Driver side window won't go up! HELP

OMG...I pulled into my drive way today and my driver side window would not go up...does anyone have an idea as to how much this will cost to repair? By the time I got inside the BMW dealership was closed so I could not get an estimate...and I am headed to a funeral tomorrow that is out of town...

It is the window regulator, go to fcpgroton.com and look up your year. I believe they are around $150 bucks. Install cost is another price, don't go to a dealer, you will pay $700-$1,000 would be my guess.

This is a common problem on the X5 (my 130K mi '01 had 3 of 4 die on me). If you're so inclined you can DIY (see the article on http://www.xoutpost.com/file-x5tips.htm). If not, take it to the dealer. If I remember correctly it cost me about $400 to have the front replaced. I did the rear windows myself and would have done the front myself but the day it happened it was raining so I needed it fixed then and there.

Thanks...I went to a import car repair shop and they quoted me $535, but because I was going out of town to a funeral I did not have the time to wait for hace the regulator installed...they were able to bring the window back up and charged me $98 to do so...I am back in town now and have the time to shop around for a better price...thanks so much for your response!

Originally Posted by ChezWhiz

This is a common problem on the X5 (my 130K mi '01 had 3 of 4 die on me). If you're so inclined you can DIY (see the article on http://www.xoutpost.com/file-x5tips.htm). If not, take it to the dealer. If I remember correctly it cost me about $400 to have the front replaced. I did the rear windows myself and would have done the front myself but the day it happened it was raining so I needed it fixed then and there.

I youtubed a guy installing one...didn't seem that difficult...thanks so much for your response!

Originally Posted by kimmie0371

Thanks...I went to a import car repair shop and they quoted me $535, but because I was going out of town to a funeral I did not have the time to wait for hace the regulator installed...they were able to bring the window back up and charged me $98 to do so...I am back in town now and have the time to shop around for a better price...thanks so much for your response!

That quite a sum of $$$
Here is another DIY that I used (twice)
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...nt-bmw-x5.html

Make sure you get new clips and nuts. I bought 2 sets because they are the failure point. I've had to do this on my passenger side window 3 times now. Hoping the new clips and nuts hold. So far they are.

Originally Posted by kimmie0371

OMG...I pulled into my drive way today and my driver side window would not go up...does anyone have an idea as to how much this will cost to repair? By the time I got inside the BMW dealership was closed so I could not get an estimate...and I am headed to a funeral tomorrow that is out of town...

I just replaced my passenger window. Purchased the part online for about $130; had to purchase clips at dealership cause one was broken but only cost a couple of bucks. And I paid a friend $50 for labor.

Thanks so much, I wish I had a friend that could do the installment...I looked up the parts online as well and they are not that costly...however the labor is insain!

The window regulators in the E53 aren't too terrible to change out, there have already been some great DIYs posted which should help you out. I have your new regulators avaible HERE for your E53.

Originally Posted by petriej

Make sure you get new clips and nuts. I bought 2 sets because they are the failure point. I've had to do this on my passenger side window 3 times now. Hoping the new clips and nuts hold. So far they are.

RE the "failure point" can these clips and nuts be replaced prior to the entire regulator system? I have disassembled the door and been able to get the window back up. the motor works and controls the window up/down as long as I don't go below about .5inch above the window frame, then the window sticks and wont come back up.

So Can I replace the "clips and nuts" to reestablish correct integrity of the regulator?,what is failing in the regulator? cable stretch????

Yes.

Failure of the regulator usually is a break in the cable (replace regulator), off track of the cable (put back on track if cable isn't broken) or structural failure elsewhere on the regulator.

In my case, the clip breaks and the window falls out of the carrier, but the regulator itself is fine.

Originally Posted by petriej

Yes.

Failure of the regulator usually is a break in the cable (replace regulator), off track of the cable (put back on track if cable isn't broken) or structural failure elsewhere on the regulator.

In my case, the clip breaks and the window falls out of the carrier, but the regulator itself is fine.

Interesting. Makes me think there is something I can fix other than replacing the entire regulator. Such as loose bolts like the one I found between the vapor lock and the door which holds the window track.
Seems like when the window is completely down the geometry changes somewhere enough to restrict the window from moving back up.

window regulators are easy to install, the 1st one might take you a bit to figure out but after that you can do it in about 45min on most vehicles. I drive cars with ~100k miles and live in phx az. it seems that the heat wears the plastic clips and they give out always during my ownership. I've done alot of them and I'm not a mechanic. I can do it in about 30-40 min nowdays including the getting the door pannel off and back on. On my X5 I bought a regulator but it turned out I was able to change the plastic clips and didn't have to replace the whole regulator. I bought the clips at the stealership for ~$10 and it was an easy fix. I have since ordered some of the clips online for ~$1 each. Try it and I bet you'll find it not hard. Im sure this site has instructions somehere too.

I've gone through some clips too. The aft one wasn't so hard to fix, but the forward one is proving to be a pain to get to. I also had another piece break where the regulator cable is held onto it. I reattached it with some wire.

I think I'm going to just take the whole stupid thing out and replace it all.

good call, i agree. I messed with clips for a few failures...its best to just replace the whole regulator, imho. Saves the door panel from being removed three times in a year. The aftermarket ones are cheap and mine has been working for over a year now. It is not that much more time to take the whole thing out vs. messing with clips.

...now if I can figure out the suspension swap...Once I do, expect a write up...