Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 56

Thread: Power To Manual Window Conversion.....Any Of You Guys Do This?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    PacNW
    Posts
    2,778
    My Cars
    2005 M3

    Power To Manual Window Conversion.....Any Of You Guys Do This?

    I am putting some aluminum door panels on the car (thanks again jayhudson for the templates ) and figured while I was in there it might be a good idea to get rid of the electric window motors in favor of manual cranks. I did a search on this and surprisingly came up with limited results. I went to RealOEM and found what I think is the right part (#7 in the pic below).

    But I wanted to know is this a simple swap (i.e. take out the electric motor and bolt in the manual crank)? Or is it more involved? It is difficult to tell by looking at the picture, but it looks deceptively easy. Last I checked, the Bentley Manual only talks about electric windows (but I don't have my manual with me now to verify).
    Attached Images Attached Images
    James
    2005 Imola Red M3 - VF Stage I Supercharged Street/Track Car
    E46 M3 VF Engineering Stage I Supercharger DIY

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Posts
    1,433
    My Cars
    No racecars...
    Just an FYI, if I remember correctly the crank version (only found on the euro cars) is not very much lighter than the power version. Especially if you're buying all new parts, I dont think it makes much sense to do the swap.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    PacNW
    Posts
    2,778
    My Cars
    2005 M3
    Actually, I have seen the hand crank on cars here in the states, some old 318's and the M3 LTW. That hand crank part is only approx $10 or so. If that is all that is needed, then I will do it. But if it involves too much effort (i.e. riping the guts out of the door) or too much money, the windows will stay as is. This is just a target of opportunity since I have the door panels off.
    James
    2005 Imola Red M3 - VF Stage I Supercharged Street/Track Car
    E46 M3 VF Engineering Stage I Supercharger DIY

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    wilmington, n.c.
    Posts
    1,557
    My Cars
    95 M3, nasa spec3 #77
    i've been wanting to do this to my car. my motors are burnt out right now and i heve remouved everything but the glass, so the windows are just wedged in the up position. like said above the olny thing i dont like about this set up is it dosent save you much weight. but in my case it would probobly be cheaper and i guess when it comes down to it a lb. or two lighter.

    edit also can tell me where in realoem you found this page, thanks

  5. #5
    Fair's Avatar
    Fair is offline Senior Member Supporting Vendor
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Dallas, Texas
    Posts
    3,634
    My Cars
    E36 M3, E36 LS1, E30 318
    Quote Originally Posted by lowside67 View Post
    Just an FYI, if I remember correctly the crank version (only found on the euro cars) is not very much lighter than the power version. Especially if you're buying all new parts, I dont think it makes much sense to do the swap.
    +1 to this statement.

    I've not weighed both versions on BMWs but on some other cars there can be no weight loss going from electric to manual crank windows. Even if its 3-4 pounds per door, that's still table scraps for the amount of work involved.

    Anyone have reliable weights on a complete E36 electric and manual crank front doors?
    Terry Fair @ Vorshlag Motorsports

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Pennsylvania, US
    Posts
    1,591
    My Cars
    95 M3
    Just a piece of useless info if anyone's interested - on the lotus, the power windows are actually lighter.
    Active Autowerke C38 stage 2 on 95 dakar yellow M3, 30k miles
    .080 mls headgasket, ARP headstuds and obd2 valve retainers; Stewart water pump; Dunlop Z1's on staggered CSL's.

    387whp, 296wtrq --- girls dig dakar

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    PacNW
    Posts
    2,778
    My Cars
    2005 M3
    But what other components are involved? I would think the motor weighs more than a simple hand crank. Or is there a completely different lift assembly (i.e. part #1 above) for the manual version? If that is the case, then I definitely think it is not worth it.
    James
    2005 Imola Red M3 - VF Stage I Supercharged Street/Track Car
    E46 M3 VF Engineering Stage I Supercharger DIY

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    A-town, Bitches!
    Posts
    6,049
    My Cars
    Escortizzle
    I think the OP is talking about simply removing JUST the motor fro the power window regulator, and adding the hand crank to the existing regulator - as we all know, BMW made provisions for us to use a hand crank in the event that the power windows fail. However, a better question is 'Is that hand crank designed to be able to be used every day without breaking???'

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Posts
    2,411
    My Cars
    '97 Byzanz M3/4/5
    I'm pretty sure its a different window regulator between the power and non-power windows. The window motors in the E36, and most any other BMW are small and don't weigh much. Unless your car is completly gutted and you are trying to get every last ounce out of the car I'm sure you can find a better way to shave weight than going to non-power windows.
    1997 Byzanz M3 4 door 5 speed. (1 of 37 factory 5 speeds, 1 of 88 total produced)
    TMS power pulleys, V1, E21 trans mounts w/AKG cups, AKG derlin shift tower bushing, 80/88* fan switch & fan delete, Borla XS dual in/out muffler, 4300K HID's in Euro housings, PowerFlex RTAB's, 17x8 ET15 Racing Dynamics RGR wheels, GC coil-overs 375F/475R, 25.5mm M-tech front swaybar, tint

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    San Diego, Cali
    Posts
    12,268
    My Cars
    A Few With Roundels
    Quote Originally Posted by camshaft View Post
    Just a piece of useless info if anyone's interested - on the lotus, the power windows are actually lighter.
    Damn, beat me to it. Yes, the Elise uses power windows 'cause they're lighter than the hand cranks.

    Those motors in the Elise doors are quick, too -- the windows fly up.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    2,863
    My Cars
    Smurf Mobiles
    Quote Originally Posted by jmciver View Post
    Actually, I have seen the hand crank on cars here in the states, some old 318's and the M3 LTW.
    LTWs had power windows

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    PacNW
    Posts
    2,778
    My Cars
    2005 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by ///M3Matt View Post
    LTWs had power windows
    Well the M3 LTWs I saw, including the one I almost bought way back when in 95, had manual windows.

    Well I guess based on the responses, this is more trouble than it is worth. I was hoping it was as simple as removing the motor and then installing the hand crank. But I guess not.
    James
    2005 Imola Red M3 - VF Stage I Supercharged Street/Track Car
    E46 M3 VF Engineering Stage I Supercharger DIY

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    2,863
    My Cars
    Smurf Mobiles
    Sure they were LTWs?? Ive never seen that in any of the pics and the 2 LTWs we have both had power windows.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    PacNW
    Posts
    2,778
    My Cars
    2005 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by ///M3Matt View Post
    Sure they were LTWs?? Ive never seen that in any of the pics and the 2 LTWs we have both had power windows.
    Yup, no radio, no A/C, cloth Vaders, even the rear wing components in the trunk.
    James
    2005 Imola Red M3 - VF Stage I Supercharged Street/Track Car
    E46 M3 VF Engineering Stage I Supercharger DIY

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    2,863
    My Cars
    Smurf Mobiles
    LTWs did not have cloth vaders...
    Last edited by ///M3Matt; 12-04-2007 at 08:38 PM.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    849
    My Cars
    04 e46 330i ZHP, 03 e39 525iT
    Real LTWs had power windows. Of course our LTW now has MA Shaw FG doors
    Vince
    #997 CM

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    2,114
    My Cars
    none these days...
    Quote Originally Posted by ///M3Matt View Post
    Sure they were LTWs?? Ive never seen that in any of the pics and the 2 LTWs we have both had power windows.
    all the ltw's i've seen have had power windows...probably be pretty annoying to have to seal up the windows (manually) everytime you closed the door

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    California BAY AREA
    Posts
    6,875
    My Cars
    e30 M3, 335d
    might have been said but the crank version on the e30 is heavier then the powered setup.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    PacNW
    Posts
    2,778
    My Cars
    2005 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by dmwhite View Post
    all the ltw's i've seen have had power windows...probably be pretty annoying to have to seal up the windows (manually) everytime you closed the door
    Damn, you guys sure do know how to make a guy doubt himself . I remember when I saw the LTW in person, and came really close to getting it. No radio, no A/C, no sunroof, cloth vaders, etc. I would have gotten it if only it had A/C. Oh well, if I am remembering incorrectly so be it....
    James
    2005 Imola Red M3 - VF Stage I Supercharged Street/Track Car
    E46 M3 VF Engineering Stage I Supercharger DIY

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Miami, FL
    Posts
    3,196
    My Cars
    95 M3, 98 M3, 08 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by jmciver View Post
    Damn, you guys sure do know how to make a guy doubt himself . I remember when I saw the LTW in person, and came really close to getting it. No radio, no A/C, no sunroof, cloth vaders, etc. I would have gotten it if only it had A/C. Oh well, if I am remembering incorrectly so be it....
    And just to pile on it probably wasn't in '95 as the production dates are 10 or 11/95 on all LTWs so they probably weren't in a dealership until '96. Heck I know I saw them sitting around into late '96, that's when people snagged them up brand new for awesome deals (like $32K for a new one). The seats weren't vaders, they were more like the 325is sport seats but with the cloth that you saw.

    BTW can you or Jay Hudson share the door panel template? I put my car away already and wanted to throw something on CAD for one but I lack any of the dimensions. It would be much appreciated.

    Carlos.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    2,663
    My Cars
    1994 M3
    to the best of my (unreliable) knowledge, NO 2 door E36's had manual windows, only some 4 doors...
    cheers, Alan



    1/4 mile-12.92 @ 108.64mph-NA 3.0L m3 daily driver

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    324
    My Cars
    318ti, 328i, 525iT
    Euro version 318ti's had manual windows in 95. Atleast I have seen pictures of a few that did. I'm also interested in doing this kind of swap as my passenger side regulator is shot and I have to manually pull up the window as I push up on the button. Not really a major problem for a weekend only car, but I would love to ditch the prone to break electronics and do something simple like a crank.

    Notice that the parts numbers are listed different for part #1 depending on power or non-power.

    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...51&fg=10&hl=14

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    16,464
    My Cars
    '91 E34 M5, '89 325i, '00 Saab 9-5 Wagon
    Quote Originally Posted by morerevsm3 View Post
    to the best of my (unreliable) knowledge, NO 2 door E36's had manual windows, only some 4 doors...
    Exactly...the E36 2-doors can't have manual windows since they have the frameless window design that requires the window to roll up/down slightly when opening and closing the door.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    wilmington, n.c.
    Posts
    1,557
    My Cars
    95 M3, nasa spec3 #77
    Quote Originally Posted by B.Watts View Post
    Exactly...the E36 2-doors can't have manual windows since they have the frameless window design that requires the window to roll up/down slightly when opening and closing the door.
    when your windows are borke (like mine) they dont roll up or down at all so this would be an improuvement.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    16,464
    My Cars
    '91 E34 M5, '89 325i, '00 Saab 9-5 Wagon
    Quote Originally Posted by autocross97 View Post
    when your windows are borke (like mine) they dont roll up or down at all so this would be an improuvement.
    Well, you could also just fix the windows. The parts should be easy to find from club racers or in junkyards. I had some window motors out of a 1992 325 laying around the shop for a long time before I finally tossed them.

    Seeing as there never was a manual windowed 2-door car, you aren't going to have much luck trying to turn them into manual windows.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •