E38 Power Window / Lock problem /Master Switch

This has been going on for a while, on my Drivers door of 1998 BMW 740 IL, as the temperature dropped in the 30's I parked the car, alarmed it with key, an hour and a half later tried to enter the car, all doors unlocked, not the drivers door. I unlocked it with the key, as i started the engine the Alarm Syren triped once, and alarm lights flasher, as the car is ideling, I tried to roll down the window, all Master buttons would not work, on other doors, the buttons would roll the windows up and down.

Last time it happened, was momentarily, I opend and closed the door and all started to work. This car is babied, always garaged, I took the door panel apart, all was dry, connections seem OK, a felt around the actuator....I read on line about the same situation, it was not the actuator, turned out to be the Master switch, i took it out cleaned it all seems OK, I ordered another one on line since I found one for $25 hope this takes care of this. Funny thing is last time this happened, as the car warmed up it started working, I checked everything I could think of possible....
I will double check th wires going into the door....And hope the new swith will work.....?

Just before this occured I had the California Rediculous Smog Emissins done and the car passed like always (ALL filters, oil, plugs Bank1 Oxygen sensor done, car running excellent ), the station guy was opening, closing the door many times reving the engine many times, REDICULOUS! I hate this test! On top of it all he walked away and left my car on the smog machine and started helping to fix some 4x4 ladies squeek in the wheel!!! I was trying to be polite and said The BMW will run out of GAS! I never let the car Idle for this long 1/2 hour !!! Hope thus stupid SMOG station did not fry my window!! Tha car passed stupid SMOG, and I have a broken DRIVER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH ,,, or something.....

Hope You do not have to do SMOG in your state WASTE of $80 and unnecesary violation of the car! CALIFORNIA is a JOKE.... I will tell You what happens with this.....

Originally Posted by msiedliski

This has been going on for a while, on my Drivers door of 1998 BMW 740 IL, as the temperature dropped in the 30's I parked the car, alarmed it with key, an hour and a half later tried to enter the car, all doors unlocked, not the drivers door. I unlocked it with the key, as i started the engine the Alarm Syren triped once, and alarm lights flasher, as the car is ideling, I tried to roll down the window, all Master buttons would not work, on other doors, the buttons would roll the windows up and down.

Last time it happened, was momentarily, I opend and closed the door and all started to work. This car is babied, always garaged, I took the door panel apart, all was dry, connections seem OK, a felt around the actuator....I read on line about the same situation, it was not the actuator, turned out to be the Master switch, i took it out cleaned it all seems OK, I ordered another one on line since I found one for $25 hope this takes care of this. Funny thing is last time this happened, as the car warmed up it started working, I checked everything I could think of possible....
I will double check th wires going into the door....And hope the new swith will work.....?

Just before this occured I had the California Rediculous Smog Emissins done and the car passed like always (ALL filters, oil, plugs Bank1 Oxygen sensor done, car running excellent ), the station guy was opening, closing the door many times reving the engine many times, REDICULOUS! I hate this test! On top of it all he walked away and left my car on the smog machine and started helping to fix some 4x4 ladies squeek in the wheel!!! I was trying to be polite and said The BMW will run out of GAS! I never let the car Idle for this long 1/2 hour !!! Hope thus stupid SMOG station did not fry my window!! Tha car passed stupid SMOG, and I have a broken DRIVER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH ,,, or something.....

Hope You do not have to do SMOG in your state WASTE of $80 and unnecesary violation of the car! CALIFORNIA is a JOKE.... I will tell You what happens with this.....

Does anyone have any suggestions? Does the ACUATOR and MASTER POWER DOOR/MIRROR SWITCH work somehow together. There sure are a LOT of electromics in the switch, and everywhere in this Beautiful Flagship.....

Any Help Greatly appreciated

Did you try reprograming your Key I had a similar issue once and that worked for me also have your Battery checked

Weird secection of systems but together in the door. I guess it a wir /plug/ earth problem in that area. Follow the loom and ckeck everything v carefully..