Window Regulator - Next Phase

[Manolito]

I am having window regulator problems as well. The window tends to bind a bit moving both up and down. If I grab the rear of the window when it is half closed, I can pull it up and down a couple of inches.

Inside at the rear of the window, it looks like there is a slug on a cable that is supposed to be attached to a piece of plastic that moves the window up and down with the cable. The plastic appears to be broken and I found a piece of plastic in the bottom of the door (see pics).

It does not look repairable, and the image of the window regulator is so poor that I am not certain that if I drop the $120 on a new regulator, I will get the part that is broken.

Any veterans of this problem out there?

[Manolito]

Oops, never mind. I just found great instructions for repairing this exact problem at http://www.skene.org/bmw/window/

[handsher]

I have additional pictures to help removing the side panel, disconnecting wires to switches/sensors/devices (air bags) to remove/replace the window(s) actuators.
If you need them, contact me @ betodemonclova@msn.com . (Bimmer Doggy has done a lot of the leg work to make the task look easy) However, I have a question. How do you reset the diagnostics computer? . After replacing the right actuator (with the right side door air bag disconnected) I verified proper operation of the window…It worked as intended, but…the air bag symbol is now lighted up on the dash board. How do you reset the beast?

[Manolito]

I too tested my handiwork with the airbag unplugged, and my airbag light is now illuminated. I won't make that mistake again.

When my daughter comes back with my Peake SRS tool, I am going to try to plug it in to the round-to-rectangular plug adapter that came with my new Peake OBD tool for this car and see if the old SRS tool will reset the airbag light on this car. The Peake website indicates that my SRS tool works only to 2003, so it probably won't work, and I will have to go to the dealer or to an indy shop to get the light cleared.

I did not replace the regulator. I put two zip ties on it to hold the broken part together without even removing it from the car. Works perfectly at the moment. Pictures did not turn out very good, but I can post them if anyone is interested.