My clip was broken where it holds the line to go up and down. No need to replace entire regulator if motor and cable is still fine. $10 replacement part. Ebay part listing: 2004-05-06-07-08-09-10 BMW X3 Window Regulator Repair Clip (1) Rear Right Side Mine was right rear so make sure you find the right door. Thanks for the video, it definately helped me!
Great video! I would not have attempted this job without it. I went on Ebay to buy a regulator and saw there were a lot of people selling just the plastic clip that mates the window to the regulator track. I took a chance that mine was broken based on the fact I could still hear the motor running. Just the window would not move. With your great video I was able to fix it for $9. Thanks again for sharing your expertise.
Thanks for the video. Here are a few things I learned doing this myself: 1) As another person mentioned, for 2010 there are only 3 screws for the panel. I spent some time searching for a screw behind the lever/handle which opens the door before realizing that there wasn't one there. 2) When you remove the panel, be careful. It tends to fall off, and in doing so may break a connector. So keep the panel supported as you use the shimmy tool to remove the panel. 3) I did not have to remove the window. Just removing the door panel was enough. 4) Maybe because I didn't remove the window it was hard to get the plastic clip out. Look at the new plastic clip that you have to understand how the existing one is attached to the window. Specifically there is a small hole towards the bottom of the window where a part of the clip "press fits" into. Maybe you can press with a screwdriver to push it out, but it didn't work for me. I was afraid of pushing too hard in case I broke the window, so I ended up using a hacksaw blade to essentially cut most of the clip into pieces. 5) Use tape to hold the window in place when you are working and you don't want it to fall on your fingers. You can put the tape on the window and the lining at bottom. As the window moves down, the tape jams any further downward movement. Good luck!
Thanks for the video, it really helped a lot to remove the panel to replace the good old clip! For those with a broken clip, rather than buy a replacement, drill 2 small holes above and below where the bolt sits (where the plastic has broken off) and use washers and screws to hold the cable and bolt in the recess. Works a treat and (almost) free!
Great video. The window does not need to come out. If you place the window in the all up position, you can get the regulator out easily. From start to finish took me 30-35 minutes
I'm amazed by your patience with all of this. Very well done. I'm willing to bet the same plastic component "popped" on my regulator yesterday. I can hear the motor going up and down, but without that contact, the window isn't going anywhere. I'm assuming it's where the window mounts with the hold where the plastic portion cracked (The circular portion).
This is video is helpful, but you don't need to disassemble the entire window if you buy the plastic regulator clip only - about $15. For me, these are my steps: 1. Remove door paneling and lift up water barrier 2. slide window down, remove old regulator clip 3. Move window back up by hand and tape in place 4. Attach new regulator clip to nut on the drive cable (will need to pull cable to side - there is enough play in the cable) 5. Install the regulator onto the track 6. Carefully slide window back down into the plastic regulator clip 7. Test the window's full range of motion before installing paneling again
Very nice video. Not many people think to show the tool sizes needed. I didn't need to remove my left rear window glass. After popping the nylon clip to release the glass and to keep the glass up while awaiting parts, I cut a piece of shoe mould to 20" and notched one end. Put the notched end in the door and under the window. Slide the bottom over until the stick is taut. To take out the regulator, I removed the the three T25 screws holding the motor to the regulator and pulled it. Then remove the three #10 nuts nuts holding the regulator in the door. The regulator will then fall right out. I am going to check eBay for a couple of clips. One for now and a second for the right rear which will probably fail next!
Hi Tony, Thank you for the comment. What you did will help others do theirs. I appreciate it. Have a nice day. Please like and subscribe if you haven't already.
I have one edit on this - the window does not need to come out. If you place the window in the all up position, you can get the regulator out by moving the bottom of it out of the door. The rest, is correct - Just did mine and thanks for the help! PS: for the 2004 there is a plastic clip that holds the window in the plastic part connected to the window. A small screw driver is what you use to press it in. Be careful, you could break the window.
Hi @88bmyvegas, On mine, I can hear the motor work when I press the button. However the window itself won't go down. All you hear is the regulator motor work. Could the window fall off track? Do you think I would need to do the same operation like you did? I will wait for your reply! Thanks in advance
Hello Rzrt77, you would have to replace the regulator like this video. It might of been the glass is off its mount but could be the cable snapped too. I suggest to buy a new regulator and replace it. Have a nice day and please subscribe.
Thank you for your great video. I very appreciate how the video is made but showing the car model and tools used, without harassing people with horrible rock music like other people add to their videos, or speech in a language that I don't understand (myself I don't understand spoken English). Every people from every language can understand your video. In fact in my car it's the white plastic part that slides along the rail and holds the window that I replaced, as the motor still worked but the windows remained in place and opened by itself while driving. Thank you again for this great video. If you have a video showing how to replace the box that controls the cabin air circulation, hidden somewhere behind the dashboard, please upload it...
Wow! This looks like a huge pain in the ass to do! I just discovered as I heard a pop when I was trying to put the driver side rear door down that I probably need to do this. Is it a huge pain? That is question 1. Question 2-Is there anyway to not replace the regulator and lock the window in the up position ( no-working)? Thanks!
MrDutchentre Yes, it is hard to do. The only way to have the window in the closed position is to cut the cable and wedge something in there so it won't go down. Thank you for the question. Please subscribe.
Would it be possible to replace the repair clip that you showed in your video that had broken? I see a few of them for sale on eBay for $10-$15. Do you think that would be very difficult?
considering that the new regulator did not have the long studs , but instead had new bolts for installation. wouldnt it be easier to cut off the bolts to make clearance to snake it out instead of pulling the window off? justs an idea.
Yup...window need not come out. Simply roll the window down and look for the hole and push put the plastic button from the hole carefully without breaking the glass and pull the window up and hold the plastic piece. Comes right off.
I was also afraid that this is complicated, but I first tried to remove door panel to see inside and in fact it is a lot easier than I thinked and I have done the job it a relative short time. I spent more time going out to buy a Torx 30 screwdriver and the BMW part than to do the whole job with only ordinary hand tools.
Thanks very much for posting this! very helpful and appreciated. For those who have the motor working but the window doesnt go up and down - that's likely just a plastic part called a drive dog and this video shows how to replace just that part that i found on AMazon for $5 and dealer for $50..th-cam.com/video/ngDXO5pk4AE/w-d-xo.html
My clip was broken where it holds the line to go up and down. No need to replace entire regulator if motor and cable is still fine. $10 replacement part.
Ebay part listing:
2004-05-06-07-08-09-10 BMW X3 Window Regulator Repair Clip (1) Rear Right Side
Mine was right rear so make sure you find the right door.
Thanks for the video, it definately helped me!
Great video! I would not have attempted this job without it. I went on Ebay to buy a regulator and saw there were a lot of people selling just the plastic clip that mates the window to the regulator track. I took a chance that mine was broken based on the fact I could still hear the motor running. Just the window would not move.
With your great video I was able to fix it for $9. Thanks again for sharing your expertise.
Thanks for the video. Here are a few things I learned doing this myself:
1) As another person mentioned, for 2010 there are only 3 screws for the panel. I spent some time searching for a screw behind the lever/handle which opens the door before realizing that there wasn't one there.
2) When you remove the panel, be careful. It tends to fall off, and in doing so may break a connector. So keep the panel supported as you use the shimmy tool to remove the panel.
3) I did not have to remove the window. Just removing the door panel was enough.
4) Maybe because I didn't remove the window it was hard to get the plastic clip out. Look at the new plastic clip that you have to understand how the existing one is attached to the window. Specifically there is a small hole towards the bottom of the window where a part of the clip "press fits" into. Maybe you can press with a screwdriver to push it out, but it didn't work for me. I was afraid of pushing too hard in case I broke the window, so I ended up using a hacksaw blade to essentially cut most of the clip into pieces.
5) Use tape to hold the window in place when you are working and you don't want it to fall on your fingers. You can put the tape on the window and the lining at bottom. As the window moves down, the tape jams any further downward movement.
Good luck!
Jayanta Sen cool thank you for the tips. I appreciate it as well as others here. Have a nice day
Thanks for the video, it really helped a lot to remove the panel to replace the good old clip! For those with a broken clip, rather than buy a replacement, drill 2 small holes above and below where the bolt sits (where the plastic has broken off) and use washers and screws to hold the cable and bolt in the recess. Works a treat and (almost) free!
+Andreas Sher Welcome!! Thank you for the comment. Please subscribe. Have a nice day.
Thank you for the great video. I am not the world's greatest mechanic, but with your video I was able to do it myself in about 2 hours.
Merlin Collins Awesome!! Welcome!! Please subscribe. “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.” -Henry Ford
Great video. The window does not need to come out. If you place the window in the all up position, you can get the regulator out easily. From start to finish took me 30-35 minutes
Albert Ducreay Awesome!! Thank you for the tip and welcome. Please subscribe.
I'm amazed by your patience with all of this. Very well done. I'm willing to bet the same plastic component "popped" on my regulator yesterday. I can hear the motor going up and down, but without that contact, the window isn't going anywhere. I'm assuming it's where the window mounts with the hold where the plastic portion cracked (The circular portion).
I agree the video was very helful..but also didnt need to take the window out. Tilted assembly to the left and removed with ease. Thanks again
This is video is helpful, but you don't need to disassemble the entire window if you buy the plastic regulator clip only - about $15.
For me, these are my steps:
1. Remove door paneling and lift up water barrier
2. slide window down, remove old regulator clip
3. Move window back up by hand and tape in place
4. Attach new regulator clip to nut on the drive cable (will need to pull cable to side - there is enough play in the cable)
5. Install the regulator onto the track
6. Carefully slide window back down into the plastic regulator clip
7. Test the window's full range of motion before installing paneling again
Hello Vegas, thank you for the video as it save me quite a bit of time replacing the door glass.
Hello Chris, Welcome!! I'm happy that this video has helped you. Please subscribe.
Very nice video. Not many people think to show the tool sizes needed. I didn't need to remove my left rear window glass.
After popping the nylon clip to release the glass and to keep the glass up while awaiting parts, I cut a piece of shoe mould to 20" and notched one end. Put the notched end in the door and under the window. Slide the bottom over until the stick is taut.
To take out the regulator, I removed the the three T25 screws holding the motor to the regulator and pulled it. Then remove the three #10 nuts nuts holding the regulator in the door. The regulator will then fall right out. I am going to check eBay for a couple of clips. One for now and a second for the right rear which will probably fail next!
Hi Tony, Thank you for the comment. What you did will help others do theirs. I appreciate it. Have a nice day. Please like and subscribe if you haven't already.
I have one edit on this - the window does not need to come out. If you place the window in the all up position, you can get the regulator out by moving the bottom of it out of the door. The rest, is correct - Just did mine and thanks for the help!
PS: for the 2004 there is a plastic clip that holds the window in the plastic part connected to the window. A small screw driver is what you use to press it in. Be careful, you could break the window.
Welcome, Please subscribe.
I thought this video was very helpful on my x3 regulator clip replacement.
Thanks very much. Cute kid too!!!! Just like my son!!!!
Hi @88bmyvegas,
On mine, I can hear the motor work when I press the button. However the window itself won't go down. All you hear is the regulator motor work. Could the window fall off track? Do you think I would need to do the same operation like you did?
I will wait for your reply!
Thanks in advance
Hello Rzrt77, you would have to replace the regulator like this video. It might of been the glass is off its mount but could be the cable snapped too. I suggest to buy a new regulator and replace it. Have a nice day and please subscribe.
Great job !!!! Love the baby in the back ground. 😆😆😆 so hard do do a silent video when the kids wakr up !! Lol
so perfect and clear procedure.. you save my day.. thx so much!
2020lexx Welcome and thank you for the comment. I really appreciate it. Please subscribe and have a nice day.
Thank you for your great video. I very appreciate how the video is made but showing the car model and tools used, without harassing people with horrible rock music like other people add to their videos, or speech in a language that I don't understand (myself I don't understand spoken English). Every people from every language can understand your video. In fact in my car it's the white plastic part that slides along the rail and holds the window that I replaced, as the motor still worked but the windows remained in place and opened by itself while driving. Thank you again for this great video. If you have a video showing how to replace the box that controls the cabin air circulation, hidden somewhere behind the dashboard, please upload it...
thank you bro..excellent camera to actions..thanks again,btw where did you order the non oem part and why
Welcome, I think my friend got it on but not positive. It's actually cheaper than OEM part. Please subscribe and have a nice day.
Hey thanks for the video! This looks do-able... Going to try this on my X3.
Welcome!! Please subscribe.
Is this the same process for front driver window?
Wow! This looks like a huge pain in the ass to do! I just discovered as I heard a pop when I was trying to put the driver side rear door down that I probably need to do this. Is it a huge pain?
That is question 1.
Question 2-Is there anyway to not replace the regulator and lock the window in the up position ( no-working)?
Thanks!
MrDutchentre Yes, it is hard to do. The only way to have the window in the closed position is to cut the cable and wedge something in there so it won't go down. Thank you for the question. Please subscribe.
Would it be possible to replace the repair clip that you showed in your video that had broken? I see a few of them for sale on eBay for $10-$15.
Do you think that would be very difficult?
You can try but it would be difficult I think.
considering that the new regulator did not have the long studs , but instead had new bolts for installation. wouldnt it be easier to cut off the bolts to make clearance to snake it out instead of pulling the window off? justs an idea.
+BaseddZ32tt maybe it would work. sometimes the long harder way is better.
excellent vid. Thank you (2004 e83)
Brilliant. Thank you sooooo much.
Great Video
Has anyone had to do this on the front passenger window? If so, did you need to remove the glass to put in the new regulator?
Yup...window need not come out. Simply roll the window down and look for the hole and push put the plastic button from the hole carefully without breaking the glass and pull the window up and hold the plastic piece. Comes right off.
I am so sad...I will have to do this twice with both of my windows!
I was going to do this with just a screw driver, now I know just how complicated and time consuming it is. All I want is to move the glass shut...
Too complicated for me. I'm afraid I'd screw up. So, how much should I have to pay a mechanic to do this?
Pepper Pro between$75-$100. an experienced mechanic should do this. thank you. please subscribe.
I was also afraid that this is complicated, but I first tried to remove door panel to see inside and in fact it is a lot easier than I thinked and I have done the job it a relative short time. I spent more time going out to buy a Torx 30 screwdriver and the BMW part than to do the whole job with only ordinary hand tools.
Thanks. And cute kid. Lol
Welcome and thank you. Please subscribe. Have a nice day.
that's German engineering for you.....lol.
LOL...good one
Thanks very much for posting this! very helpful and appreciated.
For those who have the motor working but the window doesnt go up and down - that's likely just a plastic part called a drive dog and this video shows how to replace just that part that i found on AMazon for $5 and dealer for $50..th-cam.com/video/ngDXO5pk4AE/w-d-xo.html
Hi Keith, Thank you for the info. I appreciate it.