Frozen windows

[KNTDRV]

Well it was frosty this morning in the GTA. I opened the passenger door @ 6am and the window was frozen. I had to mess with it a bit until it retracted enough to get my door closed properly.
With winter just around the corner...any tips on how to deal with this? Parking in the garage is not an option. The summer toys are taking up the space.

[sixburgh]

Icy conditions after rainfall. Better garage.

[pj.rodriguez]

Hm.. That worries me haha. I have no idea. Maybe drive it into a sunny area for a while. And if it's not sunny... I have no idea.

[RimasRS]

Silicone for rubber will do the trick...

[Lester]

Buy an inexpensive shower curtain at Wal Mart, the kind with the small magnets sewn in to the bottom. Trim it to act as a cover for the drivers door and window, That should help prevent ice from forming overnight.

[MightyMouseTech]

X2

Silicone spray on the rubber seals is your best bet.

[NorthernDancer]

X3 for silicone spray or gummi pflege

[KNTDRV]

What concerns me is it was only frost that prevented my windows from retracting the 1/4" or so to allow the door to seat back properly. I'm not looking forward to dealing with this during full blown winter conditions.
Slamming the door with the frozen glass (in the full upward position) may break something!
This is my first frame-less (door/window) car and it looks like it may become a real issue. I wonder how the Bavarian designers let this slip by....

[pj.rodriguez]

On a bunch of cars that have passed through my life with the frameless windows, nothing has happened in the winter. I think it'll be okay.

[ronster]

i never tried silicon spray but i heard it works. In the past winters, i scraped the ice on the edges before i opened any doors

[sixburgh]

I lived in Ohio with the same problem in 2009-2010. The wet-est, coldest, dang winter. Wait until the sun comes up and shines on your car. Use a de-icer? I wouldn't. Maybe BMW will make a heater window sills... for the 2 series.
I do prefer the "Buy an inexpensive shower curtain at Wal Mart, the kind with the small magnets sewn in to the bottom. Trim it to act as a cover for the drivers door and window, That should help prevent ice from forming overnight." Kudos.

[KNTDRV]

Wait 'til the sun comes out?! I'm at work before daylight! There's no way I'm draping a customized shower curtain over the windows/doors...what'll the neighbours think.
I've been finding that the frozen window is common with these cars and many just "swipe" a plastic card between the glass and the rubber seal. Sprays will probably leave streaks in the glass creating other issues.....but thanks for the ideas non-the less.

[sixburgh]

Mac Gyver> many just "swipe" a plastic card between the glass and the rubber seal.
Oh! Canada.

[thehalcyon]

gummipflege works, you can order it online




You can also get it from bmw dealer, (Rubber Care) same thing.

Works 100% , used it on my gf's beetle tdi which also has the window retract on door open and it did the job.

[cricri]

Yes the windows will often refuse to go down in winter time. If weather permits leave the car with the windows down a 1/4 inch this way they won't need to go down. If it's snowy or rainy and you had to leave the windows all the way up then force the door open.. it'll be my 5th winter and nothing ever broke. You can then start the car on max defrost and allow the windows to thaw (can take like 10mins). The door locks may still engage even if the window is seated outside of the rubber seal in which case you can drive away slowly and eventually they'll come down. If you run into these shenanigans you may need to reset your power windows for them to operate properly afterward. There's a post somewhere in the diy with details on how to do this.

Or buy a remote starter and warm up the car in the morning. That's what I'd do if my car wasn't garaged most of the time.

Frameless doors are terrible in our harsh icy rain / snowy quebec winters.

[Lester]

The Auto Snow Shield is easy to install, covering the windshield, the roof, the side windows and in most cases the rear window. Six flexible hook tie-downs can be bent around any part of the vehicle which is convenient for securing the cover. Two easy pull handles located on each side.

One size fits most mid-sized vehicles, all coupes, sedans, small wagons and small to mid-sized SUV’s and crossovers.

Auto Snow Shield is made from Reflec’tect, a silver urethane coated polyester fabric and comes with 1 year warranty.

http://www.covercraft.com/snow_shield.html#.Un-86nC9vAk

[dtwyim]

I thought I read somewhere about people putting painter's tape along the window?

[Lester]

Originally Posted by dtwyim

I thought I read somewhere about people putting painter's tape along the window?

But what'll the neighbours think?

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by Lester

But what'll the neighbours think?

I don't know what they will think.

But I know if this works, it will make me happy this morning. Rain last night and turned to snow. Of course, everything frozen this morning. Took some playing around to close the door properly so that I can drive off.

[KNTDRV]

Woke up to frosted windows again this am and the driver side wouldn't retract.
"Swiped" an old Starbucks plastic card between the seal and glass a couple of times. Did the trick but don't think its going to work when the real heavy stuff hits the fan.....

[NorthernDancer]

Its been 10 days since you 1st posted; don't you have a Canadian Tire close to you (for silicone spray before you break something)

[KNTDRV]

Originally Posted by NoirthernDancer

Its been 10 days since you 1st posted; don't you have a Canadian Tire close to you (for silicone spray before you break something)

Made the trip to CT today and picked up the Silicone spray. Treated all the rubber seals (doors, windows, etc.)
Also, installed the snows. As per another thread...I've decided the plain black steelies look fine so nolonger looking for hubcaps! However, I did sand/paint the axle hubs as they looked a little rusty.
i think I'm ready for my first winter in the GTA with my 128i.