Howdy all, recently had the window motor gear break on my 2006 R53. After reading countless forums, and parts websites it states that late 05-06 R53 (facelift) has a different window regulator and motor. Rockauto will back this theory but it's infact only half correct.

Yes the motor is different (gearing), the motor mount and the motor plug is a different color. That's it.

You can NOT swap a pre face-lift motor into a face-lift regulator vice versa. The actual gear on the two motors is different. But...

An early R53 pre face-lift window regulator and motor assembly will bolt directly into a face-lift model with no modifications. Had being stuck with 500$+ mini oem motors only, I decided to take the plunge on an early model regulator and motor which are widely available aftermarket.

Happy motoring! Hopefully save the headache of finding a face-lift motor or assembly when it is not entirely accurate.

 

that's good to hear! i replaced the driver side regulator and motor on my 06 and saw the same thing. i had figured the entire assembly would swap, but i came across an 06 in the JY and grabbed that. if i had to buy new, i was definitely going to test this myself.

 

I am surprised myself that in 20 years nobody has been inclined to try this and document it. I could not find anything other then as you know only face-lift stuff works on face-lift cars. For the price difference if would have duct taped the early model in if needed!

 

Yea, especially considering the compatibility between r56 and r53 parts, it didn't make sense that the window regulator was completely redesigned within the r53 model years. But, if sometime did try it, they didn't document it at you get credit for figuring it out!

 

good to know. those oe regulators are not cheap