Question about Windows not working [Archive] - bimmerfest

biglovemp

02-20-2007, 06:25 PM

So my friend owns a 93 325 coupe.. For some reason the windows are not working they do now go up or down, neither does the sunroof, i have checked the fuse and its good. Now I thought the motor, but when you open the door the window drops an inch which is what always happens, so if that is happening as always then the window does work. Does anyone know what could be causing this problem? because i have no idea and he knows less. Any input would be appreciated thanks...

MuppetGod

02-20-2007, 10:05 PM

LOL Quite funny actually. My Friend owns a 93 325 Sedan and the same thing happens! LOL

Sorry. No word on how to fix thou. lol

black93e36

02-20-2007, 11:08 PM

I have a 93 325i sedan and I remember the first time that happened to me.

To fix it, locate and press the window circuit breaker button on the control panel to the right of your steering wheel. It is a button that has an icon of a window with a lightning bolt through it. That should do it.

biglovemp

02-21-2007, 05:17 AM

Thanks i will tell him to try that later on. Hopefully this works, its funny the stories he tells me like when hes going thru a drive thru the way he has to open the door, that has to be embarrasing..lol.. BUt anyways thanks for the input guys.

biglovemp

02-21-2007, 03:29 PM

Well i tried looking for that switch you were talking about and there is nothing to the right f the steering wheel, could you please explain more in detail what you were talking about or if anyone else could help it would be highly appreciated. Thanks.

biglovemp

02-22-2007, 05:27 AM

Anybody????

Bimrpwr

02-22-2007, 06:04 AM

The switch is located on the right hand side (passenger side) of the sterring wheel just right above the Knee panel and right next to the center console. It has a picture of a window on it with a lighting bolt running through it....If you cant find that i would double check all fuses and then get a test light out and start checking for power going to the motors and switchs for windows and sunroof.

baldy_o6

02-22-2007, 05:28 PM

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/baldy_o6/helpneeded.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
MY CAR IS A 92 325i IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT MODEL OR YEAR IT MIGHT BE LOCATED ELSEWHERE... (ITS THE BUTTON THAT LOCKS ALL THE OTHER SWITCHES SO KIDS WONT MESS WITH THE WINDOWS THIS IS NOT WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR BUT GOI AHEAD AND TRY IT)

biglovemp

02-22-2007, 07:49 PM

Thanks for the picture, I knew i was not crazy and neither was my friend. His car does not have that switch. Could there be a chance that that same switch is somewhere else in this car its a 93 325is coupe. (just in case) I have checked the fuses for him already and i know there are good. I dont understand becuase like i said before the windows do go down about half inch or so when the door opens, im guessing that so the window seals tight when the door is closed and gets tucked under the rubber peice. but i figured that if that is still working then the motors are not bad, But I am stuck and so is he. Its just so weird the way niether window nor the sunroof is working... anyone else have any other sugestions.?

1993BMW318i

02-22-2007, 08:14 PM

maybe only sedans have the switch.

biglovemp

02-23-2007, 07:28 AM

Yeah i know, thats what i am guessing that it was only a sedan thing.. So does anyone else that has or had or knows about the coupes and how to go about fixing this problem.. ???

baldy_o6

02-23-2007, 09:02 AM

yeah i figured it would be a sedan thing and my friend has a coupe i will have to check it out to find out how that works, my driver window on my car wont roll up and my passenger wont roll down... the rest work, i cant say anything else but to go to your local BMW dealership and have them take a look at it

robertplattbell

02-24-2007, 01:56 PM

Sounds like a relay problem. The so-called "comfort relay" perhaps? You did check the fuses, right?

Andycapps

02-24-2007, 02:50 PM

hey baldy...is that a pic of your car? If so what kind of bumper is that?

biglovemp

02-25-2007, 09:00 PM

yeah i did check all the fuses and nothing. I have no idea what the hell is happening. Anyone else have any inputs..

BMWredneck

02-25-2007, 10:51 PM

make sure the connection between the switch and the connectors are connected? maybe they fell off or something even though its highly unlikely.

And if anything. find a friend or something that has working windows. and take out the window switch and replace it with the other one fromthe friends car. If the window wrks then you know its your switches, maybe they got fried or something.

Then just go buy new ones. The switches should pry out, but be careful not to damage the console or the plastic cover on the switch, its more like a border than anything but still.
of course, this may be different bc i have a 318is and not a 325...but its worth a shot

Choi

02-26-2007, 03:32 AM

If you don’t have the circuit breaker button. Try pressing the window button (up or down) for a few seconds (I think its 10 or 20 seconds not sure).

biglovemp

02-26-2007, 08:43 AM

Ill try checking the switches its the only thing i have not done. and i dont know a friend with a 325 so i cant switch them... the reason why i did not think it was the switch is becuase the sunroof is not working either. So if its the switch how the hell did all three switches for both front windows and sunroof go bad at the same time. Thats creapy.. BUt ill try that and see thanks guys so far, even though i have not found the solution, my friend knows nothing about cars and im tryin to help him out being that i know the minimal but more then hiom of course.

baldy_o6

02-27-2007, 10:23 AM

hey baldy...is that a pic of your car? If so what kind of bumper is that?

yes thats a pic of my car before it was hit from behind... the bumper is Racing Dynamics

biglovemp

03-01-2007, 01:29 PM

So nothing. Everything seems to be working fine but for some reason the windows just wont go down. I cant beleive no one has ever had this problem... This is very spooky... but anyways do you guys have any more suggestions? It cant just stop working like that and nothing behind it..

baldy_o6

03-04-2007, 08:41 PM

biglovemp

03-06-2007, 07:36 AM

Well the problem is that the windows are not working and there is no circuit breaker switch.. I have checked the fuses, and the actual window switches. everything seems to be in tack and in working condition, but the windows wont go down at all. i know its not the motor or regulator or what ever makes it go up and down because when you open the door the window does go down about an inch so the window could get out of the lip thing that it has.

So does anyone else have any ideas on what this could be?

Dudesky_E36

03-06-2007, 06:30 PM

It's your comfort relay. Located behind the driver's side knee bolster.

biglovemp

03-07-2007, 07:16 AM

What exactly is it i am lookin for, so i take off the knee bulster then what... some guidance would be appreciated because i have no idea what you are talking about. thanks.

djlonsk

03-07-2007, 07:03 PM

it is probably a short I had the same problem

Dudesky_E36

03-08-2007, 06:12 PM

What exactly is it i am lookin for, so i take off the knee bulster then what... some guidance would be appreciated because i have no idea what you are talking about. thanks.
I figured you'd do a :google: search on it, but here goes . . Once you remove the knee bolster, you'll see a panel of five relays. Release the plastic retainers on the panel to lower it. There is a top row consisting of 3 relays, and a bottom row of 2 relays. The comfort relay is the left most one on the top row. If the panel looks different or the configuration isn't the same on your car, it'll be the blue one. The usual problem with it is that a resistor blows, causing the relay to stop working, cutting off your power to the windows and sunroof. Some people just solder a new resistor on, but you're better off replacing the whole relay for a mere 18-20 bucks.

Yes, I know what your next question is . . PelicanParts.com has them. Just do a keyword search for "comfort relay".

bimmertech2000

03-08-2007, 06:43 PM

after you remove the knee bolster look under the dash the relay is a blueish color

AlwaysMovin'

03-09-2007, 08:22 AM

After you pull the relay out, pry the cover off. Look at the back of the circuit board (where the pins of the components are soldered to the board) closely under a strong light. Chances are, there will be a gap or crack in the solder around one or more of the pins.
If you use a tiny bit of solder, and carefully apply it so it does not flow across adjoining circuits, you can re-use the relay.
I had the same window problems. Eventually, they would not work at all.
The window switches would illuminate and the fuse was fine. I pulled the relay, and found one pin that was completely separated from the board. I guess after 15 years of heat and cold, it gets brittle :dunno:
Anywho, I got to learn a little more about the car and saved a few $$ as well....

biglovemp

03-15-2007, 08:39 AM

So i was kind of in a rush and had to go but i removed the knee bulster just to see if i saw anything and under the knee bulster there is a metal plate kind of. There are no relays there.. Do i also have to remove the metal plate? Is it behind that..?

AlwaysMovin'

03-15-2007, 03:39 PM

Yes, there is a silver/aluminum foam core crush panel behind the plastic trim that is under the steering wheel.
It has 3 bolts. Behind/under that is the relay bracket.

baldy_o6

04-13-2007, 11:27 AM

i still have the same problem... drivers window wont go up and passenger window wont go down. fuses work / how do i check window motors ?

baldy_o6

04-20-2007, 07:57 PM

it is probably a short I had the same problem

and how did u fix this ?

Jim Spence

04-21-2007, 05:10 AM

For what it's worth, I have a '93 325i and it has the window circuit breaker. I only discovered what it was when I took it back from a test drive and told the salesman the windows didn't work, and he showed me where it was.

I would have bought it without the windows working ... that's how much I love this car.