crank window conversion

[fcsteve]

what do i need to do it ? do i just need the cranks or what ?

[Farbin Kaiber]

and manual regulators.

[fcsteve]

so all i need is cranks and manuel window regulators

[nosignal]

Yeah, you'll just need the cranks and the manual window tracks. Remove the power stuff and install the manual components. I could probably do a write up if it's wanted when I do this in a couple of weeks - already got all the parts, just waiting to get the car out of storage.

I didn't realize crank windows were so uncommon for U.S. E30s - I've only seen one in person (and it's the car I yanked the components from haha).

[StereoInstaller1]

The regulators are the same, only the motor is added for the early cars.

[fcsteve]

Yeah, you'll just need the cranks and the manual window tracks. Remove the power stuff and install the manual components. I could probably do a write up if it's wanted when I do this in a couple of weeks - already got all the parts, just waiting to get the car out of storage.

I didn't realize crank windows were so uncommon for U.S. E30s - I've only seen one in person (and it's the car I yanked the components from haha).

a write up would be great.

[fcsteve]

The regulators are the same, only the motor is added for the early cars.

everyone else seems to disagree. i dont know either way. where did you find that they ar the same ?

[Farbin Kaiber]

check realoem.com

[AndrewBird]

everyone else seems to disagree. i dont know either way. where did you find that they ar the same ?

It seems he is correct FOR EARLY CARS (before 88). It looks like the only thing that was different was the motor was added. Although real OEM gives different part numbers for the power and non-power tracks.

For later cars (89 on), the whole assembly is different.

Early:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1113&mospid=47309&btnr=51_0304&hg=51&fg=10

Late:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1113&mospid=47309&btnr=51_0330&hg=51&fg=10

[StereoInstaller1]

How I know that is because my window regulator failed mid-summer 3 years ago.

My local pick-n-pull had only 1 E30, and it was an early 318i, all manual.

I grabbed the regulator in desperate hope for working window, took it home and bolted the motor on it.

Same one is still in my car today. Late model might be a whole different thing, I have NFC, but early (including the '88 325is parts car sitting at my shop) are all the same.

[smonkbmw]

hmm, i wonder how much it would cost to swap the m3 to crank windows......

[AndrewBird]

How I know that is because my window regulator failed mid-summer 3 years ago.

My local pick-n-pull had only 1 E30, and it was an early 318i, all manual.

I grabbed the regulator in desperate hope for working window, took it home and bolted the motor on it.

Same one is still in my car today. Late model might be a whole different thing, I have NFC, but early (including the '88 325is parts car sitting at my shop) are all the same.

Well there you go!

[TwoJ's]

But the real question is why would you want to do this? The only legitimate reason I can see would be if it were a track car. Otherwise, it seems like a waste of time, effort and money.

[nosignal]

But the real question is why would you want to do this? The only legitimate reason I can see would be if it were a track car. Otherwise, it seems like a waste of time, effort and money.

I can't speak for the OP, but I'm doing it because my passenger window motor is dead and rather than swap it and have it die again later on I'd rather just save myself the headache. It's an old german car - having owned several older VWs, I'm sticking to my "Less electronics to break, the better" philosophy. :)

The swap would take MAYBE an hour, and I paid like $4 for all the parts. So I figured why not?

[fcsteve]

my car is an 86. on real oem it looks like the mechanisms for the manuel and the power are different.

But the real question is why would you want to do this? The only legitimate reason I can see would be if it were a track car. Otherwise, it seems like a waste of time, effort and money.

i have nothing but free time. its goin to save me weight, room, wiring, and all the headaches that come from the electrical problems i have in my car. my windows havnt worked in a couple weeks. its getting to summer now so its almost time that i can do my swap and a bunch of my other e30 projects that i plan on and have started. removing all that extra stuff would help me alot.