Window Regulator or Clips Replacement? - Page 2

Mango · 07-19-2012, 11:47 AM

Right. Talking front as fronts are the regulators that often fail (due to being used more)

KaziKai · 11-21-2012, 10:55 PM

Sorry for being a noob on this... mine just started to make crunching noises... so I did order the part.. but now my issue is my driver front door has SRS on it.. Do I unplug my battery or what do I do?

jayb328i · 11-22-2012, 06:27 AM

@ Kazikai. I have changed my window regulators many time over the years, and I can tell you what I have done that works for me. First, when you say you ordered the part--I am assuming you mean the window regulator. I do not disconnect the airbag--but am very careful about working around it. I disconnect the battery, remove the inside panels, unscrew the airbag unit and with a rope hang it carefully (via a sling) from the mirror to keep it out of the way. I read somewhere that the airbag unit has power in it for about 10 minutes after the battery is disconnected--so allow for that. I am very careful not to knock and hit the airbag unit in any way. After replacing the window regulator, I re-attach the airbag unit but do not put the inside molding in place. First connect the battery and do a test run to make sure everything in the door was done properly and works. I then connect carefully put back the rain guard plastic. The plastic MUST be put back perfectly--OR YOU WILL have a pool of water on your floor when it rains. I always am very careful when removing the rain guard plastic, and reseal it using the original and sometime new sealer. After a few regulators --what I do now is use a hair dryer to heat up the original glue to have it reattach--works great. But I normally spend 20 minutes or so in heating up the plastic and glue behind it to make sure it binds properly. If you do disconnect the Airbag wires (I do not do that), I understand that you will get error code when done, and do not recall the procedure for clearing that or if the dealer needs to clear it. Someone else can comment on that. My recommendation is not to disconnect the Airbag unit--just hang it to the side--BUT do disconnect the battery.

ddaniel1 · 11-22-2012, 10:47 AM

As long as the battery is disconnected you can unplug and reinstall the airbag without getting a light, if you connect battery while the airbag is disconnected it will generate the SRS light because it sees it missing.
I had to replace one in a pinch on a Sunday when I was flying out Monday morning, with no opportunity to wait for an OEM what I found was Autozone regulators (Dorman) have a lifetime warranty, we will see what the reliability is, its been fine for the last two months.

07-19-2012, 11:47 AM	#21
Mango Platinum Plus Quality Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,471 My Ride: M54B30 View My Garage	Right. Talking front as fronts are the regulators that often fail (due to being used more) __________________ Cooling \| Maintenance \| Vacuum \| Suspension \| Costs "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." -Steve Jobs

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11-21-2012, 10:55 PM	#22
KaziKai Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 62 My Ride: 2001 325i View My Garage	Sorry for being a noob on this... mine just started to make crunching noises... so I did order the part.. but now my issue is my driver front door has SRS on it.. Do I unplug my battery or what do I do?

11-22-2012, 06:27 AM	#23
jayb328i Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 538 My Ride: E46 2000 328i View My Garage	@ Kazikai. I have changed my window regulators many time over the years, and I can tell you what I have done that works for me. First, when you say you ordered the part--I am assuming you mean the window regulator. I do not disconnect the airbag--but am very careful about working around it. I disconnect the battery, remove the inside panels, unscrew the airbag unit and with a rope hang it carefully (via a sling) from the mirror to keep it out of the way. I read somewhere that the airbag unit has power in it for about 10 minutes after the battery is disconnected--so allow for that. I am very careful not to knock and hit the airbag unit in any way. After replacing the window regulator, I re-attach the airbag unit but do not put the inside molding in place. First connect the battery and do a test run to make sure everything in the door was done properly and works. I then connect carefully put back the rain guard plastic. The plastic MUST be put back perfectly--OR YOU WILL have a pool of water on your floor when it rains. I always am very careful when removing the rain guard plastic, and reseal it using the original and sometime new sealer. After a few regulators --what I do now is use a hair dryer to heat up the original glue to have it reattach--works great. But I normally spend 20 minutes or so in heating up the plastic and glue behind it to make sure it binds properly. If you do disconnect the Airbag wires (I do not do that), I understand that you will get error code when done, and do not recall the procedure for clearing that or if the dealer needs to clear it. Someone else can comment on that. My recommendation is not to disconnect the Airbag unit--just hang it to the side--BUT do disconnect the battery.

11-22-2012, 10:47 AM	#24
ddaniel1 CWO4 (Ret) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 206 My Ride: 00 328i View My Garage	As long as the battery is disconnected you can unplug and reinstall the airbag without getting a light, if you connect battery while the airbag is disconnected it will generate the SRS light because it sees it missing. I had to replace one in a pinch on a Sunday when I was flying out Monday morning, with no opportunity to wait for an OEM what I found was Autozone regulators (Dorman) have a lifetime warranty, we will see what the reliability is, its been fine for the last two months.