Age, frozen windows and stubborn owners, dirty/unlubed tracks, cheap parts, poor installation...
I replaced two in my car but it only had about 400k miles.
I replaced two in my car but it only had about 400k miles.
Why do E46's eat window regulators?
I see that the drivers side has been replaced three times on my car.
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Hmmm another “convenient” thread lol. I just lost the DS too and need to open up the door to confirm. Anyone have tips for replacement and/or best place/brand to buy?
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what is a DS?Hmmm another “convenient” thread lol. I just lost the DS too and need to open up the door to confirm. Anyone have tips for replacement and/or best place/brand to buy?
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Drivers Side
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I would suggest OEM ones, but then I went and looked and holy crap, they are almost $500 from FCP Euro.
Honestly, I'd go pick something under the "standard replacement" category on RockAuto
Honestly, I'd go pick something under the "standard replacement" category on RockAuto
It's a bad design: the glass lifter (elevator) is a metal bracket which bolted to the glass, but it has plastic molding to hold the steel cable ends, and the weak-link plastic cracked then broke, leading to loose cable and a dead window regulator. Why they didn't make the elevator 100% metal? Assembly issue: it's impossible to assemble the metal elevator to the guide rails. Of course the elevator can be 100% metal but the design will need more assembly time.I see that the drivers side has been replaced three times on my car.
Maybe somebody could 3D print metal parts to replace the plastic crap.
Agree with Sapote.
As soon as you start to hear the proverbial "tink" from the regulator cable, it's coming up on you.
Conversely the coupes, will tink for a couple of years before they need a regulator.
If I had to guess, my ratio of 4 dr. to 2 dr. regulators is about 7 to 1....
As soon as you start to hear the proverbial "tink" from the regulator cable, it's coming up on you.
Conversely the coupes, will tink for a couple of years before they need a regulator.
If I had to guess, my ratio of 4 dr. to 2 dr. regulators is about 7 to 1....
Another alternative is buying used from a salvage car. It can be questionable in terms of what you're getting and is extra work to remove it from the junk car, but you can usually find a good genuine BMW part for around $20. Judging by the number of cars I see with removed door panels it seems to be a popular part to grab at the pick n pull.I would suggest OEM ones, but then I went and looked and holy crap, they are almost $500 from FCP Euro.
Honestly, I'd go pick something under the "standard replacement" category on RockAuto
The plastic part that snaps into the vertical guide rail has to be flexible (why it's made plastic) and a new designed metal part will not be able to snap on the rail. The design has to be changed in order to use 100% metal elevator.Maybe somebody could 3D print metal parts to replace the plastic crap.
it’s a sedan regulator design thing.
Plastic in another poor place ,it's all over these cars
The window also seals to the rubber ,sticks ,and puts strain on the poorly designed reg
I used uro premium, no complaints
You guys really gota stop giving that pos family at rock auto your money
The window also seals to the rubber ,sticks ,and puts strain on the poorly designed reg
I used uro premium, no complaints
You guys really gota stop giving that pos family at rock auto your money
I had to replace the front driver and the front passenger side once each so far - but can't complain as this spans 15 years and two cars...
22 plus years driving E46 coupes and never had to replace a window regulator.I had to replace the front driver and the front passenger side once each so far - but can't complain as this spans 15 years and two cars...
17 years of driving an E46 coupe and never needed to replace a window regulator.22 plus years driving E46 coupes and never had to replace a window regulator.
Both ZHP sedans that I bought in the last 3 years with varying miles (one was 120k miles the other was 240k miles) required at least 2 window regulators when I bought them. I just end up changing all 4 while I'm doing it
mine is a 2001 325ci never have had a window regulator issue ever but just recently have a door lock actuator issue on drivers door
Stated much earlier. 4 door regulators suck, two doors are long lived.
But why? The coupe glass is much bigger than the sedan glass. I’m sure it’s heavier, too.Stated much earlier. 4 door regulators suck, two doors are long lived.
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