Both rear windows dont work in my car, took the door panel off and found this. (pictures) What are the cables for? Any help would be great. What broke?

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Had the same problem with an '89 300E I owned. The plastic piece which keeps the cable in place for the window regulator breaks. Once again, plastic will fail with time. You need to replace the window regulator for the rear window. There may be a place on the website describing how to do this. Sorry I can't help any further.

Thankyou for your help.

While you are in there you may want to clean & lube the motor & gears.

How do you do that, and what kind of oil?

Cheap design found in the W124 and W201 cars.

You've got a broken plastic retainer, that's why the cable and the connector in your hand have fallen out.

I've fiddled with the plastic and have had success in getting them to work again, but inevitably, you will need to replace the regulator.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

And watch out for used regulators, they are often bent....

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Thanks, I just put a 1x2 piece of wood under the windows to keep them from falling down. When I can afford them they will be replaced.