Retro fit electric rear windows

[stephen]

I was thinking about doing this as I have a donor car.

Has any one done it or know anything about whats involved.

Any input gratefully received.

[E30_320i]

that would be a great idea stephen!

were you thinking of putting the controls just behind the electric front windows? or on the rear door handles?

Lee

[Brianmoooore]

All four door cars I have come across, that have factory front electric windows, have had the wiring in place for electric rear windows, at least up to the inside of the rear door hinge pillars.
About half have had the loom into the rear doors fitted as well.
So, you will need, 4 X window switches ( two for front console and two for rear door cards ), a rear window isolator switch for the front console, LH and RH rear window electric lifts complete (easy to change over, just 9 X M6 bolts IIRC), rear door cards (or think of a tidy way to block the manual winder hole), and possibly the rear door wiring looms.

[stephen]

Sounds promising.. I'll check it out and report back.

Thanks

[StuBeeDoo]

All four door cars I have come across, that have factory front electric windows, have had the wiring in place for electric rear windows

Brian........ Do you know if the same goes for Tourings???? Mine has got an isolator switch already fitted.
Cheers
Stuart.

[Brianmoooore]

Yes, same for Tourings.
Isolator switch already fitted, and no electric rear windows? Sure you're not confusing the resettable thermal fuse (rectangular button in front of driver's window switch), with the rear isolator (square button in front of the passenger window switch)?

[KDS]

So, I know that most consoles have two extra knock-out sections for adding the rear window switches--but what do they wire into? Are there two extra electrical connectors hidden somewhere inside the console just waiting to be used?

[stephen]

Yes, wiring is already there for the two (front) back window switches. I assume this is the same for all 4 door models as Brian says. I have not checked this out but I assuume there will also be wiring in place for the isolator swith aswell.

I pulled out the looms from the rear doors whilst removing the motor mechs just in case the electric window bits are not pre installed on my car.

All in all this seems pretty simple, Cheers for the advice Brian.

[andyp]

yep ive done this on my touring, all electrics are there and cut outs ready for you in the door panels and console for the switches.

[StuBeeDoo]

Sure you're not confusing the resettable thermal fuse (rectangular button in front of driver's window switch), with the rear isolator (square button in front of the passenger window switch)?

Ooooohhhhhhh!!! Is that what it is? I had a plan for that hole, now I'd better think again!

[Brianmoooore]

The short loom from the hinge pillar for the back doors into the back doors themselves is not always fitted on cars with manual back windows, so get these looms as well when you get the motors.

[stephen]

All done, Electric windows all round

Pretty straight forward stuff really, a little time consuming but plug and play to a large extent.

Cheers guys