Driver’s Side Window won’t work

[ECA90049]

Overthinking this guys, the window is probably just stuck. Pop the manual handle cover off the door card (assuming a '74 came with manual windows) and roll the gear drive away from you while pushing the window down switch. Careful you don't get your finger pinched. Or use the cool "window stuck" tool. This happens to my passenger window all the time.

I have the panels off my 71 e9. I've WD-40 all the tracks for two days and still can't get the window to go up. But when I turn on the ignition and press the window switch up or down this toothed cap I'm pointing to moves one way or the other. So it would seem I'm getting power to the window and it's just stuck. I'm new to this but do you think mine is just stuck as well? If so could you give me a detailed guide to how to get it unstuck? I'm a rookie at this so any detailed help I can get is appreciated. Thanks, E

 

[Markos]

I have the panels off my 71 e9. I've WD-40 all the tracks for two days and still can't get the window to go up. But when I turn on the ignition and press the window switch up or down this toothed cap I'm pointing to moves one way or the other. So it would seem I'm getting power to the window and it's just stuck. I'm new to this but do you think mine is just stuck as well? If so could you give me a detailed guide to how to get it unstuck? I'm a rookie at this so any detailed help I can get is appreciated. Thanks, E

Not an electrical issue. Your window transmission gear is stripped.

The part is NLA but a kind member @TravL350 has printed these. I believe he may have sold his e9 recently, but you may be able to reach him. You can also check with @Tony.dreamer. Tony received one and successfully installed. He is definitely still in the thick of e9 life.

Window Transmission Gears 3D Printing

I am moving this thread out of the Classifieds section now that it has turned into more of a project than a WTB. I got the gear out of the transmission last night and started modeling it in SolidWorks this morning. I had though this gear was going to be stripped, but it turned out to be...

e9coupe.com

3D Printed plastic gear for window regulator transmissio

3D printed gear I received from TravL350 was successfully installed. Although it will be a while before it is back on the car I am confident it will work fine because I tested it many times. For now here are few pictures I took and later when I do my next regulator I will be taking more detail...

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[ECA90049]

When I say it moves, it only moves 1/8 inch or so either way. It does not whirl around. It stops after a 1/8 move one way or the other.

 

[Markos]

When I say it moves, it only moves 1/8 inch or so either way. It does not whirl around. It stops after a 1/8 move one way or the other.

Pull the motor and see how it spins while still plugged in. Next you can also remove the lid. Inside you will find some 50yo concrete-like grease. Clean and repack and see see how it spins. Try again installed, and pull the transmission if you are still having issues.

 

[HB Chris]

Is the fuse set up the same for the 71 E9? Thanks, E

No but some might be the same

 

[merdad]

When I say it moves, it only moves 1/8 inch or so either way. It does not whirl around. It stops after a 1/8 move one way or the other.

Have you tried helping the gear with a push from your fingers while operating the switch? The window sometimes goes too high or too low and the motor can’t turn. If moves, then adjust or replace the window stops.

 

[ECA90049]

Have you tried helping the gear with a push from your fingers while operating the switch? The window sometimes goes too high or too low and the motor can’t turn. If moves, then adjust or replace the window stops.

I had been spraying all the tracks for the window with WD-40 (they didn't look too dirty) to clean for days. Today I took your advice and tried the window while pushing the gear with my finger. Damn if it didn't work! Thanks for the tip!

 

[Dan Wood]

I had been spraying all the tracks for the window with WD-40 (they didn't look too dirty) to clean for days. Today I took your advice and tried the window while pushing the gear with my finger. Damn if it didn't work! Thanks for the tip!

BMW was so smart in that they knew the windows wouldn't work by design so put holes in the door panels!

 

[merdad]

B
BMW was so smart in that they knew the windows wouldn't work by design so put holes in the door panels!

That hole is also for manually rolling the widows. There is teethed plastic tool that most of us are missing to help with the manual operation.

 

[Mal CSL 3.0]

There is a bump stop at the bottom of the glass. Sometimes these get loose and the window falls a few mm down too low and seems to get stuck. My drivers window completely stopped working (motor was still good). Just tightened the bump stop screws so it wasn't wriggling around, and hey presto window started working fine again.

 

[HB Chris]

It takes a lot more than WD-40. Use Carb degreaser and shoot the tracks and then scrape all of the old grease with a wide screwdriver or something close. I use synthetic wheel bearing grease to lube them but other products work too.