[MrMCar]

But why? The coupe glass is much bigger than the sedan glass. I’m sure it’s heavier, too.

That's always been the conundrum for me.
The ONLY answer I have come away with (and it's not even a good one) is distance between two uprights and possibly better weight distribution, creating less twisting on the up/down?

 

[paraklas]

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....

My driver's side has been doing the tink since I got the car.. in 2006. Still does it, it's a coupe

 

[Sapote]

Can someone post a close-up pic of the couple window regulator's elevator showing the plastic section that houses the two cable beads and the springs?

 

[skr]

I just replaced my front passenger side with this one and it was a perfect fit:

Amazon.com: A-Premium Power Window Regulator without Motor Replacement for BMW E46 323i 325i 325xi 328i 330i 330xi Front Right Passenger Side : Automotive

 

[DönerPorsche]

One of my favorite features of my European 316i E46 was manual hand crank windows in the rear. I knew I would never have to worry about that door panel coming off.

I can also relate that my 325xi sedan needed the window regulator replaced twice compared to my 323ci coupe which never needed it. I have also owned my 323ci for 8 years and put over 100,000 miles on it.

I would suggest OEM ones, but then I went and looked and holy crap, they are almost $500 from FCP Euro.

I see the original BMW regulator for $179 on FCP.