I think my passenger broke something...

[Rovert]

The window was 1/3 open and when they went to close it as they left, they shut it rather hard. I think I crapped myself from the shock wave... :crying

I went to roll the window up and I hear crunching inside and the window goes up a lot slower now. Going down is normal and quiet. Was the glass broken and jamming something or did something just get 'slammed' out of alignment? :( My car is sad now. :blink

[bullfrogs_M3]

Most likely its your regulator. There are various pieces of the regulator gears that get stripped out and "crunch" as they move. Every regulator that I have had go out on me has made the same noise.

Item number 1:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=51_3225&hg=51&fg=10

If you look at the image you'll see item number 7 which is the motor that goes into the geared portion of the regulator, this is the common failure point. At the bottom (item 6) and top (item 2,3,4) are the plastic guides that tend to break as well.

[Rovert]

So in other words my friend closed the door equivalent to being T-boned. Without the body damage. I cried when the door impacted like that...a horrible sound.

[webster]

not your friend's fault really. our doors have to be closed way hard to shut properly. sorry to hear regardless.

[danewilson77]

Trev...our German foreign Exchange student got my rear passenger regulator last week.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[iZHP]

I never have to slam my doors and I HATE when people slam my doors. (Grind my gears thread?)

[Johnmadd]

Trev...our German foreign Exchange student got my rear passenger regulator last week.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

That same guy gave me a small ding to my passenger side rear door with a soccer ball......

[danewilson77]

That same guy gave me a small ding to my passenger side rear door with a soccer ball......

Wut?

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Johnmadd]

There is a ding.

[Rovert]

I'm over it now. I've come to realize it was her not knowing which made her do what she did. Worst things can happen but it's just a car that can be fixed with money that can be easily made. If anyone gets into this similar scenario remember that money fixes cars. Money doesn't fix feelings and friendships. I'm just glad her fingers didn't get caught or we would have had a messy cleanup! Always remember. Our friends are special! Our cars aren't that special. Thanks guys! Time to repair the damage this next week!

Sent from my LG-P500 using Tapatalk

[pleasecorrupt]

Rovert, pretty sure it wasn't her fault, if anything your window regulator was well on it's way and she just gave it a final push. Our cars are known to have the shittiest window regulators in the world since BMW cheaped out and used plastic components there. Straight forward diy if you have tools.

[dinanm3atl]

Casey broke the passenger door handle on the E30 while he was in town... that was special :)

[Rovert]

Haha...is there a more expensive regulator or a mod to make it so that the OEM one lasts longer? It sucks that we have to worry about powering a window up and down and wonder if it'll work when we should be enjoying what the car is made for.

[MrMaico]

Haha...is there a more expensive regulator or a mod to make it so that the OEM one lasts longer? It sucks that we have to worry about powering a window up and down and wonder if it'll work when we should be enjoying what the car is made for.

I plan to add the ziptie fix if, or should I say when, I have to replace a regulator. Can't hurt, and should help to reinforce the problem area. Of course, this is assuming that this is what is wrong with yours Trevor. You may have other issues.:dunno

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1388-BMW-E46-window-regulator-zip-tie-fix

I have to wonder how much slamming doors has to do with BMWs regulator problems. I'm extra careful about closing doors and so far so good. I'd rather have to close a door twice than slam it too hard. I always cringe though when I forget another door or window is open and I close a door too hard.

And BTW, BMW isn't the only car with regulator problems. The mechanics at my work replace plenty of Ford and Chevy regulators. Recently one of them replaced 3 of 4 on a Suburban.

[danewilson77]

There is a ding.

Yeah but who?

[danewilson77]

Haha...is there a more expensive regulator or a mod to make it so that the OEM one lasts longer? It sucks that we have to worry about powering a window up and down and wonder if it'll work when we should be enjoying what the car is made for.


I plan to add the ziptie fix if, or should I say when, I have to replace a regulator. Can't hurt, and should help to reinforce the problem area. Of course, this is assuming that this is what is wrong with yours Trevor. You may have other issues.:dunno

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1388-BMW-E46-window-regulator-zip-tie-fix

I have to wonder how much slamming doors has to do with BMWs regulator problems. I'm extra careful about closing doors and so far so good. I'd rather have to close a door twice than slam it too hard. I always cringe though when I forget another door or window is open and I close a door too hard.

And BTW, BMW isn't the only car with regulator problems. The mechanics at my work replace plenty of Ford and Chevy regulators. Recently one of them replaced 3 of 4 on a Suburban.

Understand zip tie mod only works for the front regulators.

[static667]

It's one of those things that was inevitably going to break at some point. Break out the door panel tools and dive in.


Casey broke the passenger door handle on the E30 while he was in town... that was special :)

Your handle wasn't broken, it was blessed.

Sent from my rooted Fascinate using Tapatalk.

[MrMaico]

Understand zip tie mod only works for the front regulators.

Thanks Dane. Never knew that. I'm hoping it works on coupes then?

Barry

[danewilson77]

Mmm...pretty sure it does. The issue with the rear regulators, is there is no place to feed zipties through.

[Rovert]

What's the crunching sound then as the window goes up? The shards of plastic that have shattered from stress? Looking at the pictures it looks like the zip tie just keeps the steel cable straight and on track? Will the friction from the wire going up and down wear the zip tie out or is it slow enough that wear will be very minimal against a plastic zip tie? :)

[danewilson77]

It's actually the cable pulling itself past the plastic cog....

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/IMAG0730.jpg

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/IMAG0727.jpg

[Hermes]

I think she should help you fix it (or at least make sure you've got cold beers)


Casey broke the passenger door handle on the E30 while he was in town... that was special :)

Hahaha, he was talking about this earier.