Rear side window problem

[KeithE]

Just checking in case anyone else has experienced or heard of this and has a fix. Put the roof up on my BMW 4 series convertible this afternoon and heard a strange noise. On checking the rear window on the drivers side has gone out of alignment and was sitting outside of the roof towards the front and has pushed in quite badly towards the year. I had hoped that dropping the window and then 'guiding' the window's path on raising I may be able to pop it back in place but it refuses to open even with a little 'assistance'. I've managed to pop the front back under the roof line which will keep some on the inevitable rain out but can't shift the back at all.

Open to any suggestions of what has gone wrong and how to fix it as I'm trying to avoid the inevitable arm and a leg it is going to cost me if I go anywhere near a BMW dealers for them to look at it.

[kambites]

Does the window usually drop slightly when you lower or raise the roof? A lot do in order to avoid the roof catching the top of window as it opens and closes. It maybe that the window motor or electronics have failed so it couldn't drop, and consequently the roof caught it and pushed it at an awkward angle. That would also explain why it wont now roll down.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 5th August 19:14

[Pica-Pica]

The last time I had a window problem (front driver’s on an E36), I called the RAC. As he was there fixing it, I could see what the issue was - a brittle failure of a nylon runner/guide. Yours may of course be different, but calling out the RAC may be a way of seeing the issue more clearly. If you have some breakdown cover. My window had dropped so I could not risk driving it, you may have to drop it and and say to your breakdown service that you dare not risk raising it for fear of breaking the glass.

[KeithE]

@Kambites, yes the windows do drop (completely) to allow the roof to fold. I can still hear the machinery working in the panel so I don't think it is that but unless I take off the entire rear quarter trim (not sure yet how to do that) I can't be sure.

@Pica-Pica, if I can persuade the window to drop I may try that but at the moment it is stuck closed, or at least as closed as it will currently go when the rear half in not in the window track

[kambites]

Maybe the motor has come disconnected from the window; or the glass from whatever system inside the bodywork actually moves it. Can you lower the roof (maybe by hand so you can do it carefully, most cars with electric roofs have a means) and then try to wind the window down?

[KeithE]

I think there is a way to open the roof manually but it only went wrong this afternoon so I haven't yet had a chance to investigate properly. It certainly won't power down. If there is a manual optionits going to be a two man job as being a solid roof it weighs a ton 🙄😕