I though it was the regulator that snapped but in my case it seem that the gear that moves up and down it’s spinning freely from the motor.
do I have to buy the whole motor or it’s a way to fix that gear that is broken no traction either way

 

Don't get anything until you know for sure what is broken ....

I'm working on a driver window in one of my R53, in my case it is a motor that doesn't always want to work ... point is until you look at the whole assembly, you may be thinking it is a motor (a worm gear) or a drive cable and find out it is something totally different.

I have about 3 hours in working on mine and just when I decided to throw in the towel, it started to work again so I can remove the glass so I can remove the motor assembly ... I should have mentioned that the window was fully up and I was trying to get it in a position in gaping or getting it to drop to remove the glass so I can remove the motor assembly.

With all the frustration I'm tempted to just take it in to the shop and let someone else deal with the frustration. Just as I was about to pack it in, the window started working again, so now I can lower it to remove the glass and pull out the motor. Once out it is easy to remove and disassemble the motor to clean the armature.

There are used motors for sale at our good friends at All Mag : https://www.allmagautoparts.com/coll...ini-cooper/r53


Anyway, Best of luck.

Motor On!

 

In your case there is a video how to clean the contacts on the window motor that prevents working properly.

yeah I ASSumed that was the cable that had snapped but, it’s the gears that doesn’t have traction I could move it with my fingers right or left.
the motor works the problem is the traction.

good luck to you too