How to manuel crank up window on a facelift

[Japandrew73]

only on early ones what?

Read the thread more carefully so I don't have to type it out again. Only on early models with power windows was there a specific spot you can manually crank the windows up. Yes, with modification and destruction you can make them go up but it's retarded they didn't make a spot to crank it on late models.


make sense now?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Have an access cover on the door panel you can pop off and use a 4mm hex key to roll the windows up, later ones you have to pull the panel and there is an Allen on the pinoin shaft of the motors gearbox.

So it's simply a matter of gaining acces via the inner cover, then turn the pinion shaft?

[M-technik-3]

There is no hex key inside of lift.

[Liam]

So it's simply a matter of gaining acces via the inner cover, then turn the pinion shaft?

Late e30s

The pinion is a worm gear right off of the motor on the opposite side of the motor on that pinion there is a hex in the end of the shaft. Now it is possible that they are not all like this (several different manufactures did the motors) but I'm pretty sure they are.

Early

there is a little round pop out where a manual crank would go, there is a 4mm hex behind that

Or on the really old ones

You use that little nylon nut lookin' tool that came in the kit (that nobody seem to know what its for) and it pops in there and you use the spark plug socket to turn it.

[xLibelle]

thank you for adding details Liam.

Its not hard at all and only takes a few minutes to get behind the door card. The pop-out plastic cover is specifically for manual window option. Now whether there's a way to lift power windows through that hole in early cars is beyond me because i have never looked.
My post was replying to you, andrew, "well I insist it should be anywhere AT ALL. do you know where it is?" and I said its on the motor assembly which is not behind the hole. I think you are the one that may need to re-read the previous posts to gain clarity on the topic. But since youve fixed your issue, we are done here.

MTech3, to say removing the door card is destruction is coming from someone thats never pulled the card. Three screws and some quick jerks around the card edges and the card lifts off the window ledge. And technically, You dont have to remove screws at all. Just pop the bottom off and the motor is right there.

[M-technik-3]

Not the door card, the small round cover, trust me I have taken apart a few over the years. The small round cover that is over the worm drive.

What I should have done was tried to lift it with 12v with a battery and some small leads but I was angry and was done with the f$%^ car at the moment. IT was raining and I need to put it away as I was flying that night.

The car had a butchered in alarm and I'm not gonna take the time to unciper it. It's gonna get two crank windows and I'll drive it till it drops. It's my new beater.

[Liam]

Not the door card, the small round cover, trust me I have taken apart a few over the years. The small round cover that is over the worm drive. ...

Only has these on the early ones. The late regulators are different (the old cards will fit late doors though, but that cap won't get you anywhere if that is the case).

[M-technik-3]

enough of bickering I'll snap a photo of it today. I did not mention the rubber gromet covering the hex key or anything like that...

[Liam]

enough of bickering I'll snap a photo of it today. I did not mention the rubber gromet covering the hex key or anything like that...

Dude, I've been a BMW tech since the e30 was new (hell e21s were new when I started). I've ownd more than 20 or so e30s but the point being I've worked on hundreds of window regulators.

[xLibelle]

MTech3, dont even bother replying. You came in a little late and on the "wrong page." I think the air is now cleared and the details are understood. We dont need to continue beating this dead horse.

[ethirtydavid]

pictures.