Z4 window problem

[erdnase]

My 2003 Z4 has developed a sudden window problem. It happened suddenly and it's as if the whole piece of glass has come free from whatever it was attached to. I was able to lift it out completely last night, and thought I'd managed to re-seat it on whatever it's supposed to be attached to. Now, it's jammed halfway down, and operating the electric window controls just makes a horrible grinding noise.

Any ideas what's wrong? I wouldn't mind taking a shot at fixing it myself, if I thought it was a relatively simple task. I loathe the thought of being without a car for a day, only to be charged an obscene amount for a simple job from a garage. Any advice before I look at booking it in?

Thanks in advance!

[h4muf]

Sounds a bit dodgy bud.

Father in law had a similar problem on his z4,it cost him £180 each for two window motors.

[ian in lancs]

erdnase said:

My 2003 Z4 has developed a sudden window problem. It happened suddenly and it's as if the whole piece of glass has come free from whatever it was attached to. I was able to lift it out completely last night, and thought I'd managed to re-seat it on whatever it's supposed to be attached to. Now, it's jammed halfway down, and operating the electric window controls just makes a horrible grinding noise.

Any ideas what's wrong? I wouldn't mind taking a shot at fixing it myself, if I thought it was a relatively simple task. I loathe the thought of being without a car for a day, only to be charged an obscene amount for a simple job from a garage. Any advice before I look at booking it in?

Thanks in advance!

LH/Passenger side?

[< FORZA WEST]

Sounds very much like the window regualtor has failed...one of the plastic pulleys has likely snapped causing the cable to jam.Or the window motor has failed sometimes both.

the regulators arent too bad to do, although i have replaced loads of them..the hardest part of the job is resetting the glass,not a simple task of just slotting it back in-the glass needs to be correctly adjusted (forwards,backwards,upwards,downwards and tilt in.If its wrong you end up with squeal on the seals,water ingress,premature wear of seals or antitrap over reaction.

[erdnase]

ian in lancs said:

LH/Passenger side?

Oops, meant to say passenger side.

Sounds like something I wouldn't like to attempt fixing myself. I'll take it to the garage, and hope it's not too expensive!

Thanks guys.

[Andrew D]

This happened to the drivers door on mine. IIRC it broke the window carriage, chewed the door lining and knacked the motor. Cost about £350 to fix at the dealer. Unfortunately they had to strip the door to see what parts they needed, so it was a two-visit job.

[ian in lancs]

erdnase said:

ian in lancs said:

LH/Passenger side?

Oops, meant to say passenger side.

Sounds like something I wouldn't like to attempt fixing myself. I'll take it to the garage, and hope it's not too expensive!

Thanks guys.

It might be the clamp/bolt holding the window has fallen out. I heard of a few early cars with this problem but only on the passenger side?!

At the rear bottom edge of the window is a hole and two metal plates with holes in. The window clamped in place with a torx bolt that passes through two of the holes. The third hole is effectively the nut. If this nut works loose and falls out the window can be lifted out. Sound like you've done that and not aligned it when replacing. Replacing/retightening the clamp can be done, I've done it, but isn't the easiest thing in the world!

You have to remove the door card and feel through the weather proof liner for an 25mm dia access hole in the door skin about half way up and towards the rear of the door. Cut a hole in the lining and shine a light through moving the window up and down until you see the clamp and tighten it up carefully or the glass will break. As you say the window can be removed rather than moving about it suggests the bolt has fallen ou so it will be somewhere at the bottom of the door and will be a pig to get to. Doable but I'd get a dealer to sort it.

8, 10 and 11 in this diagram

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DU92...

Edited by ian in lancs on Monday 22 September 17:09

[erdnase]

Update:

Got it fixed by a local independent BMW garage for £20. Apparently a screw had come loose, so I'm delighted with that. It's not always doom and gloom

Thanks as always for your help and advice guys!

[ian in lancs]

erdnase said:

Update:

Got it fixed by a local independent BMW garage for £20. Apparently a screw had come loose, so I'm delighted with that. It's not always doom and gloom

Thanks as always for your help and advice guys!

as I thought!