E30 Zone

Hello all,

I am about to embark on replacing the drivers side electric window motor on my 1986 325i and was wondering about the locations for the screws to remove the door trim?

I would also be grateful of any other tips.

NB

Prise the window adjustment switch thing out, unplug and remove it. There's a screw behind it. There are also two screws on the underside of the arm rest/handle. Once these are out you can remove it. Then it's just a case of removing the trim around the door release (slide it towards the rear to get it off I think), unscrewing and removing the lock button then prise the two sides and bottom the the card off their clips and slide the whole card up to free the trim at the top and then it will be off.

I think that's about it, can't help with any window motor tips as mine has manual windows...

There are a couple in the arm rest trim which you need to undo to remove the armrest, and the surround for the interior door handle needs to come off. You slide it either forwards or backwards (helpful!) half an inch or so and it will pop off. Unscrew the door locking pin so that the plastic bit comes off the metal rod and then you need to undo the clips that hold the door card onto the door.
I used a large flat screwdriver and slid it under the door card. Then slide it next to the nearest clip and twist. I started and the bottom rear of the door where the door card seems to have most play when fitted. Slide and repeat for each clip. Eventually you'll have the door card hanging loose apart from the metal clips at the top, then just tap the doorcard up from the bottom and it should all ping off.

I can't remember precisely what I did with the door mirror switches, but it wasn't difficult whatever it was!

clarko wins!

It's easy to remember which way to slide the interior door handle surround - the end of the handle ensures that it can't come off.
You have to pull the handle, as if to open the door, then slide the surround towards the hinged end.

Thanks for the advice guys. This evening I tried to replace the window regulator (getting the trim off was much easier than I expected) but it appears I have the wrong part!

I will check with the mechanic tomorrow and see what he has to say on the subject.

NB

'86 car will have the old type S shaped window mechanism.
A few years ago, I fitted a passenger door that had this mechanism to a later car, and fitted the later mechanism into the early door, without any problems that I can remember.
The bottom of the glass is different however, and there's a good chance that your glass has a brown tint, while most glass that fits the later (and much improved) scissor mechanism will have a green tint.

You are absolutely right. I have the S shaped mechanism in my door currently but the part I have is the scissor variety.

The current issue is that either the worm on the motor or the teeth on the ratchet are worn so the motor does not stop when the window reaches the top.

From what I could see my window has a brown tint and appears to be a slightly odd shape. Should I still be able to fit the scissor mechanism?

NB

The glass isn't interchangable, I'm afraid. You have to use the glass that matches the mechanism, and brown glass to fit the later type is going to be extremely rare (if it exists at all.)
I was lucky in my case, in that the glass fitted to the early car was green.
As far as I can see you have three choices:
Find a good early type mechanism. Try the parts wanted section on here.
Live with one green window amongst the brown.
Change all the glass to green.

Could I just switch over the motor if that is the only lart of the mechanism that is failing?

NB