Aftermarket vs Original door carrier

[Jake335i]

Originally Posted by ake53

Hey everyone,
Here's the story, I didn't move X5 out of my dad's way in the driveway. So in the morning he grabbed the keys to move it out.
Comes back later, wakes me up and says your door didnt work, car is in the garage.

I look at the door, the handle sticks out, doesn't close all the way, yet feels like it still has connection to the door actuator with the cable.

I get home that night and immediately start working on it. I did my passenger side twice already. Doesn't take long until i have everything out, the carrier is original at 95k. weird how the part that moves, one of the hinges in broken. Looks like the old man has strength and broke my door carrier.

I think its not a problem as I already have an aftermarket carrier ready.
I start putting it in, but its a pain to alignment everything correctly. In the end, I say screw it. The next day i go to the dealership and buy the original, its 122$ but i asked for a discount and got it for 105$. Win

As soon as i get home I put it in place and it fits perfectly. no need to alignment anything, Yet the carriers look exactly the same. I guess that .000 measurement throws everything off.

So don't be cheap buying aftermarket unless you want to spend hours playing with it to alignment . Good Luck.

Did mine yesterday....bought a cheap one (29.00) with a lifetime guarantee. Yes, he screw at the locking mechanism did not line up...after fooling with it for about 20 minutes I noticed the factory screw has a tapered end, allowing it to line up on its own....the cheap one did not. Held the locking mechanism and screwed it in. Worked well for me.

[Squiggy]

Originally Posted by Jake335i

Did mine yesterday....bought a cheap one (29.00) with a lifetime guarantee. Yes, he screw at the locking mechanism did not line up...after fooling with it for about 20 minutes I noticed the factory screw has a tapered end, allowing it to line up on its own....the cheap one did not. Held the locking mechanism and screwed it in. Worked well for me.

I installed a $45 aftermarket carrier on my driver's door a few weeks ago. Did not look like it would line up until the very last turn of the screw and then it did, finally, line up. However, like you it only worked with the original screw. The aftermarket screw did not even come close to working.

[Jake335i]

Originally Posted by Squiggy

I installed a $45 aftermarket carrier on my driver's door a few weeks ago. Did not look like it would line up until the very last turn of the screw and then it did, finally, line up. However, like you it only worked with the original screw. The aftermarket screw did not even come close to working.

Good to hear, amazing how something so simple (style of screw), makes such a difference.