Frameless windows and freezing

[SimG12]

Hi everyone! New member here!

I bought a new 2012 128i Coupe a few months ago... Now that the temperatures have gone below freezing point here in Qc, Canada, I've been having trouble with the window mechanism which lowers it a few inches to clear the door frame when you open/close the door...

The problem is that the window often completely freezes in the morning so when I open the door, it doesn't go down like its supposed to... The door opens fine but when I try to close it back, the window hits the frame of the door and the door doesn't want to close !! I worry I'll just break the window if I force it, but then again I can't drive with the door opened !

Most of the time I just wait a bit for the car to warm up and the window finally moves but I guess it won't be as easy when the temps go much lower in the next weeks...

Someone else has encountered this problem ?

Thanks

[Captisock]

Nope, didn't have that problem and I drove the car in Winnipeg. (-30 - -40 celsius winter)

[Spitfire007]

gummi pfledge.
here's a link to a discussion about some of this type of stuff

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/5-ser...i-pfledge.html

this stuff will keep your rubber seals healthy for a while, and should help them remain flexible and your windows from sticking.

[Cuz5150]

This is a common problem with the 1er. The quick/easy solution is to get a roll of 3M blue painters tape. Keep in the inside door pocket. Place a strip of 3M tape across the bottom of the window/trim. Half of the tape sticking on the window and the other half of the tape sticking on the trim. Press it on very lightly.
The next morning/or when leaving work, walk up to the car and just pull the tape off with one motion.
Now............yes, that is very silly doing that to a $40K car.........but it will save the window mechanism from damage.

[Sylon]

Yeah I've had this problem all last winter, and just the other day when my car froze over. One of the first places I scrape on the windows are the bottom of the side windows. The doors won't shut unless the windows drop down a bit. I'm always worried that I'm gonna shatter my side windows if I close the door too hard and the window doesn't drop a little.

The tape idea is pretty good. What about that de-icing spray that Rain-X has?

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by Cuz5150

This is a common problem with the 1er. The quick/easy solution is to get a roll of 3M blue painters tape. Keep in the inside door pocket. Place a strip of 3M tape across the bottom of the window/trim. Half of the tape sticking on the window and the other half of the tape sticking on the trim. Press it on very lightly.
The next morning/or when leaving work, walk up to the car and just pull the tape off with one motion.
Now............yes, that is very silly doing that to a $40K car.........but it will save the window mechanism from damage.

Excellent tip...I'll try that the next time I leave my car at the airport lot for a week in the Winter. May look stupid but if it works

[onlyar18]

This happened to me last year. Just tap the power windows down a very slight amount, enough to clear the frame but obviously not too low to let any snow in. it worked well for me.

[IDBMW]

I use a silicone spray on the rubber seal about twice a month in the winter and never have a problem. This is my 3rd BMW with the windows that go down slightly when the door is opened and since I use the spray never a problem. The silicone spray is similar to gummi pfledge if you can’t find gummi pfledge. I do not leave my car out overnight so it may be worse for those folks but before I started using silicone spray I would come out of work in the winter and sometimes have the sticky window issue.

[SimG12]

I finally tried putting some Armor All on the rubber seal at the base of the window this morning (its the only product I have here that I tought could work..) and the windows were not frozen tonight when I left work.. I guess putting some regularly will keep them from freezing..

Still can't believe BMW has not tought about this when they designed the car!

[AW128i]

Made it through our insane winter last year without a problem. I've had other cars that have this window drop feature, too, and only rarely had a problem. There are quite a few makes/models on the market right now that have windows that opearate in a similar matter, so it's not really a BMW problem, per say.

[doublevanosrc]

Exactly, this will solve the issue which is common in E46 coupes as well. Bavarian Auto-sport also has it.

Originally Posted by Spitfire007

gummi pfledge.
here's a link to a discussion about some of this type of stuff

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/5-ser...i-pfledge.html

this stuff will keep your rubber seals healthy for a while, and should help them remain flexible and your windows from sticking.