Best replacement window regulator
 

I've gone through 4 regulators on the driver's window, 2 on each of the passenger windows. Been getting the cheap ebay regulators so far and they appear to be identical to the OEM. Only one motor failure.

I've also replaced the retaining clips that hold the window to the regulator a couple times as they break and cause the regulator cable to jamb up and fail.

This is on a 2003 3.0 X5 that's driven daily and has relatively low mileage of 120k.

Driver's side just failed again at 8 months and hoping for a replacement that will have a longer lifespan. What are other folks using to replace their regulators and how long are they lasting you?

The dealer ones and the eBay/Amazon ones are no different. They all break eventually and/or if installed wrong. When you tighten the nut and bolt, do NOT tighten them down all the way. The plastic "flares" can flare out too much causing them to break and fail. Do it enough so it flares a little bit. Use blue loctite on the nut if worried about it backing out. That's the trick. I've done one too many replacements and found this to work best.

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Most of the time it’s the plastic at the end of the cable that breaks. Only had the clips fail twice. Heading home to take things apart and see what’s up this time.

Got the inside door panel off and suspect from the sound the cable isn't spooling up on the regulator where the 2 cables meet at the motor. Had this happen in the past. The plastic fails where the lead lug on the cable is located.



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Maybe I should just keep a spare driver's window regulator around as long as we own this car.