These instructions apply to the Alpina B5 / D5 (G30/G31) 2017-2024.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If the one-touch (auto up/down) function on your Alpina B5 / D5 (G30/G31, 2017–2024) has stopped working — usually after a battery disconnection or a flat battery — the windows just need re-initialising. It’s a quick job with no tools, and it is not a fault: the window motor has simply lost the electronic memory of its own travel and needs to relearn where the top and bottom of the glass sit.
On a car like the B5 or D5 the electric windows do far more than move up and down. The door module remembers the exact fully-closed position so that a single tap can run the glass to the seal and stop cleanly, and so the anti-trap (anti-pinch) protection knows the difference between the top of normal travel and an obstruction. When the 12 V supply is interrupted — a battery swap, jump start, or a battery flat enough to drop out — that stored position is wiped and the module falls back to a safe “hold-to-move” mode until you teach it the limits again.
How It Works on This Model
Each door has its own window motor with a position sensor, and each is calibrated separately — there is no single button that does all four at once. The relearn is done entirely at the glass by driving the window hard against its top and bottom stops and holding for a moment, which lets the module log the end points. Once both limits are stored, one-touch and the anti-trap function come back automatically for that window.
Before You Begin
- Park up and make sure the 12 V battery is healthy — a weak battery mid-relearn can leave the calibration incomplete.
- Turn the ignition on (engine running is fine); the windows need live power to learn.
- Close the door you are working on so the glass runs into its seal squarely.
- Check the aperture is clear — no phone lead, ice, or arm in the path while it self-closes.
- Plan to repeat the routine at each window switch, not just the driver’s.
Re-initialising Each Window
- Close the door and turn the ignition on.
- Pull the switch up to fully close the window, then keep holding for a couple of seconds after it stops.
- Press the switch down to fully open, then keep holding for a couple of seconds.
- Close it fully once more — one-touch should now work. Repeat for each window.
If It Still Won’t Work
- Hold at each limit for the full couple of seconds — letting go too soon is the usual reason the learn doesn’t take.
- Do the sequence from that window’s own switch, not only the master pack in the driver’s door.
- Re-seat the battery connections if you’ve just done battery work — a poor earth can drop the voltage during the learn.
- If the battery was very flat, let it recharge and try again once the electrics are stable.
- Make sure nothing is dragging in the channel (dirt, a worn seal) that stops the glass reaching a clean top limit.
- A persistent motor or switch fault can store a code — look it up on autodtcs.com.
After the Reset
Once a window has relearned, a single tap up or down should run it all the way and stop on its own, and the auto-reverse should nudge back if it meets resistance near the top. The setting is stored, so it stays put through normal use — you should only need to repeat this after the next time the battery is disconnected or goes flat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my B5/D5 windows stop auto-closing?
Disconnecting the battery, jump-starting, or letting it go flat wipes the window calibration. The module keeps you moving the glass by holding the switch, but drops one-touch until you re-teach the top and bottom limits. Running the relearn on each window restores normal auto up/down.
Do I need a tool?
No — it’s done with the window switches alone. There is no dashboard menu, coding, or workshop equipment involved; you simply drive each window to its stops and hold briefly so the door module can log the travel.
Do I have to do all the windows?
Yes — each window is calibrated separately, so any window that lost its memory needs its own relearn. If only one window won’t auto-close, you can do just that one, but after a battery disconnect it is normal for all of them to need it.
What does holding at the limit do?
It teaches the module the full travel, restoring one-touch (and anti-trap) operation. Pressing firmly against the top and bottom stops for a second or two lets the position sensor register the true end points, which is what one-touch and the pinch protection rely on.
Can I do this with the engine off?
You need the ignition on so the windows have power, but the engine does not have to be running. If your battery is marginal, leaving the engine running keeps the voltage up and gives the relearn the best chance of completing first time.
Could it be a fuse instead?
If a window is completely dead — no movement even while holding the switch — that points to a fuse, switch, or motor rather than lost calibration. Lost one-touch always still moves the glass while you hold the button; a total no-move is a different fault worth checking.
If you’ve just reconnected the battery, see our B5/D5 battery guide.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Alpina. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.