Broken window regulator?

[HokieZHP]

Going down the highway, went to put the windows up, heard a cracking noise or like a rock on glass noise and the window stopped. Then there's a grinding noise whenever I try to put the window up or down and the window site still... Is my window regulator broken?


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[danewilson77]

Yes. It is broken. What you heard was tangled braided wire around the pulley.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[HokieZHP]

Gotcha. Thanks for confirming. Ordering a new one now. This is my ride until my window gets fixed. Since it will be raining here, my friend in town lent me his CJ7 with a Chevy 304 v8 in it. Fully restored and awesome!

http://i438.photobucket.com/albums/qq109/maxx919/f83ddb67.jpg

[Go Horns!]

I think your friend wants you to take the top off, run through mud pits, video it, and post the video in this thread.

[HokieZHP]

Haha that top has never come off and never will and if mud touched it, I'd be dead! We have the "beast" for that which is currently being stroked to 4.7L. That's the off-road jeep and it's all done up and is pretty much unstoppable off road.

[das boots]

Did you purchase OE regulators?

[HokieZHP]

Yup oem BMW regulator from tischer cause they were the only ones with them on hand


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[llll1l1ll]

I am deathly afraid of a window regulator breaking. Mainly because I don't want to deal with the hassle of the repair.

[SureShot434]

I am deathly afraid of a window regulator breaking. Mainly because I don't want to deal with the hassle of the repair.

Its really very easy. I don't see why people get bent out of shape and say its a hassel. I didn't have any trouble when I replaced mine. :confused :scratchinghead

Maybe its just my mad skillz :swiss I learned from working on airplanes and have to work in tiny spaces?? lol

[das boots]

Are OE regs the best there is out there in the market nowadays? Preferrably when replacing a broken reg that will last a loooooong time.

[telijah]

I bought a REALLY cheap non-oem online and have yet to install it, but will give my thoughts if and when I do. And when I say really cheap, I think I paid like $30 bucks. At that price, I was willing to potentially eat it if it turns out to be crap.

[SureShot434]

Are OE regs the best there is out there in the market nowadays? Preferrably when replacing a broken reg that will last a loooooong time.


I bought a REALLY cheap non-oem online and have yet to install it, but will give my thoughts if and when I do. And when I say really cheap, I think I paid like $30 bucks. At that price, I was willing to potentially eat it if it turns out to be crap.

Got mine fro Autohausaz.com (affiliate of ZHPMafia) for around 57 bucks....work like champs. Easy to install I thought....idk what you guys are talkin bout being hard hehe :)

I got the one made by Uro...lists for 135.90 but paid 56.65. Great product so far no issues.

[jeff57ax]

I just did mine (rear right) last weekend. I too, ordered a $30 regulator online (don't remember where)

1. Printed off one of the many online DIY instructions - print one and have it with you
2. Took me about an hour - I was surprised how simple it was
3. WATCH TINTED WINDOWS. I didn't, and pulling my regulator out of the door, I scratched my tint, which will now need to be replaced

I would say that if you are even marginally mechanically inclined - this job is do-able

[danewilson77]

I bought a REALLY cheap non-oem online and have yet to install it, but will give my thoughts if and when I do. And when I say really cheap, I think I paid like $30 bucks. At that price, I was willing to potentially eat it if it turns out to be crap.

FWIW - I bought the most expensive one ECS had to offer and it was identical to the one that failed. O E M was the manufacturer. If it was original, it lasted about $130k miles.

[Go Horns!]

I bought a non-oem one and have had no problems. Just to be on the safe-side, I did a preemptive zip-tie fix on it. I hoping the extra support will prevent failure in the future.

[llll1l1ll]

This thread has given me some hope to continue using my windows.

[jeff57ax]

Just to weigh in again

It was a $30 part - generic

Its an easy DIY

[telijah]

Ah, it was from rockauto.com... "Various MFR" lol, $25 plus shipping. Maybe will do it this weekend...

[aurelius]

amazon sells the Dorman brand. I figured it couldn't be any more delicate than OE. Lifetime warranty. About 55 bucks for the right rear regulator.

[Crestwood1001]

I got URO and it's going bad again a month later

[HokieZHP]

I bought oem because I am one of those "do it right so you only have to do it once people"


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[SureShot434]

I got URO and it's going bad again a month later

Really? Mine is still running strong after 3 months....

[telijah]

I bought oem because I am one of those "do it right so you only have to do it once people"


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It's been proven though this philosophy is not needed for every part of our cars. For many things, yes I stick to OEM. But I just could not pass up a $25 regulator :)

[Go Horns!]

I bought oem because I am one of those "do it right so you only have to do it once people"

I made sure to not buy OEM on the window regulator because with such a high failure rate BMW did not get it right.

[jeff57ax]

Wow, ever get the feeling none of us has a life?

Just kidding.

Even though the original regulators break (we know they will), the fix is simple. if my cheapo regulator breaks quickly (whatever that time frame is), I know the replacement/fix is easy, so maybe I go a stepped up regulator the next time

whatever, I will now go back to my "life", ha!