Anyone using the Metal window regulator clips on Amazon?
 

Metal Window Regulator Clips
https://www.amazon.com/Carshine-Wind...53+window+clip

Are these better than the regular white clips from Amazon/Ebay?

I looked at them, but the parts that failed on mine are still plastic on those. There's just a metal piece running through it. I'm sure they're somehow stronger, but mine also lasted 110K miles, so I just went with the plastic pieces again.

The white plastic ones from RegulatorFix.com are sturdier IMO - it is NOT the metal portion on the clips that breaks, it is the brittle plastic molded piece that holds the clip in place

You honestly can't go wrong with either type though, a new set of regulator clips plus 2 window clips will be much more sturdy and tough than 10+ year old original clips and will most likely save you from replacing the whole regulator

I have used something similar on mine (from e-bay) and also on my E46's. On my E46 they last much longer than the cheap complete regulator. Only problem I found with them is the slot is too short. I have to lengthen it slightly with a knife to get the OEM cable swaged portion into it.

I've bought and used similar looking steel+plastic regulator clips from Amazon. No problems with them. I'd do it again. I can't claim that they are better than all-plastic ones. I agree with all the responses above.

In more general terms, in doing this job you'll be encountering a lot of plastic parts (door panel clips, window clips, regulator clips) and you will be doing yourself a favor if you buy them all beforehand and replace anything that seems cracked or brittle.

Also, in looking at the regulator clips and seeing how they fail, it seems to be due to an off-axis twisting force at the interface between the plastic on the regulator clip and the nubbin on the cable. So adding zip ties to keep the cable better aligned with the regulator clip seems to reduce this problem. That's what I did. I have now replaced all 6 regulator clips on my '01 E53.

^:iagree: with the above - get yourself a vapor barrier, a dozen door panel clips per door, and do the job right - or you could "reinforce" the cable connection with zip ties in addition to the new regulator clips and technically have many many years of trouble free operation

Can anyone tell me this.
The notorious plastic tab that goes through the hole in the glass to the
window regulator. How tight should the fastener be?
I have never heard the answer.

Tight enough to be snug but not tight enough to break the clip - you'll see the clip expanding as you tighten it, it doesn't take much to hold in place -

Also, once you replace it, try not to close the door with the window down.

I'm wondering if the weak point is the plastic window clip?
Seems like that is the POS that starts initial problems.