WTF happened to early model window motors?

[Gregs///M]

Not on all cars. I think that must have started in '85 or '86. My 84's doors wouldn't take the newer scissor regulators at all.



Which side? I think I still have one floating around.

Passenger side. DM me if you have one.

[iansane]

It's a pretty easy swap to use the late model motors in the early car. I did when my motors failed. Just one hole to drill. You need the late glass too if I remember right.

Not on all cars. I think that must have started in '85 or '86. My 84's doors wouldn't take the newer scissor regulators at all.

If anyone has one of these early style window motors, send me a PM, I need one.

Which side? I think I still have one floating around.

[Gregs///M]

If anyone has one of these early style window motors, send me a PM, I need one.

[NZM3]

Hi
I just installed a new front window motor in my early M3, it has the cable style lifter system anyway the new motor had date stamp 27.11.89 on the brand new part. I take it from that back then the company making them produced a big batch for BMW stores and they have been slowly selling them off since then.

Brose Germany is the manufacture of this item for BMW they have most likely scrapped all the tooling years ago and moved on to later systems, it could be wort sending them an email asking what is there current capability for E30 window and door components.

Dave

[Vincenze]

I wonder what ever came to that shell. If I recall, Jordan here was suppose to be a part of that build...so he said

Supposedly, it was sent to the UK.

[zaq123]

There are some if you look better.

This one cost $30,000 in 2019.

I wonder what ever came to that shell. If I recall, Jordan here was suppose to be a part of that build...so he said

[ZeKahr]

3D printing/scanning parts and AI analysis of materials will help prevent (or at least alleviate) the upcoming E30 parts crisis. It might take anywhere from 1-3 decades for 3D printers to be able to print microprocessors, but it will happen. It won’t be cheap initially, but as with all major technologies, the cost of printers will decline to the point where anyone with say $500 can download a set of 3D schematics for the SI board and print one at home after gathering the appropriate materials.

The internet has helped cars as old as the 2002 and older stay on the road by making parts much easier to source compared to the pre-internet era.

In the gaming world, you now have AI upscaling algorithms that can accurately upscale textures for 20+ year old games like Doom, Quake, Unreal, GTA III, etc making them look great on modern displays (these games were initially designed on CRTs)

The advancement of tech is going to help keep E30s on the road.

[82eye]

What will be unavailable: interior parts, electronic parts, plastic parts.

those have been essentially unavailable here for years. you can't even find parts cars. forget anything at a wrecker. the last one in a yard was a bit over a decade ago. i'd have to travel around 800km one way to find one.

But it's possible to recreate a part using modern components if the demand is high and people are ready to pay.

it's all aftermarket. pretty much there already.

[Vincenze]

but the basics like waterpumps and timing belts are gonna disappear for sure.

Those parts won't disappear anytime soon.
They are in high demand and are easy to produce.

What will be unavailable: interior parts, electronic parts, plastic parts.
For example, the chips that were used for the electronic parts haven't been produced for decades. But it's possible to recreate a part using modern components if the demand is high and people are ready to pay.

[82eye]

To be sure. However, those same people probably can't make a timing belt, water pump, clutch disc, wiper motor, or a crank sensor, and that's where something like an E30 is likely to get left behind. Especially with manufacturers trying to shift to serve the emerging electric market, and not wanting to be seen as supporting "dirty" automobiles.

totally agree. there are some specialty rebuilders for alternators, brakes, clutches, and electric motors, but the basics like waterpumps and timing belts are gonna disappear for sure. in a lot of instances the only thing keeping many classics on the road is mfgrs keep reusing things from previous parts bins. it saves on engineering / developing new stuff. that's where a lot of superseded part numbers arise.

all of that disappears with electric only auto production.

Either we will have to adapt other items, or it will become moot when the cars are simply legislated off of the road, but it seems extremely unlikely to me that E30s will be sufficiently supported past 2035 to remain highly viable daily drivers.

in an odd paradox the closer that approaches, the higher our cars become valued.

[roguetoaster]

there are folk / businesses already who support the community, providing both parts and services, likely more as a commitment and less as profit driven for sure.

edit : should add, that is where like to send my dollars more and more in support when making purchase decisions. a bunch are board sponsors.

To be sure. However, those same people probably can't make a timing belt, water pump, clutch disc, wiper motor, or a crank sensor, and that's where something like an E30 is likely to get left behind. Especially with manufacturers trying to shift to serve the emerging electric market, and not wanting to be seen as supporting "dirty" automobiles.

Either we will have to adapt other items, or it will become moot when the cars are simply legislated off of the road, but it seems extremely unlikely to me that E30s will be sufficiently supported past 2035 to remain highly viable daily drivers.

[82eye]

The takeaway is that we are lucky to have any parts at all. The margins must be very slim, and the initial costs rather high to reproduce fairly low demand parts that manufacturers/distributors know will be less in demand as time goes on.

there are folk / businesses already who support the community, providing both parts and services, likely more as a commitment and less as profit driven for sure.

edit : should add, that is where like to send my dollars more and more in support when making purchase decisions. a bunch are board sponsors.

[roguetoaster]

The takeaway is that we are lucky to have any parts at all. The margins must be very slim, and the initial costs rather high to reproduce fairly low demand parts that manufacturers/distributors know will be less in demand as time goes on.

[82eye]

I doubt you'll find anything for a Supra from 1990.

put together an 85 celica a while back. totalled a couple yrs before gettting the e30. it was a fantastic car. it was part of the reasion i got the e30. needed some fun again.

i really didn't have any issues getting stuff. plus not much really ever broke. i had the sport spec without the tops. the pump- up seat bladders always were toast on the things. beyond that not much else went. i did a minor suspension upgrade and replaced some bushings, and a clutch kit. got 10yrs of service. not a drift missile or anything.

[moatilliatta]

Most of the parts labeled West Germany still work. HAH