E46 coupe when it's freezing...

[LordGrover]

I've not had a car without a window frame for a long time, unless you count the Griff which stays on the drive if it's freezing.
I'm a little concerned about the window freezing to the rubber surround on cold winter mornings and being unable to get in. Is this something to worry about? Any tricks to prevent it happening? I'm hoping someone will say something simple like a weekly spray with WD40 or something rather than a car cover - which would be a phaff.

[pstruck]

Not got any clever answers to this, but am also interested if anyone else has.

Had a few 'blimey thought my window was going to break' moments last year on frosty mornings!

[john_p]

I never had this happen, ever, in ~6 yrs of ownership

Maybe use some silicone spray or teflon fluid (from BMW dealer) if the seals feel tacky?

[flimper]

Never had a problem on my 330...

[clonmult]

I had it the other way round on my E36.

Got to the train station on a particularly frosty morning with my other half, only for her to find the door wouldn't stay shut - the lock decided to stick open.

I wasted the mornings coffee getting it to stay shut.

[Mr Ben]

Had this regularly on mine last year. Thought it was going to give on some occasions.

Found that toshing a load of LUKE warm water over the tops of the window sorted it out.

Be careful not to allow refreezing whilst driving straight after.. i.e heaters aimed at windows on full beans!

[henrycrun]

I've not used it, but the BMW Z clan swear on a product called Gummiphlege which is applied to the rubber bits around windows

Edited by henrycrun on Friday 2nd October 16:08

[bazking69]

Mine does this on very very cold mornings ie. below minus 5. Treat the seals to a wipe of some silicone spray. Job done.

[kingofherts]

My E46 Convertible is a nightmare for this!!

As far as I know, there isn't much you can do.. I just use de-icer on the windows which seems to do the trick..

[LordGrover]

flimper said:

Never had a problem on my 330...

Just looked at your garage.
Crikey. Nine grand hit for ten months ownership of Boxster?

[LMC]

Both my windows were stuck solid last winter, outside work after a night shift. No chance of breaking the window by it being stuck, because the door handle just won't operate at all. Must be a safety mechanism, if the window can't drop a few mill as it's supposed to, the handle doesn't work. and you can't open the doors. I actually thought the handle was frozen, but no amount of tepid water (all I could get access to) over the handle made any difference. Only by pouring the same water over the top edge of the window did I get any joy.

[jamesson]

LMC said:

Must be a safety mechanism, if the window can't drop a few mill as it's supposed to, the handle doesn't work.

That can't be right. It's only the driver's door that has this function, so by definition, the passenger door would never open!

[Funk]

It does snow in Germany, right..? Haven't BMW thought of these things?

[turbo-ww]

I had a 320 coupe for 14 years, now a 330 and it's never been a problem

[AB]

I had cracking noises but never anything to worry about.

[Romanymagic]

On my E46 330 Convertible, the windows on the doors will ice up really easy, and only luke warm water will free the windows and mechanism, I usually poor warm water over the top of the window sill, round the rest of the joins and also arouund the door handle/locking mechanism. After that your in like Flynn, but have to repeat every day during the real cold season.

[wookie]

...never had this problem in my 55 plate 330Cd coupe, even in last winter/springs big freeze.....

[BIG BAVARIAN]

As above,would not be without my bottle of this stuff http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1Z-Einszett-Gummi-Pflege---R... been through four winters with it never had a problem,or option 2,thin film of vaseline around all seals.