Aftermarket window regulators?

[WarrenBrown]

Drivers door window regulator (original). I'm told that while operating the window there as a load crash of something breaking. The glass didn't break but the window doesn't go up or down, still hear the motor working. I assume it is the regulator. A quick search of the internet shows OEM regulators at ~130$ and aftermarket regulators either Dorman or Replacement brand for ~50$. The car has like 230K, rust and smells like hell due to recent water leak (now fixed but the damage is done). I think 1 more year on this puppy. Anyone had any experience with aftermarket window regulators? I'm sure they didn't come from the motherland.
Warren
88 325ix
91 318is
95 525iT
01 525iT

[ahlem]

If you only have a year left in the car I'd go aftermarket or used. I did a chevy astro minivan and have been happy with the aftermarket. I believe they were Dorman. Been a while and they work great.

[Bill R.]

Warren, its usually the gears inside the motor/tranmission mechanism not the regulator. The motor/trans is available from autozone as an aftermarket dorman product with a lifetime warranty and its a pretty good price too. The drivers side front is the same as the passenger side rear and the passenger side front is the same as the drivers side rear..... A couple of the local upull it junkyards had e34 and e32's , Almost every one i looked at had the window motors gone and these cars had only been there a couple of days.

[Russell]

There is a window motor fix on another e34 board by shayne. It uses a non-BMW gear replacement from e-bay. Regulator does not need to be removed.

[shogun]

here BMW E34 Window Gear (http://www.bmw4life.com/windowGear.htm)