Manual Windows
 

I would love to convert my electric windows to manual windows. So i am curious if this has ever been done and how so?

i am curious on why you would want to do this. I have not heard of anyone doing this on any Ti, but i am sure it is something that can be done with some time and the right parts.

the hardest thing will be to find parts that will fit, as i am not sure if they offered manual windows. if they did, it might be a hard part to find. you might have to do some digging on what parts will fit from another BMWs that offered it. you could check Z3's and 328's. maybe the older cars had more models with manual windows, and junk yards might have the parts available.

another thing is, you will have to do something with the buttons on your dash. either use plates to fill them in, or leave non-working buttons in your center console.

but again, i ask you, why spend the time and money to remove a premium option in your car? i hate manual windows, i wont by a car that has them anymore. it is a pain to reach across your center console to open your passenger window , all the while, avoiding oncoming traffic and parked cars on the side of the road.

I assume you're fed up with the unreliablness of the electric? I was at that point too, but wound up fixing them right.

FWIW in Europe they came with manual windows, never seen one in the states with em though

hes going for lighter car so thats why he wants manual windows and yeah theres some TIs with manual windows in can, mex or euro/asia u can prolly get the parts at the dealer tho, but yeah all TIs came with power windows to the states

My reasoning is simple. The Windows and interior lights are all connected and since i removed my interior (including the lights) a month ago my windows do not work. Furthermore it will be lighter and there will be alot less to deal with when they break. I c an fix my Toyota's manual windows in 15 minutes now, its soo easy. But when my BMW's windows break down i am SOL and have to spend hours figuring what else is connected to it.

Jean you seriously save me every time. always knowing why i post what i post. BTW any luck on the passenger airbag delete? I am planning on taking mine out along with the sensors in the rear underneath where the seats used to be and side panels were.

never even seen an E36 with manual windows.

my Ti is canadian, was the basest of base model (no sunroof) and it still has power windows.

Part #7

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...55&hg=51&fg=10

I don't remember what year your car is, but mine is a 95 and FWIW I have no passenger airbag. Pretty sure it was just disconnected and pulled

In regards to your windows no longer working after pulling the interior lights, you probably pulled the ground for the window switches. It is located right underneath the driver seat. That is really the only way that the interior lights and the windows are wired together.

I had my interior completely out including all lights, with my power windows working.

I looked into doing manual windows but it seemed kind of costly to start getting the parts to try it out. Ended up just pulling the windows and regulators. Car has lexan windows for when it is parked.

So all i Need is Parts 7,8,9, and 10 to convert it? Nothing else?

Looks like it to me, just take the motors out, cut a hole in the door card, and attach the crank.

Ok thanks guys. I was just on the phone with BMW parts center and they are sending me two of #7. They say for my car the other #'s don't work... So I guess I don't need the torx-bolt w/washer, covering caps, and stop disks. That doesn't seem right but they made it so I won't argue. I will post the results. Btw any advise on removing the door panel to work on this?

their are threads that have write ups that better explain it.

their are 2 screaws, one u can find easy, as their is a hole, the other is behind the electric mirror switch (or blank panel) in the door.

i always use an interior panel remover (sears has them for like $15, and its basically a crowbar) or some people use a long screaw driver. just go around the edges on the bottom, and pop out the plastic clips.

if you happen to pull off the whole clip from the door, just remove the old glue, and re-glue with epoxy or JP weld.

its pretty easy. before u do any cutting tho, make sure that the door panel can handle the manual window handle. make sure that the handle is not in the way of the arm rest, it looks close if it is not.

Ok thanks.