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Subject: RL Window Regulator Removal for e38 BMW Author: chamaur as Joseph Jagrup : member since September, 2005 : 32 posts Posted on: 2006-02-07 08:09:01

Rear Left Window Regulator Removal - BMW e38


1. To remove the door panel, there is 1 screw holding the door panel which is located behind the inside door handle lever. Then you have to unclip the panel from the door itself. Make sure you disconnect the power window switch and the footlight on the bottom of the panel. Disconnect all the harness connectors behind the door panel once it’s unclipped.

2. Take out the speaker in the door. The mounting phillips screws are shown in the picture below indicated by the arrows.




3. After removing the speaker, remove the door liner. This is held on by a sticky tar tape. You can use a utility knife to separate the tape from the door.




4. Now we will remove the broken window regulator with motor. See below for the mounting screws and sizes.




5. You will need to bring the window down half way to unbolt it from the regulator. This is a torx T30 screw. We will start removing the entire window itself.




6. Now we need to remove the rubber molding around the door window opening to take out the window so we can get to that 1 star nut. This is nuts! First we remove the small plastic strip from the rear window guide/jam and then we take out the 3 phillips screws.




7. Next we go to the outside of the door and then slide this window mold strip holder by pulling it up. I’m not sure of the correct name but hopefully you’ll know what it is by look at the picture below - ignore the mess in the backseat :-)




8. Go back to the inside part of the door and remove the plastic strip around the window. There are 2 clips that you need to unclip from the door. See arrows below.




9. Go back to the outside part of the door and remove the rubber strips. You must pull these upwards after pulling out the top part.




10. Now finally to get the window out, go back to the inside part of the door and remove the bottom strip. Not sure of what the correct name is either, but look at the picture below. You will need to take a small flat screw driver and pry the top piece and then slide the strip out. Do this for all 5 of them.




11. Once you’ve pulled out your window. Now you can finally take out that last star nut holding the window regulator and then slide it out. You must turn the regulator assembly to the left (counter-clockwise) and then take the bottom piece and pull it out of the opening. Of course don’t forget to unplug the harness connector to the window motor. It’s a simple assembly really. As you can see below, my assembly broke. The cable came out of one of the pulleys which shattered into pieces, which eventually caused the cable to get stuck within the motor. This will cause a crunching sound when bringing the window up and down and eventually made it stick in one position. The installation is the reverse of the removal.




I hope this article helps. It’s a pretty easy task. Like anything else you just need a little bit of patience and lots of ice cream.

Author: Joseph Jagrup

• RL Window Regulator Removal for e38 BMW (pic) - Joseph Jagrup 2006-02-07 08:09:01 (9951 views)
  • initial email sent to the odometer gear guys (nt) - Martin 2006-02-08 09:35:25 (360 views)
  • Hate to tell you this but I don't think you had to take any of that stuff apart - thesteve 2006-02-07 22:57:33 (897 views)
    • if that is the case, look for a ratcheting box wrench (url) - Martin 2006-02-08 09:24:52 (496 views)
      • Actually, I mis-spoke, it can only be an open end wrench - thesteve 2006-02-08 12:51:25 (364 views)
  • Will this make it to E38.org? (nt) - r740 2006-02-07 16:08:59 (377 views)
    • Already did this morning. (nt) - DavidC 2006-02-07 20:36:56 (328 views)
  • Got about 50 of them in the Erector Set in my attic! (nt) - 740Sporter 2006-02-07 14:45:18 (407 views)
  • Thank You - Prices and Resources - Joseph Jagrup 2006-02-07 12:40:35 (552 views)
  • Great post! If it has not happened to you yet, better bookmark this! (pic) (url) - Ultymte 2006-02-07 10:42:12 (728 views)
    • mail me one of the good pulleys if both are the same - Martin 2006-02-07 11:21:59 (313 views)
      • Home Depot has lots of brass/ alum pulley used in patio, - bmw635 2006-02-07 13:59:38 (362 views)
        • Agreed! (nt) - 740Sporter 2006-02-07 14:46:05 (256 views)
      • No problem. E-mail me your address and I'll get it out to you. (nt) - Ultymte 2006-02-07 12:40:27 (249 views)
  • When these fail is that what normally happens? Broken Pulley? - 740Sporter 2006-02-07 10:21:05 (377 views)
    • Mine was a broken pulley that jammed the cable into the geabox. (nt) - Rhett 2006-02-07 10:45:57 (387 views)
      • Yep, same thing here. (nt) - Ultymte 2006-02-07 11:13:38 (270 views)
      • Seems really chincey. Pathetic. (nt) - 740Sporter 2006-02-07 11:06:42 (278 views)
  • It irritates the crap out of me how so many things are made of plastic.... - tdaniely 2006-02-07 09:44:56 (222 views)
  • Also, if we had a new pulley we might be able to get to it without taking out - Martin 2006-02-07 09:27:57 (351 views)
    • 44 mm Dia., 40 mm groove Dia., 5 mm thick, 12 mm Dia. hole. (nt) - Roy In GA 2006-02-08 00:43:25 (398 views)
      • My front right failed but not the pulley. It was the plastic sleeve which holds - Roy In GA 2006-02-08 00:48:27 (270 views)
  • Joseph. Can you give us the exact dimensions and details of that pulley - Martin 2006-02-07 09:25:52 (280 views)
    • Right on. The broken plastic pulley is THE CAUSE of window reg. failure - Brian 2006-02-07 11:23:32 (368 views)
    • As a source here is where I would start (url) - Martin 2006-02-07 10:11:29 (399 views)
      • Martin, check hardware/ improvement store since there's - bmw635 2006-02-07 14:04:59 (281 views)
        • Also the pulley idler shaft is swaged into the frame so this is also - Roy In GA 2006-02-08 00:53:08 (281 views)
  • So the only thing wrong with your old unit is that the plastic - itsstock 2006-02-07 08:54:20 (426 views)
  • Great write up.... (nt) - johngoga 2006-02-07 08:42:22 (317 views)