Front Driver's Side Window Possessed!

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TheBry

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I just got back from my Christmas holiday down in Los Angeles -- went down to visit my folks. When I pulled into my garage last night, I shut off the car and something really strange happened. The window lowered itself slightly (as if I'd pulled the inside door handle to exit the car) and the 'door ajar' dash indicator came on. The problem is, the door was most certainly closed and still locked! I restarted the car, opened and closed the door, and the problem went away. However, this morning I went to the car and the alarm was blaring and the driver's side window was raising and lowering (about an inch) over and over again -- which is probably what set the alarm off. I got in the car and closed the door -- the window sealed itself like it's supposed to. When I was at speed on the highway, the window lowered itself, the lights came on in the car and the 'door ajar' dash indicator came on again. After a few minutes, the window sealed itself again, and the lights went off and everything was normal again.

Question: Is this a window regulator issue? Or could this be something more (since the door ajar indicator and interior lights are coming on)?
 
F

Frosty Power 323CI

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Similar thing happened in my '92 3er. Was an issue with the wires in the door jam. Apparently they got wet and funny things started happening with the window but it was an intermittent problem. Sometime it would happen and most of the time i would go away. Get them check out, hope this helps.
 
MyHarley

MyHarley

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bmwhighrolla said:
well i think def electrial conv tend to leak alot maybe something got wet
Click to expand...
The convertible does not leak, if it does, there is a problem. We have had torrential rains and never a drop gets in.............where you have leaks is when you go through a high pressure car wash.........which is a no no and the manual warns you not to go through this kind of a car wash.......

Also, it could be the wiring harness if an unqualified technician has installed any kind of equipment and tapped into the harness..........previously after a tracking system was installed in mine, the car became possessed with everything electronic.........removing the tracking system and a BMW dealership rehooking the system solved the problem....

just a few thoughts........
 
aNoodle

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I'd call a exorcist...your car is clearly possessed! Did you drive under a ladder or see any black cats dart in front of your car?
 
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TheBry

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I think I'm going to go with the "it got damp" theory. Since I've been back home (and have had it garaged) the trouble has gone away. I've been driving it to work all week, and everything is sound. There must be a switch in the driver's side door that, when triggered, does the following:

- slightly lowers the window
- illuminates the "door ajar" pictogram in dashboard
- turns on interior lights
- activates the navigation display (with BMW lettering)
- illuminates the "park" indicator near the gearshift (if an automatic)

All of the above was triggered both when the car was parked, and when I was driving it. Now it's fine. It's been a week, and I've had no further problems. I'll bet it got wet somehow, or may be loose, losing and regaining contact, causing the controller to "think" the door is open, thus triggering all of the above.

I'm taking it in next week to have my tires and alignment checked (car vibrates over 85MPH - maybe some fuse vibrated loose?) and will be sure to have my technician look at the "door ajar" switchgear -- if there is such a thing and check for leaks in the area.
 
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paraglider

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Perhaps you've noticed this - it surprised me the first time I saw it. With the convertible, when you open the door the window does go down about a half inch. Then when you close the door it goes back up. Probably something to give a better seal to the fabric top. So definitely there is a sensor somewhere that tells the window you are about to open the door. I suspect it was this sensor that was fooled.
 
bmwrocks

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paraglider said:
Perhaps you've noticed this - it surprised me the first time I saw it. With the convertible, when you open the door the window does go down about a half inch. Then when you close the door it goes back up. Probably something to give a better seal to the fabric top. So definitely there is a sensor somewhere that tells the window you are about to open the door. I suspect it was this sensor that was fooled.
Click to expand...
Actually, the coupes (non-vert) do this as well. It is to ease closing the door, allowing air to escape to reduce pressure.
 
aNoodle

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bmwrocks said:
Actually, the coupes (non-vert) do this as well. It is to ease closing the door, allowing air to escape to reduce pressure.
Click to expand...
I thought it was because the door doesn't have a frame on top....the glass has to fit into the rubber strip on the roof lining.
 
bmwrocks

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aNoodle said:
I thought it was because the door doesn't have a frame on top....the glass has to fit into the rubber strip on the roof lining.
Click to expand...
If that were true then it would rip apart every time you opened the door. The glass just lays tightly on the rubber, not in any sort of slot. Is that what you meant when you said "into the rubber strip"?

When opening, the glass doesn't move down until after the door opens. When closing, the glass moves up after the door shuts (duh). BTW it only does this if rolled up all the way in the first place.
 
bmwrocks

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aNoodle said:
I thought it was because the door doesn't have a frame on top....the glass has to fit into the rubber strip on the roof lining.
Click to expand...
Well I closely checked it out this morning and indeed the window fits up in between the exterior moulding (chrome in my case) in a slot of sorts.

The window responds very quickly as soon as the door releases when opening. Fast enough to clear the moulding. I didn't try to open it really fast to see if I could beat it, I am not sure if I could beat it, plus I didn't want to risk it. It is possible that it will clear the moulding anyway due to the angle of the window to the door.

I think as a matter of coincidence that it performs a dual purpose though, as a pressure release and a seal up into the slot.

And noodle, maybe you should rename yourself to theNoodle, not just aNoodle.
 
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jrob3257

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I have been having the exact same problem in my 95 325i convert. If I get out of the car and push the drivers side door around the handle it wil go all the way up, and it will go up and down sometimes while I am driving on the interstate. This problem comes and goes, but it is a real problem when it rains because it is not as noticable when the weather is nice. Anybody have any ideas on what I can check without taking it to the shop.
 
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TheBry

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CaveDweller said:
TheBry,

Did BMW customer relations ever contact you like they state they will in this thread? I'm curious as to why this got their attention.
Click to expand...
Yes. They called me (and I'm disturbed they had my home number). The guy I spoke to said I should take the car into the dealership because it sounded not like a regulator issue, but a software issue. Haven't had the time to take the car to the dealer -- Macworld was this week and I was working my ass off. I'll try to get an appointment next week.
 
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