» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 02-02-2006, 09:10 PM | #106 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Richmond Hill, GA Posts: 1,231 | At least on my car I found out that the weather strpping is causing to window to catch and thats what bends the arms and brakes the guides. instead of the window riding on the inside of the weather stripping it is pushed back to where its riding between the metal and the rubber stripping. | | | 02-04-2006, 08:19 PM | #107 | Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Mt Pleasant, SC Posts: 17 | I ordered a used regulator from a search on car-parts.com for $46 shipped. Just installed it and everything works great. Used the four 6mx10 bolts and white lithium grease on the sliders. The only problem that I ran into was that it was torquing really hard when closing (it always had...probably what bent the regulator in the first place). So I adjusted the bolt that sits in the middle of the regulator, by loosening it, sliding it to the left, and then retightening. | | | 02-25-2006, 01:22 AM | #108 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: washington Posts: 29 | hi im new to this site, very cool lots of info,ive owned my 318ti for about 3 years,i had the window break about 3 years ago right when i got the car,it bent the 2 regulator arms and i just bent them back with vice grips and plyers,i think the main problem is the grease that is used ,my door grease had turned into a thick clay,and was binding everything up really bad, so i cleand the grease out of the tracks,with wd40 and then with rubbing alcohol,then lubed the tracks and nylon slides with motorcycle chain lube,and the door works better than when i got the car and have had no problems with it in 3 years hope this helps, | | | 02-25-2006, 01:26 AM | #109 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 190 | you hit the nail on the head, the most important thing i've found with the windows is the choice of lubrication, i used chassis lubricant for heavy duty truck axels, same thing 2 years now no problems, funny because i had the exact thick gray clay in my widow hinges. __________________ BMW 318ti M Body Kit, Future M3 engine swap My 318ti | | | 02-25-2006, 01:33 AM | #110 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: washington Posts: 29 | ya i think its just the lube, i think the parts are all strong enough its just the friction of that ****y grease that was used in the tracks,i mean my regulator arms were bent in half and they bent out fine and are still working fine,with chain lube the window went 2times as fast and didnt bind up or make any weird noise at all. | | | 02-25-2006, 02:00 AM | #111 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 190 | ya mine actually didn't bend, they moved their position on the pivot points, at first i thought they were bent and tried the same thing as you, but it didn't work, then i noticed a clean spot where the orginal bolt was suppost to be, i unscrewed it a bit, adjusted the arm, tightened up, lubed up, and been fine so far lol, damn e36 windows, welcome to the forum __________________ BMW 318ti M Body Kit, Future M3 engine swap My 318ti | | | 04-12-2006, 10:43 PM | #112 | Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Tucson Posts: 32 | Just had mine fixed for the FIFTH time. First time I was out of town - shop just put it back on clips. Next time, same deal, by my hubby as we were leaving town the next day. Third time an independant BMW mech put a new reg in. Fourth time, the same guy fixed it again (for free). This time, fixed again (for free) by same mech. What the heck?? Glad I never replaced the tinting, since that gets scratched all to hell everytime. A really nice look. BTW - I do have the side airbags, for the person that asked. Nice to know it's not just me... | | | 04-24-2006, 02:08 AM | #113 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mississauga Posts: 19 | Happen to me.. great! Q. Is the regulator the same for all e36? | | | 04-25-2006, 06:18 PM | #114 | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: So California Posts: 36 | Okay happened to me yesterday. This is the third time my 1998 318ti (the driver window) experienced this problem. Actually the first two happened when it was with the previous owner (my bro) and he had the regulator replaced. This time around I would be happy if it just stayed closed so I wouldnt have to deal with it. | | | 04-26-2006, 03:03 AM | #115 | Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: So California Posts: 36 | Just got the regulator replaced. Never had problem with passenger side but nonetheless after reading through this thread I will limit the use of that power window. | | | 05-01-2006, 02:46 PM | #116 | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 11 | UPDATE: I followed the instructions listed and finally fixed the passenger window. While I was at it i went ahead and did the drivers side too. Thanks for all the help- it saved me the trip the the shop and lots of money! Thanks again! __________________ 1995ti Red,Manual tranny, stock- but not for long! | | | 07-10-2006, 05:22 PM | #117 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: TX Posts: 140 | I have now repaired both driver's and passenger side windows countless times during the 2.5 years I've owned my ti. I can now disassemble the door, place the window back on track, pop it into the rivets and reassemble the panel in under ten minutes. My tint has also been scratched to hell and I don't dare replace it. What seems to knock my windows out of place is closing the doors hard, while the windows are partially rolled up, or rolling the windows all the way down. This seems like real cause for a vehicle recall. I know a lot of cars have window-related issues, but this thread makes it obvious that this is a major factory defect among 318tis. I guess a window that breaks regularly is better than an engine factory-guaranteed to blow at 80k.. | | | 07-10-2006, 06:28 PM | #118 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Don't forget while you are in there to be sure the rubber guide towards the rear is in place. They are often found at the bottom of the door. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 07-10-2006, 07:04 PM | #119 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: cary, nc Posts: 2,259 | i had just replaced my driver side regulator at christmas time...and now i can hear its about to fcall again...ill have to rip it apart later tonight and investigate the white clips that i think are broken now... __________________ 1995 318ti Active Pioneer Speakers [] Aluminum Billet door locks [] ACS Pedals/Deadrest [] ACS Shift Knob / E-Brake Handle [] Clear Corners/Tails/Sides [] Sylvania Exterior Lighting [] Custom CAI [] Dinan Engine Chip [] Dinan Transmission Chip [] H&R Race Springs [] Tokico Illumina Shocks [] BMW X-Brace [] Relocated Lighter Mod [] Custom iPod Mod http://www.cardomain.com/id/robcarync | | | 07-10-2006, 09:18 PM | #120 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | If every owner of a E36 would fill out this form...... https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Consumer.cfm Some action might be seen.... Dave I put this in my complaint form. 3 series models (E36) And notably the 318Ti BMW automobiles have an extremely high failure rate for the window regulators. Its not uncommon to have to repair them anually at a cost of approx 300 dollars per door. The failure occurs without warning causing the window to jam, or fall inside the door. This is a well known documented problem among the owner comunity and reactions at dealers is "Oh yea happens all the time." I propose this could present an egress issue in event of an emergency. At one point in the form I had to click E46 because they only gave me one option.... __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |