables actually connect to this aluminum piece and pull it (and the window) up and down. I noticed that this aluminum piece had completely disintegrated. It is some really cheap pop aluminum and it crumbles apart. So, I thought, "maybe that aluminum piece is the culprit - if it is identical to the one on the driver's regulator and I can swap them over it might fix the problem" - BINGO. I swapped the aluminum piece off my recycled regulator over to my OEM one, put it all back together, and tested it. IT WORKED. The window rolled up with normal speed and force.

In short, what happens is that when this aluminum piece gives way, it causes the window to bind within the regulator and against the window frame/weather stripping. This makes it incredibly difficult for the motor and regulator to move the window up and down.

All that said, I would check to make sure whether that aluminum piece has crumbled - based on your symptoms, and assuming your cables and the plastic reel that hold them are not snapped, it's likely that this same aluminum piece has failed in your car.

*Edit*

I wrote all this in hopes of providing you a part number for that little aluminum piece but, as it turns out, that little aluminum piece is not available by itself - you need a whole new regulator. That said, you could get away with just the regulator and just swap over your OEM motor because your motor is still probably good. If you decide to get a recycled part, just swap in a new regulator and motor for good measure because they will be sold together as a set. (You can pick a regulator and motor up from LKQ for about $75).

Good luck.

[Franksauto]

I'm going through the same thing now. I replaced the clip and it didnt help. The plastic where the cable connects is broken and the cable has about 1/2 inch of free play. just enough to cock the window as it goes up and bind it against the door handle. You do not need a motor. You may be able to get that little plastic clip that snaps onto the regulator cable but i just went ahead and ordered a regulator.
Good luck

[PersonaNonGrata]

I have gone through over a half dozen regulators on my ex-X5. I could never pinpoint what started the destruction and was usually to angry to play detective. It was never the motor, that I can say for sure. I was sometimes the cables, sometimes the plastic clip, and sometimes some part of the aluminum nut/plastic washer plug thing. I don't know if cables came off track because of one of the smaller parts failing. The end results was always the window not coming back up and usually some awful noises.

I would just replace the regulator and the plastic clips as a matter of course. It's a pain to do and if you have window tint, you risk messing that up while manipulating the glass. The clips are cheap and break easily so even if they look fine, you might as well renew them while you're inside your door.

Don't wind up like me. It's a sad sight to have to perform emergency window repair while on a road trip.

[nezarnuaimat]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

graphite lube

What's this? can you elaborate & explain please? I've similar problem. My glass travels up well until about the last one quarter of travel, then it start fighting something, it become slow and retarding, then goes quick in the last five or six centimeters before fully close. Drivers window only, all other windows are fine

[TerminatorX5]

something is binding the glass and the lube may help a little... or a lot... this is just one of the available varieties of the dry lubes

[nezarnuaimat]

Thank Terminator

[Bmwtvboy]

Could someone post a pic of the these mysterious clips Please.