Window repair??

[540i]

Another newbie here. I'm familiar with BMW's, but not so much the ti (being drawn to the 6-cylinder on up engines).

There is an add in town for a 318ti 5-speed where the rear passenger (driver's side) window is blown (bag with duct tape trick). He also mentions a "small problem with 1st gear".

I'm trying to get more info out of him as to what has happened, but the price is cheap and I kind of want a project anyway.

So two questions:

1) how hard is it and how expensive is it, to repair one of these windows?

2) Know anything about a "problem with 1st gear"? Anything common with the ti with a failure of 1st gear?

I'm not a huge fan of 4-bangers, but a 4-cylinder with 30mpg highway in a BMW chassis sounds rockin'. I'm already driving a Dodge Neon to and from work, I'd imagine the Ti is much more fun.

Thanks in advance.

[540i]

Follow up:

Just talked to the owner, says it won't stay in first gear. So sounds like a synchro and the tranny is shot. Might be a little more than I want to deal with, even at the reduced price.

[budget76]

I just converted my d-side window to manual for around $150. I bet the power motor is fine but the regulator is recked, they're like $65 on ebay.

Not staying in 1st doesn't mean a tranny swap. If it's a beater just hold it in 1st or start in 2nd.

[UberWagen]

Those rear windows aren't too bad to take out. And the deal with the 1st gear, You'll barely have time to let off the shifter before you have to go to second gear in these cars.

[540i]

He is asking $1500. If I can get him below $1k, do you think it won't be a bad deal for a daily runner?

[budget76]

Didn't realize you said rear window. I'm guessing they're not too bad.

I'd jump on it for $1500, $1000 is a steal if those are the only problems.

[540i]

Lol,

Looks like someone else thought it was a steal too. It has already sold after being listed for 10 hours. I was 90 miles away, so I couldn't see it until tommorow morning.

[540i]

Me again. New Ti in the area, going to take a look tommorow. Says everything works and is in excellent condition just 200k on the clock. Ick.

If it does check out, what is a fair price?

Car is a '96. They are asking $2k, I'd like to spend no more than $1800, but I don't know if even that is too much.

[tiFreak]

2k isn't bad, 1800 is even better, if the car has actually been well maintained 200k shouldn't be that big a deal

[540i]

Thanks!

Originally she was asking $3k and wouldn't do a penny less than $2800. Recently she dropped to $2k (which is when I posted on this forum).

I was going to go up and take a look, but the problem with my rural area is all the BMWs are at a minimum of 100 miles away. The day I could get off work and make the trip is the day she sold it to a local. .

That's the secont Ti that's come and gone before I could go up.

[tiFreak]

I know the feeling, I've been trying to find a second ti as a track car and it's been about the same

[dsamuel565]

Hi Guys,
I have had my 95 ti for 13 years. Has almost 197k on it's engine and runs fine. Yesterday when attempting to put the passenger window down, it went all weird and sideways. The motor and switch works fine. It seems to be off the tracks or something. I am told it is a thing that happens a lot on these ti's. Is there a fix I can do myself? Is this something that BMW has to tackle? Help Help

[740isport]

Go to the knowledgebase forum and search for window. You will find a lot of repair instructions. All can be done by you and you don't need BMW to do it.

[paul somlo]

You'll find a fairly detailed write up on this. When you're ready to button it back up, the foam liner can be re-adhered with a heat gun, working section by section. This is probably meaningless to you now, but it'll make sense soon, if you choose to tackle this yourself, which you should.

Paul

[dsamuel565]

Thanks, I will do that. Wasn't sure where to find the info.