Passenger window stuck in down position
 

Hi,

Just like many others, I just experienced the 'Window stuck in down position' problem on my 2005 X5 4.8i.
With the help of this how to article, I got to the door's interior and was able to get the window up a little bit with by pushing from the bottom.
Now, it looks like that the plastic 'slider' is broken:
Picture , Video

Do I have to replace the entire Window lifter (#1, 51338254912 in this pic on RealOEM) or is there a way to just replace that slider?
Also, while I'm in the door, are there any other components that are prone to fail and should be replaced at the same time?

Thanks!

Hi BX5, if your cables for your window lifter are not broken (which they normally aren't) you do not need to replace the whole lifter....the reason why your window is stuck is because the plastic slider is broken which is very common. All you have to do is take out your window regulator to have access to replace the plastic slider. I bought Regulator Fix brand sliders because they looked better than the OEM plastic/metal sliders and they are a lot stronger than OEM (which means they are a pain in the ass to attach into the cable). Also when you take out your regulator you will also need new window clips as well. But the job is fairly simple to do! :thumbup:

Great suggestion! That'll save me a ton of money :thumbup: I took the entire system out and it looks like the lifter is in good shape otherwise. Yeah, the window clips were also partially broken... ;-)

Do the repair clips from Regulator Fix come with instructions or is it that obvious how they will attach to the cable?
While I'm at it, should I replace both clips at the same time or just the broken one?

I don't remember if the they came with instructions, but it is pretty straightforward the slider attaches to the regulator. And I recommend replacing both the clips since they are plastic and become brittle over time and last thing you'd want is to replace the broken clip now then have to reopen the door to replace the other clip in the future. Plus they don't cost much so small investment = future time saving lol. Make sure when you screw the window into the new clips to not tighten the bolt too much or you will crack the clip!

OK, I finally got all the replacement parts (new RegulatoreFix sliders and a couple of window clips).
Now however, I'm puzzled how to get the new sliders onto the 'tracks'/'rails':
It looks like I need to get rid of the pulleys (see attached pics) to slide them onto the rail, but I can't see how to remove those pulleys? Is there a non-destructive way to do this? Unfortunately, there are no instructions on the RegulatorFix website for this job and all the review just talk about how easy of a job this is...
Do I have to just force them out (hammer)?

Thanks again, guys!

Theres no need to force the pulley out with a hammer. What you should do is remove the current clip from the regulator, then angle the new clip into place and slide up to the nub and then use the slack in the cable to place the little nub into the groove on the clip (which should be very hard since the regulator fix clip is a hard material) and then grease and done. Thats what I did for both my front windows.

This is correct and exactly what I did, "in situ" on both doors without removing regulator.

You are right. I was afraid to break the new sliders, but they require only very little force to snap right in. I actually had loosened the wire, so getting them installed was a breeze (to get the wire back onto all pulleys, I used two zip ties for each side to compress the springs)
Every thing is back together and working just fine.

Lots of thanks to BMW_E53 for your quick responses!

For next time:
1. Check the HowTo article on this side and watch YouTube videos
2. Remove the small in-door light first (from the bottom of the door)
3. Remove the door panel.
4. Ideally, do not remove the airbag (it requires the car to be off the battery and has a connector that requires some careful removal: you have to move the back to the connector back first to disengage some safety clips before pulling it). Instead, get all but one screw out, loosen the remaining one and then cut a small line for the airbag wire to clear the foam map.
5. Remove the foam map and use a blade from a box cutter to cut through the tar-like sticky glue
6. Use painters tape and not duck tape to hold the window in place
7. Don't over-tighten the screws that go through the window clips and hold the glass in place... :rolleyes:

No problem BX5! Good job fixing your window! :thumbup: If your drivers side window has never been fixed before, I would assume the oem regulator clip is on its way out soon as well. If you have the time it'd be best to also replace the oem drivers side regulator clips with Regulator Fix clips. Just for preventative maintenance lol