Need alternator

[alddie620]

What's a good store to buy a alternator?
Right now im looking at alternatorpros.com..
Im a little confuse abt with threaded mounting bushing and without.. Can anyone help me with that?
Should i buy 80 or 140 amp?
Im running aftermarket radio, 2 amps, 1 10" sub, hids..
Appreciate any help.. Thanks

[alia90]

autozone or advanced auto parts. Advance auto parts is where i bought mine, got it for 145$ 80 AMPS. And I don't think that will do, since your running so many extra things. Should get the BOSCH 140 AMP. I just replaced my alternator but I did 80 AMPS only because I am not running any extras.

[alddie620]

autozone or advanced auto parts. Advance auto parts is where i bought mine, got it for 145$ 80 AMPS. And I don't think that will do, since your running so many extra things. Should get the BOSCH 140 AMP. I just replaced my alternator but I did 80 AMPS only because I am not running any extras.

What brand did u get?

[Kody]

What brand did u get?

Get the Bosch 140amp from az, it's close to $200 with a lifetime warranty.

[Eric93se]

Rockauto has the bosch 140 at various good prices, but might be more difficult to get warranty service, not to mention most are not lifetime.

When it comes to the sliding threaded nut, to make it easier to install the alt, use a socket that is bigger than the sliding nut and use a vise to push the sliding pin into the socket, you don't have to go far just enough to make re-install a breeze.

[dano670]

I picked a 140 amp at the local salvage yard for around $25 when it was half off. I tested it at my local parts store. When my current alternator fails, I am going to install my spare and have the other one rebuilt locally. I used to sell autoparts and I know the failure rate of this rebuilt models. I would rather not pay $200 for a pos with a warranty, but rather give my money locally to a person who can rebuild it for me.

[cabdolla]

junkyard, $40

[slimfast]

yea for an alternator i'd go used, salvage yard or craigslist. might get lucky and save some $$

[slocar]

+1 for Junkyard. Bought a 140A Bosch for like 20 dollars.

Saved my bad 80A Valeo .. I know sooner than later I'll find a new voltage regulator for next to nothing and then I'll have a good spare sitting around. ;)

[Kody]

I had a buddy get a used alternator from a junk yard for $25 it died the very next day.

[slocar]

^ Honestly it's an electrical component ... who's to say a brand new one wont die right away?

:dunno

[Eric93se]

Hey slocar, I just put a regulator/brushes in my 80A valeo, $15 shipped brand new. Works great!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180984132632

[Kody]

^ Honestly it's an electrical component ... who's to say a brand new one wont die right away?

:dunno

Well that's my point. Why not spend the extra money to ensure you will get free replacements? If you plan to keep the car for a while.

[DLL66]

I got my alternator from O'Reillys Auto Parts.

[slocar]

Well that's my point. Why not spend the extra money to ensure you will get free replacements? If you plan to keep the car for a while.
Because a new alternator is 10 percent of what I paid for the car? Obviously makes no sense ... especially considering I can drive on the junkyard one (for who knows how long .. it might outlast the car) and fix the old one for 15 bucks using the regulator posted above. :dunno


Hey slocar, I just put a regulator/brushes in my 80A valeo, $15 shipped brand new. Works great!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180984132632

Whoa! That's very cheap. Gonna buy one for sure and fix the old alt to have as a spare. Between my and my dad's e36, you never know when one is gonna go.

ps. Are you sure it's the same for a BMW as it's not listed (just making sure you didn't link me to a different part to what you bought)?

Thanks again

[Eric93se]

I did some cross-referencing and found that listing. I searched specifically for the proper valeo regulator, then used one of the main number to cross reference other listings on ebay, I believe it was 028903803F.

There is a cover for the brushes that you will re-use from your original regulator, and it was a tight fit on the plastic of the new reg, but I did a little squeezing of the plastic and it pop'd right in place.

working great. My slip ring still has a lot of life on it and the bearing sound fine. It will probably run for another 100k but I will probably put a 140 in eventually. Actually I bought a used 140 planning to rebuild it and it fell off my shelf and bent some stuff internally so I don't think I will mess with that one, but I can use it as a core return lol.

[alia90]

I got the valeo, but get the BOSCH 140 AMP.

valeo 80 amps is what i got. Only because I don't run anything extra.

[slocar]

I did some cross-referencing and found that listing. I searched specifically for the proper valeo regulator, then used one of the main number to cross reference other listings on ebay, I believe it was 028903803F.

There is a cover for the brushes that you will re-use from your original regulator, and it was a tight fit on the plastic of the new reg, but I did a little squeezing of the plastic and it pop'd right in place.

working great. My slip ring still has a lot of life on it and the bearing sound fine. It will probably run for another 100k but I will probably put a 140 in eventually. Actually I bought a used 140 planning to rebuild it and it fell off my shelf and bent some stuff internally so I don't think I will mess with that one, but I can use it as a core return lol.

Thanks man!!

[alddie620]

Will 140amp hit the afe intake shield? I'm looking at my stock and it looks like its pretty close

Anyone have an issue with 140 amp alt with afe intake?

Bump

[alddie620]

Anyone???

[RisBMW]

I have a Bosch 140 amp. with a 3" AFE intake/shield & Hella ellipsoid headlights. No clearance issues.

[alddie620]

I have a Bosch 140 amp. with a 3" AFE intake/shield & Hella ellipsoid headlights. No clearance issues.

Thanks... 140

[alddie620]

I jacked up the car and checked my alt.. It is a valeo...
Can i replace it with bosch?
Or should i stick with valeo

[Eric93se]

You can switch to bosch but I think you need the bosch pulley.

[slocar]

You can switch to bosch but I think you need the bosch pulley.

Yes you need the pulley and the mounting bolts.

[R6Russian]

I picked a 140 amp at the local salvage yard for around $25 when it was half off. I tested it at my local parts store. When my current alternator fails, I am going to install my spare and have the other one rebuilt locally. I used to sell autoparts and I know the failure rate of this rebuilt models. I would rather not pay $200 for a pos with a warranty, but rather give my money locally to a person who can rebuild it for me.
this. i also sold auto parts for 4 years and i dont even know how many rotating electricals came back defective. they are rebuilt like shit with cheap parts by 10 year old slaves in basements of chinese and mexican sweatshops.

theres a electric shop around here that will rebuild your alternator/starter for cheap (under 50 bucks) with a lifetime warranty, and if you want, theyll even rewind them for you for more output amps/more cranking torque respectively. my buddy was a dumbass and bought an autozone 140a and its putting out 12.6 volts at idle a few months later (im honestly impressed it lasted more than 15 minutes). granted, as soon as you bump off idle it jumps to your normal high 13s low 14s, but my who know how old oem is putting out 13.8-14.2 at idle with headlights, radio, asswarmers and rear defrost on.

if anything, stay away from autozone rotating electrical. they are a whole different level of terrible compared to the rest of your usual part store shit

[alddie620]

Im really not sure if its really my alternator tho... It started the whining noise 2 days after i recharged my battery... I went on a vacation for 3 weeks.. Came back and the car wont start so i bought a charger at walmart.. Its almost 2 weeks now and its still good.. I checked the battery and it reads 13.99 at idle.... But the whining sound is still there.. Its very annoying lol..
Maybe i over charged the battery that affected the alternator.. I did charged it for abt 4 hrs until green light...

I just want to confirm that its really the alternator.. I could use that money on something else lol..




Yes you need the pulley and the mounting bolts.

Where's the mounting bolts?

[slocar]

Im really not sure if its really my alternator tho... It started the whining noise 2 days after i recharged my battery... I went on a vacation for 3 weeks.. Came back and the car wont start so i bought a charger at walmart.. Its almost 2 weeks now and its still good.. I checked the battery and it reads 13.99 at idle.... But the whining sound is still there.. Its very annoying lol..
Maybe i over charged the battery that affected the alternator.. I did charged it for abt 4 hrs until green light...

I just want to confirm that its really the alternator.. I could use that money on something else lol..



Where's the mounting bolts?

The 2 bolts that hold the alternator. The upper is the same IIRC ... the lower is longer on the Bosch alternator because it has a nut on the backside of it ... the alternator is not threaded in the lower mount like the Valeo is.

[Eric93se]

13.99V at idle is not good, replace the alt or get a new regulator.

[alddie620]

Ok.. My alternator is valeo.. Should i stick with valeo or change it to bosch...

Ok.. My alternator is valeo.. Should i stick with valeo or change it to bosch...

Or could it be just the voltage regulator?

[Eric93se]

I have a valeo and replaced the brushes/regulator, I got this one off ebay for $15 shipped!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180984132632

I will most likely fix the problem and its the cheapest option. You should remove the alt to install it properly.

[alddie620]

I have a valeo and replaced the brushes/regulator, I got this one off ebay for $15 shipped!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180984132632

I will most likely fix the problem and its the cheapest option. You should remove the alt to install it properly.

It doesnt say for valeo tho.. Any other parts i need to replace?

[Eric93se]

No, your right it doesn't say valeo, I found an auction that does list our specific valeo and used one of the key part number in that auction to find this other auction. Like I said its in my car now and it runs great. There is a plastic cover that goes over the brushes that you will re-use from the old alt, it was tight sliding over but I just squeezed a bit and it snappped into the groove.

the cross reference number was 028903803F

edit: amazingly its on sale right now for $12 shipped, I don't know sounds crazy they can make stuff this cheap.

[alddie620]

Do u think changing the voltage regulator will solve the whinning issue?

[jjjjjjj]

+1 on the local repair/rebuild shop. There's bound to be one around you that can diagnose and fix it if needed, just take it off and bring it in. Search around you for starter/alternator repair, I've had starters and alternators rebuilt on multiple cars and pretty much good as new for like $40-50

[dano670]

Do u think changing the voltage regulator will solve the whinning issue?

The whining sounds more like a bearing issue. There is an old but unsafe way to determine what is whining. Find a 3 foot broom handle. Carefully while engine is running place one end on the core of the alternator. Move yourself to put the tip of the other end up near your ear, and cup the end of the stick to focus the sound in there. You can tell pretty easily if a bearing is going from the sound. I okay bearing will make a sound like a skate board wheel. A bad one just sounds bad.

It is unsafe, but it works. It works really well on older cars because they make so much engine noise that it lets you isolate each engine accesory and pulley.

If it is bearing, go to you tube and watch the wheeler dealer M5 episode. Ed replaces a bearing instead of the whole alternator and goes fairly in depth into it. I would not hesitate to try and replace mine after watching that.

[EfiniMotorsport]

Does anyone have a part number for the 140amp bosch alt? That is the one out of the 5 series isn't it? If so what year/model?

[dano670]

The 140a was in a lot of 3 series cars. Just check real oem. I found 1 in a 93 325i

[alddie620]

Does this matter? An alternator from m50 engine fit my m52 engine?

[dano670]

Does this matter? An alternator from m50 engine fit my m52 engine?

My back up for my S52 is an alternator from an M50. I think they all physically mount up the same. The valeo and the bosch's may look different.

[slocar]

Does this matter? An alternator from m50 engine fit my m52 engine?

Th alternator from a 1995 525i that's on my m52 says it will work.

Keep in mind if you're putting a 140a in place of an 80a, you will need the lower mounting bolt and nut from the 140a (the 140a alternator is not threaded so it uses a longer bolt with a nut on the backside). You will also need the pulley from the alternator you are using, the pulleys are not the same for the two.