E36 Owners: Call for help

J-Peter

///Member
Hey guys,

Really sorry to bother you's but I would just like to ask if anyone can help me out?

So, long story short I've been having some problems with my drivers window, it will go down then it will get stuck and not go up and with some banging/ fiddling with the door card and opening and closing the door it would work - Not today though, pulled the window down (then up a bit to check if it was okay), rode to Pick n Pay and then it just wouldn't go back up. I've checked the fuse for the windows and it's still good, pulled the door card and had a look around and all seems fine.

Some points that I've noticed:

None of the windows work and neither does the sun roof.

I've swapped the front and back switch around and still the same thing, so it shouldn't be the switch.

There's only one point that gets power on the plug for the window regulator motor (don't know if that's how it is supposed to be or not).

plug_5233545359.jpg


plug 2_8496494572.jpg


I can't find the comfort relay anywhere, pulled both panels under the dash and nothing, just found two orange 4 prong relay's (one on drivers side and one on passengers side).

mess_1393304420.jpg

Mess Under Dash

relay_3498413572.jpg

Relay under passenger side

And lastly nothing happens when I press the switch, not even that click from the motor, heard it once when fiddling and then nothing from then onwards.

Does anybody know what the problem could be? Or does anyone have the owners manual to confirm where this relay is and if anyone is in the process of pulling their door card is there any way that you could maybe check your window regulator plug to see where/ at how many points it gets power? Really not in a position now to buy a new regulator or window motor so really hoping it's something small.

Any info would be much appreciated.

Regards Jay
 

Ralf*

///Member
Many many moons ago, on my E36-325i, I also had window problems

the problem was a loose solder joint on the relay
the relay is located on an electric bus-bar located behind the passenger side cubby hole.
you will need to totally remove the cubby hole box to access the relay
 

J-Peter

///Member
Ahhh okay, thanks man!

I'm hoping that's the problem, then I can just solder it back, was it a blue relay?

Will definitely check that out tomorrow!
 

Ralf*

///Member
J-Peter 325 said:
Ahhh okay, thanks man!

I'm hoping that's the problem, then I can just solder it back, was it a blue relay?

Will definitely check that out tomorrow!

it has been a while, but you might be right on the "blue" colour
in my case it was obvious on the bottom of the PC board, there the solder was coming apart.
I had it twice in the time I owned the car (1995-2007), and all power to all windows was lost.
if you are handy with a soldering iron, then it would be ideal to go over all the solder points properly
I believe this is a well known issue on ageing E36's
 
Top