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-
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 )
Yes its a Bosch. They're $850 for a reman and close to $1500 new.Ouch!
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 )
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
This is why I own a 21 year old car...
+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 )
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
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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