find me some window cranks that fit an e30...: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 3, 2011 11:51 p.m. irish44j Dork

Just did a manual window conversion on the e30, but still need cranks. Seems that they are hard to come by on the forums used section, and new ones on ebay would run $50-100 for a set of four. I had to get the regulators from England!

So in GRM fashion, someone knowledge me on window cranks from some other kind of car that would fit the e30. There's gotta be a crossover someplace...a Buick, or a Honda, or a Benz....something that I can find at a junkyard that might actually have the handles remaining. Since apparently the manual-window e30 at the JY is a white whale. Guess BMW owners didn't much believe in doing it manually!

Alternatively, if you happen to have some e30 cranks sitting around that you want to let me have for cheap, that of course will work as well!
Nov. 3, 2011 11:57 p.m. SlickDizzy SuperDork

Count the teeth and measure the diameter of the shaft. Something else might happen to fit. Do they run a circlip or do they screw on, VW-style?

I'd check E21s and 2002s, I have a hunch those cranks might fit right on.
Nov. 4, 2011 12:14 a.m. irish44j Dork

they have teeth on the shaft and are held on with a center screw. I'll have to measure tomorrow.

The E21 and 2002 cranks also fit, but those are typically MORE expensive and harder to find...
Nov. 4, 2011 1:15 p.m. Lof8 New Reader

I'm jealous of your crack window regulator find. The automatic rear windows in my 4 door e30 have not been functional since I've owned it.
Nov. 4, 2011 1:21 p.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

vise-grips!
Nov. 4, 2011 2:53 p.m. irish44j Dork

Lof8 wrote:

I'm jealous of your crack window regulator find. The automatic rear windows in my 4 door e30 have not been functional since I've owned it.

well, I do happen to have two perfectly functional rear window motors available now ;)
Nov. 4, 2011 2:54 p.m. irish44j Dork

belteshazzar wrote:

vise-grips!

yep, that's what I've been using. Oddly enough, the teeth on my vise-grips are exactly the same pitch/spacing as the ridges on the regulator!

maybe I'll just buy four harbor freight vise grips and call it a day !
Nov. 4, 2011 2:56 p.m. GTwannaB Reader

A set of cranks - way overrated, all you need is one and hand it around to your passengers. This is how it worked on my 64 Malibu. Some punks stole that car and used it as a battering ram into a gun store. My only consolation was that they must have realized there were interior no door handles or window cranks after crashing the car. If it was not a convertible they probably would have been stuck in the car all night.
Nov. 4, 2011 3:44 p.m. Brett_Murphy HalfDork

Really?

This area is lousy with E30s in the junkyards. The LKQ down the road has about 4 of them sitting around, including two 325ES models.
Nov. 4, 2011 3:54 p.m. njansenv HalfDork

Locally, new ones are $16. FWIW. FEBI #O3070-20896
Nov. 4, 2011 3:56 p.m. irish44j Dork

Brett_Murphy wrote:

Really?

This area is lousy with E30s in the junkyards. The LKQ down the road has about 4 of them sitting around, including two 325ES models.

it's not that there is a shortage of e30s, it's just that all of them have power windows....

but hey, if you have a bunch down the road and can find some window cranks, I'll buy them off you :)