The message <Wmjzj.17853$XI.5565@text.news.virginmedia.com>
from "malc" <malunspamwhite@blueyonder.co.uk> contains these words:

<Xantia related, but IIRC they have the same window mechanism>

Mine was like that when I bought it. it was the grooved drum on the
motor which had died, the raised lands which are supposed to guide the
wire rope to wind in a spiral had got crushed and the cable was all
snarled up. Just replacing the cable wouldn't work as the drum was
damaged beyond reasonable repair - so I got another whole winder
mechanism from the breakers. £15.

When fitting it you need the glass half way up or lower, which makes
getting the windows out of the donor car tricky as the batteries are out
and the windows are usually up. I was lucky and persuaded the bod to
lend me a battery so I could get the window part way down.
To get the glass out on the Xantia there was a square plastic washer on
the far side of the glass which had to be rotated them prised off the
peg that engages in the hole in the glass.

I doubt it's come off the rails, the design in that area seems quite good.

Well the cable's snapped and the winder drum is completely enclosed in a
rivetted casing so no getting to that easily. Plus there's only a couple of
small holes in the door skin so I can't see how to thread a new cable. New
door some time when I get the tuits together I think.

Well that wasn't bad. £20 for a door from a scrappy, half an hour to drive
to scrappy remove door and return. Half an hour to fit door and change lock.
I are mostly chuffed. Ok the door isn't the same colour but who cares, it's
less rusty than the old door too.