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Thread: 3rd alternator need help

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    14
    My Cars
    2009 BMW 328xi

    3rd alternator need help

    Hi there, I was an auto mechanic and had my own shop for just over 23 years before getting out of it almost 8 years ago. I had very little BMW experience then and even less now. I'm having an issue with my daughters 2010 BMW 328 I X-Drive. About 6 months ago her car died, never did get the full details out of her. anyway the tow truck driver told me it was the battery. Like a fool I went ahead and bought a new after market battery. Well that was my first mistake! Find the problem first and if it is the battery stick with BMW! Found out the battery was only 2 years old and that the alternator was not charging. The parts store where I had done hundreds of thousands of dollars in business in the past had no problem taking the battery back. I replaced the alternator with a brand new aftermarket brand (TYC). Probably another mistake! My Mid-tronics tester was saying excessive ripple detected however the alternator was charging fine at 14.5 volts so I let it go. 2 months later the alternator dies. I replaced with another one and Mid-tronics tester is giving me the same reading, excessive ripple detected still charging fine. That one lasted a week. Now I replaced with a third and ran a ground wire from the alternator to a good frame ground. Same thing excessive ripple detected.
    I tested the battery again with the battery disconnected and it says load noise detected, turn off all loads. Battery health is at 50% and charge is low. Can the battery be cooking my alternators? I am going to pick one up anyway (BMW of course) and probably never have to worry about the battery again.

    Any thoughts or answers would be greatly apriciated.
    Thanks in advance,
    Franko-

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    London, United Kingdom
    Posts
    1,184
    My Cars
    E36 328is, E87 116i
    I'm not really a mechanic or a tech or familiar with that car but I've learned a thing or two from the amazing techs here that to only replace and use genuine OE or OEM parts and if I'm not mistaken most BMW's use Bosch/Valeo alternators. If you post the last 7 digits of the vin number i could try look it up for you
    C217 S63 AMG S Cabriolet ( Daily )

    E87 116i with mild cams, headers, cold air intake making 136 bhp Lol (My Learning Track Car)

    E36 328i Sport ( Project in making and future race/track car )

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    14
    My Cars
    2009 BMW 328xi
    Yes its a Bosch. They're $850 for a reman and close to $1500 new.Ouch!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    London, United Kingdom
    Posts
    1,184
    My Cars
    E36 328is, E87 116i
    I guess first have the codes read by a BMW specialist first to see what's going on
    C217 S63 AMG S Cabriolet ( Daily )

    E87 116i with mild cams, headers, cold air intake making 136 bhp Lol (My Learning Track Car)

    E36 328i Sport ( Project in making and future race/track car )

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
    Posts
    23,673
    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    You're shopping in the wrong place.

    https://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/32...rds=alternator

    Bosch reman $391, Bosch new $491.

    And yes, you really need to get the car hooked to an ISTA computer (BMW's diag system). The car will remember every time the battery went dead, and what circuit killed it, every time the car was undervoltage or overvoltage, and by how much.

    Also note that a new battery needs to be AGM, and needs to be registered in the car's computers, or it will not be charged correctly.

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    14
    My Cars
    2009 BMW 328xi
    Quote Originally Posted by bmwdirtracer View Post
    You're shopping in the wrong place.

    https://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/32...rds=alternator

    Bosch reman $391, Bosch new $491.

    And yes, you really need to get the car hooked to an ISTA computer (BMW's diag system). The car will remember every time the battery went dead, and what circuit killed it, every time the car was undervoltage or overvoltage, and by how much.

    Also note that a new battery needs to be AGM, and needs to be registered in the car's computers, or it will not be charged correctly.
    Good to know this. I will probably have BMW look at it. I did have the 1st battery registered. I'm not sure what AGM is?
    Thanks

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA
    Posts
    663
    My Cars
    1997 E36 M3/4/5
    This is why I own a 21 year old car...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    London, United Kingdom
    Posts
    1,184
    My Cars
    E36 328is, E87 116i
    +1 except my 20 year old didn't work out for me so I had to go for the 27 year old ��
    C217 S63 AMG S Cabriolet ( Daily )

    E87 116i with mild cams, headers, cold air intake making 136 bhp Lol (My Learning Track Car)

    E36 328i Sport ( Project in making and future race/track car )

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Aberdeen, NC (yes, again)
    Posts
    23,673
    My Cars
    E39M5, E500 4WD
    AGM = Absorbed Glass Mat. Basically a new generation of batteries, better able to withstand the steep highs and lows caused by charging systems designed to save gasoline.

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    14
    My Cars
    2009 BMW 328xi
    Replaced the battery with the OEM BMW lead acid battery. 720 CCA 90ah. Registered battery with scan tool. Battery tests were, state of health 100%, state of charge 60% starting, charging and diode tests all normal. Charging at 14.40 volts. I'll let you know how it goes.

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