Cheers!

BMW Mini would then be asking a further £70 + VAT for a new window motor, or £140 + VAT for the regulator together with 1 to 2 hours labour on top of that for fitting (a further £80 to £160 + VAT). To be fair to BMW Mini, the parts would come with a 2 year warranty, so if like a few other Mini owners have found, the problem persists due to a motor/regulator design fault, I’d at least have a bit of comeback.

Needless to say, I left the dealer to have another crack myself. I took off the door panel. This only required the removal of the three torx screws around the interior door handle + the torx screw under the clear reflector near the door lock/unlock indicator pin. It was then a case of prizing the panel away from the door. Not an easy task, but it does pull straight off, away from the door with a bit of persuasion. Prying tools are probably best, but not having any myself, I tackled it with my bare hands. There are a few areas on the door where you can get good leverage to free the panel clips. Try gripping the panel with both thumbs and forefingers and lever/push against the door with your other fingers.

After the panel was removed, I could see what I was dealing with and that I didn’t want to go pulling things out in case I broke something and then required urgent BMW Mini Dealer attention…..££££££!

I tried the ‘Fonz’ trick again, but the motor did not budge; even holding the switch, starting the car and hitting the motor simultaneously would not work for me. I was about to admit defeat and book the car into BMW Mini, but then gave this last thing a try. I grabbed one of the regulator cables, just at the point before the cable goes around the white (or green in some models, I believe) sheave/pulley at the bottom of the door on the front-most of the two black window guides (i.e. window guide nearest motor). I got a good grip of the cable and tugged it each way as I started the car then pressed the window switch………………..hey presto! The window went down. I really don’t know if my regulator or motor are on their way out, so I may have to replace either or both at some point soon. One point I noted was that the window runs up and down a lot smoother than before. Previously the window ran rather juddery as if on a dry mechanism. I am unclear at the moment what my yanking of the regulator cable has actually done for the motor or regulator, but hopefully it all works for a wee while.

I have looked at second hand motors and regulators, which are £40 for the full assembly. Nice idea, but the second hand parts may already be in the same state or worse as my current parts. If I was going to the trouble, I think I’d rather have new parts installed (with a warranty).

Anyway, I hope this helps someone out there and keeps you away from the expensive dealers for a little while at least.

Good luck.

Thanks. I’ll give your instructions to my mechanic. I’m don’t think I have 5 hours worth of paitence :-}

Yep! Worked a treat on my 2001 model – thanks!