One of necessity.

It's not a matter of "dreaded dealership." It's the fact that the nearest dealership is 85 miles away and I can't take time in the next few weeks to get the car there once, let alone the two visits it will probably take. I also can't handle a non-operating driver's side window for that time period (I frequent too many parking lots with gates or attendants).

 

Don't pound on your door; you'll make it worse and possibly damage something else....

the problem lies within what's called the "regulator," the mechanism that moves the window(s) up und down. BIG problem with BMW products in general from time immemorial. My 05 MCS had to have both regulators replaced at 6500 miles, driver side was worn out and passenger side was near. My SA told me they replace regulators at a clip of at least 10 a week for 02s and 03s, a little less for 04s and 05s.

And it's not all MINI: when I was there picking up my car, a guy had a $90K 6 series convertible in getting his regulators replaced--and he only had 3K on his car's clock! Jimbo

 

Sometimes you gota do what you gota do.


Especially when you live 200 miles from the closest dealer.

 

For a guy at my office, this is a HEAT related issue. If it hits near or above 100 degrees, the windows start acting like this. A good thump with the bottom of his fist over the door speaker usually sets it free, but I'd be on my way to the dealer shortly to have the motor replaced.

His dealer is the one who showed him the 'thump' trick.

 

I would agree to the HEAT issue. The only time I had any problems was after the car baked in the sun all day. Last year in San Antonio, my windows did all right, but not so this year.

 

My 03 MCS driver door was also sticking in the 100 degree heat. Dealer replaced window motor.