Removing Blind Clip on T44 driver's door window?

[Buchholz, Steven]

As I mentioned the other day, I'm planning to replace a broken window
regulator in my BiL's '88 5k Avant.  I have done this before, and the
biggest PITA is accessing the snap ring clip that attaches the regulator to
the window itself.  Bentley is silent on the subject.  I was thinking that
it was as simple as removing the outer door from the inner door, but it
seems to me the window mechanism is attached to the outer door, so I'd still
have the problem with the "blind" snap ring between the window and the outer
sheet metal on the door panel.  Am I missing something, or is it true that
there really isn't anything gained by taking the door apart to do this
repair?

TIA!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)