Driver side window is crooked leading to wind noise above 110 kph

180 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Mataskart, 3 d ago

Mataskart

Discussion Starter · 4 d ago (Edited)

Heyo, when I bought my 2001 e46 compact a couple years ago the driver side window would barely go up or not go up at all and I'd have to push it up, so after a few months I bought and attempted to replace the window regulator, however during installation the little spool with the metal wires wrapped around it unspooled and everything got f'd up, I tried my best to spool them back together and put everything back but noticed that the window was sitting VERY crooked in it's spot after I was done, the back of the window would go deep into the rubber seal at the top even making it bulge out while the front of the window would have like 8 mm gap.

So I reluctantly took the door apart again and tried my best to move the regulator down in the rear and up in the front as much as possible and tightened it again, the problem hasn't been as big since, but the rear of the window goes just above where it should still, while in the front there's still a maybe 1-2 mm gap, also while rising the window it keeps making plastic cracking noises during hot weather, and when power washing the car water droplets often still get through, but that's not a problem, never happened when driving in the rain, but when above ~120 kph or so the wind noise coming through the gap is deafening.

Since I'm planning on a long trip I wanna ask for some tips on how I could go about temporarily fixing this, hopefully without dismantling the door for the 3rd time, as the butyl tape is my worst nightmare to work with especially in not hot weather. Is there anything I could plug the gap with temporarily until I have the will to replace the regulator properly again?.. Like something I could just close the window on and have it fill the gap, would something as simple as duct tape work?

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OnTheFence

· #2 · 4 d ago

Get a new window regulator.
Replace it. There are 3 bolts to install the regulator and there should be no variation
Window should be aligned exactly as from factory

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Mataskart

Discussion Starter · #3 · 4 d ago

OnTheFence said:
Get a new window regulator.
Replace it. There are 3 bolts to install the regulator and there should be no variation
Window should be aligned exactly as from factory

That's the plan long term, but definitely not up for that job before the trip, have much more important matters to sort out and this is just something I'm looking for a temporary fix for.
The 2 bolts rear bolts do have variation, as their holes aren't round and instead are elipses so you can slide the regulator up and down to adjust the 2 bolts in the back, 1 in the front is set and doesn't have variation (round hole), this is the compact so the adjustment is slightly different from the coupe and you can't do it from the outside (see attached pic from manual). Anyhow it's already on the limits of adjustment as I said and needs to be replaced when I have the time, which I won't any time soon so need a temp fix.

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Sapote

· #4 · 3 d ago

Mataskart said:
Is there anything I could plug the gap with temporarily until I have the will to replace the regulator properly again?

Find some packing foam 10mm thick sheet and cut a strip to fit the gap. It should be easy for sedan as compared to coupe.

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Sapote

· #5 · 3 d ago

Pic below shows the lead screw to adjust the elevator up/down position relative to the frame. I think both elevators have the lead screw. Did you try this to level the glass?

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MBLSTR

· #6 · 3 d ago

Mataskart said:
Heyo, when I bought my 2001 e46 compact a couple years ago the driver side window would barely go up or not go up at all and I'd have to push it up, so after a few months I bought and attempted to replace the window regulator, however during installation the little spool with the metal wires wrapped around it unspooled and everything got f'd up, I tried my best to spool them back together and put everything back but noticed that the window was sitting VERY crooked in it's spot after I was done, the back of the window would go deep into the rubber seal at the top even making it bulge out while the front of the window would have like 8 mm gap.

So I reluctantly took the door apart again and tried my best to move the regulator down in the rear and up in the front as much as possible and tightened it again, the problem hasn't been as big since, but the rear of the window goes just above where it should still, while in the front there's still a maybe 1-2 mm gap, also while rising the window it keeps making plastic cracking noises during hot weather, and when power washing the car water droplets often still get through, but that's not a problem, never happened when driving in the rain, but when above ~120 kph or so the wind noise coming through the gap is deafening.

Since I'm planning on a long trip I wanna ask for some tips on how I could go about temporarily fixing this, hopefully without dismantling the door for the 3rd time, as the butyl tape is my worst nightmare to work with especially in not hot weather. Is there anything I could plug the gap with temporarily until I have the will to replace the regulator properly again?.. Like something I could just close the window on and have it fill the gap, would something as simple as duct tape work?

100 mile an hour tape will do for a bit if you are OK with how it looks. And as others have recommended buy a new regulator kit.

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Mataskart

Discussion Starter · #7 · 3 d ago

Sapote said:
Pic below shows the lead screw to adjust the elevator up/down position relative to the frame. I think both elevators have the lead screw. Did you try this to level the glass?
View attachment 979882

I did not, will try it when replacing it with a new one if that one also doesn't fit properly.

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