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Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 10:20 am
by _Jay_
Right its a bit hard to explain whats happened but il give it my best lol.
Basically the windows seem to need adjusting to make them fit nicely under the hood but there doesnt seem to be a lot of room to adjust them. To get the window to sit nicely with the rear widow so it doesnt overlap, it wants to sit higher at the rear and lower at the front. This leaves the rear catching the hood slightly, and as I found yesterday while driving, a gap big enough for a fair amount of water to come in even though its only a couple of mm.
So im wondering, can you adjust it so that it sits nicer as it is. Or if I replaced all the mechanism inside the door, would that make it all a bit more tight as there seems to be a bit of play in it at the moment.
The only other thing I was wondering, is if anyone has managed to fit a window drop system like the newer convertibles? If its possible it would be worth doing.
So yeah any advice as to how to get this window sitting nicely would be greatly appreciated!!!
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 10:25 am
by Ziggy
Sounds like you might need to adjust the hood rather than the windows?
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 12:57 pm
by johnt0709
If you have a look on wiki there is a good article on adjusting cabbie windows. Have you renewed the hood recently?
You can adjust where the windows stop and the front to rear tilt, the rears can also be adjusted back and forward horizontally (at right angles to the car).
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:22 pm
by _Jay_
Yeah fitted a new hood but it sits evenly on both sides so dont think thats the problem. Going to look at adjusting the rear window back a touch, so then can get the rear of the front window to sit down a bit and then adjust the height. If all goes well then thats the problem solved.
Any one know of being able to fit the drop down windows from the newer convertibles on to an E30? Would be worth doing if its possible.
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:29 pm
by Ednamillion
Jay, please post further on your discoveries re this issue, we're having exactly the same.
On the passenger side the top back edge of the window won't sit under the roof. On the drivers side there is some water ingress just above the A-pillar/quarter light. I stripped back the drivers door to try and adjust the window but couldn't see how the adjustment - or range of adjustment - I figured I needed could be done...
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:55 pm
by _Jay_
It is possible to adjust it quite a bit and quite simple. I had the door card off adjusting it, but the problem is with the rear window. I didnt know the rear window could be adjusted and I didnt have enough time to go looking yet.
So plan is to adjust the rear window so it angles back slightly, then the front can then be evened out so it doesnt overlap the rear and should bring the front gap up. Will take some pictures and then get them up. But off the top of my head if you want to have a go before that, once the door card is off there is a bolt with what looks to be a washer behind it. This will allow the window to open more or less if you slide it up and down. The further down it is, it stops the motor from going as far and therefore doesnt open as much. Thats for the main adjustment. Will take some pictures though to show how to adjust whole thing, and will also take some of the rear when I work how to adjust it lol.
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:06 pm
by tari
I have this issue too! I've been told that it's the hood though.. Going to check the hood adjustment wiki to see if that helps!
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:57 pm
by Ednamillion
_Jay_ wrote:It is possible to adjust it quite a bit and quite simple. I had the door card off adjusting it, but the problem is with the rear window. I didnt know the rear window could be adjusted and I didnt have enough time to go looking yet.
So plan is to adjust the rear window so it angles back slightly, then the front can then be evened out so it doesnt overlap the rear and should bring the front gap up. Will take some pictures and then get them up. But off the top of my head if you want to have a go before that, once the door card is off there is a bolt with what looks to be a washer behind it. This will allow the window to open more or less if you slide it up and down. The further down it is, it stops the motor from going as far and therefore doesnt open as much. Thats for the main adjustment. Will take some pictures though to show how to adjust whole thing, and will also take some of the rear when I work how to adjust it lol.
That'd be great Jay! Busy with an E34 at the moment....
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:41 am
by DaveD
First thing to do is to check if the door is in alignment..they can drop on the hinges, Does the rear window go up OK without catching on the roof .. if it doesn't the roof needs realigning , this is done by adding shims to the roof mounting.
If anyone wants i have the BMW vid for this..just need an email address.
If the rear goes up ok and the door is level the place to start is by setting up the front window, there is a how to guide in the wiki then adjust the rears to match ..also in the wiki
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:48 am
by johnt0709
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 8:50 am
by DaveD
thats the one I have!

Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 11:37 am
by _Jay_
The rears fit fine, no catching what so ever. The guy who fitted the hood done a top job so no issues with the allignment on it. Doors are fine as had them off that not long ago. So I guess will do the fronts then the rears now, was going to attempt it the other way around.
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:15 pm
by Ednamillion
DaveD wrote:First thing to do is to check if the door is in alignment..they can drop on the hinges, Does the rear window go up OK without catching on the roof .. if it doesn't the roof needs realigning , this is done by adding shims to the roof mounting.
If anyone wants i have the BMW vid for this..just need an email address.
If the rear goes up ok and the door is level the place to start is by setting up the front window, there is a how to guide in the wiki then adjust the rears to match ..also in the wiki
Is there a trick to determining if the doors are in alignment? Other than visual (they seem fine to me)?
As an added complication....we have a Weismann hard top for the car. When it's on the rear windows are very tight going up (you need to help them along with a pull) and then the passenger door can't be opened without the window dropped a touch. I presume the hardtop can be slid forward and back to possibly free up the rear windows? Which might free up the door opening?
Sorry Jay, I feel as though I'm hijacking your thread.
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:29 pm
by Ednamillion
Haven't watched each one but thanks for posting that link! Really useful at least to see how 'out' the hood might be.
Thanks!
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:29 pm
by _Jay_
Dont worry mate, saves making a new thread and can help any one else with the same problem. Any news with the hardtop adjustments will help when I eventually get one as well.
Also any one know if its possible to fit the newer drop down windows for when the dorrs are opened from the newer models?
Re: Windows not fitting properly on a 320 converible
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:37 pm
by DaveD
Ednamillion wrote:DaveD wrote:First thing to do is to check if the door is in alignment..they can drop on the hinges, Does the rear window go up OK without catching on the roof .. if it doesn't the roof needs realigning , this is done by adding shims to the roof mounting.
If anyone wants i have the BMW vid for this..just need an email address.
If the rear goes up ok and the door is level the place to start is by setting up the front window, there is a how to guide in the wiki then adjust the rears to match ..also in the wiki
Is there a trick to determining if the doors are in alignment? Other than visual (they seem fine to me)?
As an added complication....we have a Weismann hard top for the car. When it's on the rear windows are very tight going up (you need to help them along with a pull) and then the passenger door can't be opened without the window dropped a touch. I presume the hardtop can be slid forward and back to possibly free up the rear windows? Which might free up the door opening?
Sorry Jay, I feel as though I'm hijacking your thread.
The fit is just visual ...the top of the door should follow the run of the rear wing
as to the rear window maybe some silicone grease on the seals will help and the front window might need dropping a fraction in adjustment its just suck it and see.