Window lifter mechanism or motor?

[ianwayne]

Driver's window wouldn't go down this morning. Thankfully, the last time I had the door panel off, I replaced it using wingnuts so it was off in 10 mins.

I searched all the threads on here and was certain it was the motor. I managed to get the glass off and remove the motor and lifter mechanism completely:



I reconnected the mechanism to the leads and it and works up and down, but the plate at the bottom right of the photo seems to 'jam' if the motor is driven all the way up at speed. I wondered if it is just wear in the spiral drive and tube and not the motor? :



If I stop the drive just as it reaches the top, it will go down again. But if I drive it up to its stop on one go, it jams. Unscrewing the adjustment screw a couple of turns to relieve the pressure means it will then go down OK. But this can't be done once its all refitted.

There was also a green material of some kind wound around the drive:

[ianwayne]

I did get rid of all that green stuff. I think it may have been in there for anti-vibration or something maybe? It was like green felt ore similar.

It is whizzing up and down off the car but still occasionally 'jams' in the full up position. I took the 2 cap screws off and removed the motor cover. It turns with a lot of notches unfortunately so I think it's had it. It will work OK with little resistance but when the window is fully up, the spiral drive tends to flex and press against the casing / tubing so the initial down movement requires more torque.

Hadn't fitted it all back before it got dark so I'll lube the runners and refit and try again tomorrow. The price of a new motor is having me searching for used ones.

[ianwayne]

Update:

Cleaned are lubricated, reconnected to wiring (there is 12.2V at the motor, which is much better than some experience!)



It flys up and down, which it should with no bracing tension of fitting to the door or weight of glass.

Even at this point, the mechanism occasionally jams at the top of its run. Winding the top adjusting screw out to relieve tension in the spiral drive means it then works again. I've decided to get another motor. Research has pointed me to it being a Bosch 0130821070 although the one fitted to my car is Made in Mexico with a different number on it:



Perhaps an inferior part?

I originally thought it would be £200+ for a new one (Recetech etc) but TVR Parts are doing them for £85 + VAT now. I'm going to try a second hand one first if I can get one cheap enough.

Oh, and yes I agree it is a godawful job. Lots of fiberglass scratches on my arms.

Edited by ianwayne on Thursday 16th March 10:30

[ianwayne]

Thanks. I didn't realise BMW used them. There's thousands of BMW window motors on ebay but none of them refer to the same part number that I needed!

Actually, the only bit needed is the motor on the left shown here when I split it from the drive mechanism that converts it to a 3/8" square drive for the spiral:



This would make the scope even wider if you know the dimensions.

I know that they are used in Ferrari (that attracts a 'tax', used ones are more than you can get a new one for if you know the part no) & Maserati, also VW Golf Mk1 rumour has it, and I've discovered also, London Taxis TX1 and early TX2. The front passenger side one is the one I need for the driver's side. £14 inc P+P which I've already ordered.

[ianwayne]

Like I said, mention Ferrari and a wacking price ensues. £325 - really?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FERRARI-208-328-348-355-...

I got mine here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LONDON-TAXIS-LTI-TX1-TX2...

If you can't follow links depending on your device, it is no. 200671435420.
The one that arrived wasn't the one in the picture because they break a lot of taxis. It was quite dirty but it works connected to the loom. It doesn't jam, but I need warmer weather for me to fit to the door and check it works OK under load.

The old one was 1993, this one is 1999. Stamped with part no 0130821070.

They sell the taxi o/s ones (which fit the passenger side of a Chimaera I believe) but lazily, the photo appears to be just the n/s taxi one flipped over so you'd need to check that the other one really is 0130821069 if you need one for a Chimaera nearside.

I was almost tempted to buy a load up for later use but since they are £102 brand new at TVR-parts, it doesn't seem worth it.

Edited by ianwayne on Friday 17th March 14:59

[ianwayne]

After I was informed of that I did a search.

This E28 rear window motor comes with the regulator which could be discarded but it has 6 pins instead of 2 and just looks different:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-BMW-5-SERIES-E28-RH...

This one however DOES look right:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRONT-WINDOW-MOTOR-REGUL...

Nothing on fleabay as cheap as from a TX1 taxi but I expect BMW specialist breakers have several shelves of them.

[ianwayne]

I seem to remember, and looking at your photo, that it was tack welded on.

It may be possible to repair with epoxy metal putty stuff (several brands out there) but there's a surprising amount of torque from the little motor so it might not hold.