Stuck Doors and Windows

Jay60642 · 01-13-2012, 10:03 AM

A few weeks ago, after a cold night (around 25) I was able to open my door by pulling hard, but the window didn't automatically go down. When I tried to shut the door, it sounded as if the glass would break. I had to let the car warm up for about 10 minutes before I could use the button to bring window down far enough to shut door.

This morning, because Chicago had its first major snow storm, my doors were frozen shut. I pulled really hard to finally get the door open, but again the window would not slide down so that I could shut the door. Again, I had to wait about 10 minutes before the power buttons would work.

Does anyone else have a Z4 that isn't garaged? I park mine under a carport at home, but I can't do anything about my car being snowed on while at work. Also, what if this were to happen while I was out shopping or after the gym or something and it was colder?

I've had two other cars with frameless windows--an E92 and an Audi TT, but this was never an issue. They too were parked in carport. In fact, my partner has an E92 that is parked on the street and this has never been an issue.

What is a viable solution? A car cover? I can't imagine leaving the tennis club and being locked out of my car at night when it is -10 and windy.

Thanks in advance for trying to help me solve this problem. I love the car, but I wonder if my next car should be more Midwest-friendly.

///NWIE89 · 01-13-2012, 10:12 AM

i hear ya man, im in NW indiana, same thing last night for me, i didnt drive car last night but i had to get something out of mine which was outside at work, windows where frozen shut...ran inside work got a hot cup of water and poured on window seal...

thats about the only thing i can think of, grab hot water right before you leave haha... or a blow torch to have handy hahaha

Jay60642 · 01-13-2012, 10:20 AM

I can understand having the windows/doors frozen if there is melted snow the night before, but I'm worried about why the window won't go down even after I have been able to pull door open. Also, the last time it happened, it was only 25 degrees out (balmy for Chicago winters) and completely dry.

So pouring water worked right away? Did you pour water on the seal where door meets roof to get door open, or did you pour window on seal at shoulder line to get window to slide down?

I just made a service appointment to have the dealership rule out a motor issue.

ChuckB · 01-13-2012, 10:26 AM

Water collects under the rubber seal at the top of the door, take a piece of plastic (like a credit card) and run it between the rubber seal and glass. Make you get about an inch down and you should have no issues getting the window to retact when you open the door.

I would highly recommend against using water, if hot it may crack the glass, and when it cools down, it will cause more problems when it freezes the next night.

Jay60642 · 01-13-2012, 10:37 AM

Thanks for the tip, guys. So it doesn't sound like either of you think it's a motor issue? Also, is there such a product as a plug-in thermal car cover?

az34 · 01-13-2012, 04:39 PM

looks like that feature (windows going down when we pull the door handle) is not well adapted to cold climate.

ChuckB · 01-13-2012, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az34

looks like that feature (windows going down when we pull the door handle) is not well adapted to cold climate.

Works great in the cold or the wet, but NOT both...

az34 · 01-13-2012, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckB

Works great in the cold or the wet, but NOT both...

good point!

cdeslandes · 01-13-2012, 10:20 PM

Did you treat your rubber seals (including window seals) with Gummi Pflege or similar non-silicon preservative?
A must-do, especially on a convertible.

Jay60642 · 01-14-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

Did you treat your rubber seals (including window seals) with Gummi Pflege or similar non-silicon preservative?
A must-do, especially on a convertible.

No, I didn't. What do these products do, keep the rubber from drying out and cracking?

cdeslandes · 01-14-2012, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay60642

No, I didn't. What do these products do, keep the rubber from drying out and cracking?

Yes. And less likely to stick.

McLane · 02-07-2012, 03:30 PM

hi from the old world
well, our e89 35i will be delivered in may
but i heard about the prob in a german Z4 forum
the solutions suggested in the forum were a range from using credit cards to de icing spray
no one suggested pooring hot water, due to the risk of the glass bursting

the toyota of my wife is not "garaged", and right now it is pretty cold:
-11 celsius, that is 12 fahrenheit
so every morning the windows are frosted...
the solution: no: not letting the car idle for an hour or so (to much wear to the engine)
use a small electric fan and after 30 mins the interior is cosy and warm and the windows de-iced
so in the case of the Z4:
park your car under your carport in the evening
before you lock your car: put the electric fan into your car
you should be able to close the door fully even with the cable running from the inside to the outside
in the morning you just have to plug it in (problably you have to use an extension cable) half an hour before you wanna start
your car will be de-iced
the interior warm and the doors (including the "working windows") will be working perfectly...

juhap · 02-08-2012, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLane

park your car under your carport in the evening
before you lock your car: put the electric fan into your car
you should be able to close the door fully even with the cable running from the inside to the outside
in the morning you just have to plug it in (problably you have to use an extension cable) half an hour before you wanna start
your car will be de-iced
the interior warm and the doors (including the "working windows") will be working perfectly...

I had an engine heater (by DEFA) installed by the dealer before the car was delivered to me, and with that also a power socket in the passenger footwell for plugging in an electric heater.

If you have the money, get a Webasto heater. You can switch it on/off with your mobile phone

Jay60642 · 02-08-2012, 07:37 PM

Since I posted this, Chicago's experienced an eerily warm and dry winter. I've actually had days in the high 40s and 50s to drive with top down. Warmest day in January was 58 and sunny!

No problems with windows since, but I will remember tip about heater/fan for next winter. Thanks!

01-13-2012, 10:03 AM	#1
Jay60642 Private 2 Rep 66 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Stuck Doors and Windows A few weeks ago, after a cold night (around 25) I was able to open my door by pulling hard, but the window didn't automatically go down. When I tried to shut the door, it sounded as if the glass would break. I had to let the car warm up for about 10 minutes before I could use the button to bring window down far enough to shut door. This morning, because Chicago had its first major snow storm, my doors were frozen shut. I pulled really hard to finally get the door open, but again the window would not slide down so that I could shut the door. Again, I had to wait about 10 minutes before the power buttons would work. Does anyone else have a Z4 that isn't garaged? I park mine under a carport at home, but I can't do anything about my car being snowed on while at work. Also, what if this were to happen while I was out shopping or after the gym or something and it was colder? I've had two other cars with frameless windows--an E92 and an Audi TT, but this was never an issue. They too were parked in carport. In fact, my partner has an E92 that is parked on the street and this has never been an issue. What is a viable solution? A car cover? I can't imagine leaving the tennis club and being locked out of my car at night when it is -10 and windy. Thanks in advance for trying to help me solve this problem. I love the car, but I wonder if my next car should be more Midwest-friendly.
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01-13-2012, 10:12 AM	#2
///NWIE89 Private 18 Rep 75 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive35i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Crown Point, IN iTrader: (0)	i hear ya man, im in NW indiana, same thing last night for me, i didnt drive car last night but i had to get something out of mine which was outside at work, windows where frozen shut...ran inside work got a hot cup of water and poured on window seal... thats about the only thing i can think of, grab hot water right before you leave haha... or a blow torch to have handy hahaha
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01-13-2012, 10:20 AM	#3
Jay60642 Private 2 Rep 66 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	I can understand having the windows/doors frozen if there is melted snow the night before, but I'm worried about why the window won't go down even after I have been able to pull door open. Also, the last time it happened, it was only 25 degrees out (balmy for Chicago winters) and completely dry. So pouring water worked right away? Did you pour water on the seal where door meets roof to get door open, or did you pour window on seal at shoulder line to get window to slide down? I just made a service appointment to have the dealership rule out a motor issue.
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01-13-2012, 10:26 AM	#4
ChuckB Lieutenant 17 Rep 448 Posts Drives: 2020 X2 2.0i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hockenheim, Germany (APO) iTrader: (0)	Water collects under the rubber seal at the top of the door, take a piece of plastic (like a credit card) and run it between the rubber seal and glass. Make you get about an inch down and you should have no issues getting the window to retact when you open the door. I would highly recommend against using water, if hot it may crack the glass, and when it cools down, it will cause more problems when it freezes the next night.
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01-13-2012, 10:37 AM	#5
Jay60642 Private 2 Rep 66 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the tip, guys. So it doesn't sound like either of you think it's a motor issue? Also, is there such a product as a plug-in thermal car cover?
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01-13-2012, 04:39 PM	#6
az34 Major 54 Rep 1,014 Posts Drives: 2009 z4sdrive35i 2008 x5 3.0i Join Date: May 2011 Location: montréal iTrader: (0)	looks like that feature (windows going down when we pull the door handle) is not well adapted to cold climate.
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01-13-2012, 10:20 PM	#9
cdeslandes Captain 27 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 s35i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Jeep Wrangler ... [0.00] 2013 Volvo XC90 [0.00] 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i [8.67]	Did you treat your rubber seals (including window seals) with Gummi Pflege or similar non-silicon preservative? A must-do, especially on a convertible. __________________ 2010 BMW Z4 s35i 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90
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02-07-2012, 03:30 PM	#12
McLane New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 2012 Z4 s-drive 35i manual Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	hi from the old world well, our e89 35i will be delivered in may but i heard about the prob in a german Z4 forum the solutions suggested in the forum were a range from using credit cards to de icing spray no one suggested pooring hot water, due to the risk of the glass bursting the toyota of my wife is not "garaged", and right now it is pretty cold: -11 celsius, that is 12 fahrenheit so every morning the windows are frosted... the solution: no: not letting the car idle for an hour or so (to much wear to the engine) use a small electric fan and after 30 mins the interior is cosy and warm and the windows de-iced so in the case of the Z4: park your car under your carport in the evening before you lock your car: put the electric fan into your car you should be able to close the door fully even with the cable running from the inside to the outside in the morning you just have to plug it in (problably you have to use an extension cable) half an hour before you wanna start your car will be de-iced the interior warm and the doors (including the "working windows") will be working perfectly... __________________ Z4 - more fun per gallon
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02-08-2012, 07:37 PM	#14
Jay60642 Private 2 Rep 66 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Since I posted this, Chicago's experienced an eerily warm and dry winter. I've actually had days in the high 40s and 50s to drive with top down. Warmest day in January was 58 and sunny! No problems with windows since, but I will remember tip about heater/fan for next winter. Thanks!
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