Alternator - what would you do

[shimmy]

My car has done nearly 70k miles and i reckon the next thing to go wrong will be the alternator - at which point you get caught for recovery and full price new one probably costing me at the same time a missed ferry or a missed trackday:bigcry:

So i have decided to swap mine out now and fit a new one trying to avoid this issue (no warranty)

but as with most things on investigation there seems to be endless choices to make so ill put them up here and you can all decide what to do. It seems like gearboxes most available are recon from old units with new interiors. Some have 2 year warranties some 1 year


Not with the prices i have allowed for NOW handing my unit back to them which saves £50-100 as i reckon with my unit still running i can sell it for more on ebay

[_Nathan_]

No option for a super special carbon and titanium lightweight one? I'm disappointed in you.

PS. Underdrive pulley may help with alternator reliability?

[shimmy]

PS. Underdrive pulley may help with alternator reliability?

smarty, underdrive pulleys going on next week hence the thought to swap out the alternator at the same time! :blalalala:

[_Nathan_]

lol, great minds and all that

[cantfind1]

Ah yes the alternator, did this on mine fairly easy job, went to GSF they do a fully reconed unit with yours as exchange think it was a Valeo, but they may have a choice.

Only about 160quid. Comes with a 12 month warranty same a s a new part!

Much cheaper than the dealers.

[Mark CSL]

With the cash you have shimmy buy the £400 one :hahaha:

Me i would wait till it went bang :smokin:

[shimmy]

With the cash you have shimmy buy the £400 one :hahaha:

Me i would wait till it went bang :smokin:

trouble Mark when it goes bang it will cost double the £400 in other costs

if i swap it out now i might pay £250 then sell mine for £150 :thumbs:

[mattCSLnut]

Smart thinking there Shimmy ... my CSL is now on it's third alternator :whistle: ... the last one began to failed @ 69 500 miles, on the way back from Brands Hatch TD last November :bigcry: ... Since I have BMW Warranty, RAC & ADAC breakdown coverage, all I paid was £250 warranty excess for Murketts BMW to fit a NEW one, with the bonus of two years warranty :thumbs: Since you don't have any of these luxuries it's the best £250 you're going to invest in the CSL. I vote for BOSCH reconditioned unit or if you're feeling "flash with cash" let Murketts either sell U one or fit it (with 6 year + discount for either) to get that 2 year warranty deal. Failing all that you could always try "Good will", as this is yet another M3 week point.
BTW... Welcome to the 70K+ miles CSL Club :beer:

My car has done nearly 70k miles and i reckon the next thing to go wrong will be the alternator - at which point you get caught for recovery and full price new one probably costing me at the same time a missed ferry or a missed trackday:bigcry:

So i have decided to swap mine out now and fit a new one trying to avoid this issue (no warranty)

but as with most things on investigation there seems to be endless choices to make so ill put them up here and you can all decide what to do. It seems like gearboxes most available are recon from old units with new interiors. Some have 2 year warranties some 1 year


Not with the prices i have allowed for NOW handing my unit back to them which saves £50-100 as i reckon with my unit still running i can sell it for more on ebay

[mattCSLnut]

Ah yes the alternator, did this on mine fairly easy job, went to GSF they do a fully reconed unit with yours as exchange think it was a Valeo, but they may have a choice.

Only about 160quid. Comes with a 12 month warranty same a s a new part!

Much cheaper than the dealers.

Last time I checked with GSF (Nov. '09) they quoted me £170 + VAT for a Valeo one, plus they wanted my old unit in p/x, as you say. The benefits for buying from Main Steeler are, you get 24 months warranty, not the standard 12 :whistle: plus the "6 year +" discount on parts & labour applies to most CSLs now, making some parts more affordable. Another BMW receipt in the CSLs History file is nice too, if you like that sort of thing :whistle: It's all down to individual budgets, I guess :beer:

[mole]

What did you go for in the end Shimster? Did you fit it yourself?

[Yanto_csl]

Rich -may be worth a call to BMSport - they said they could recon. Can't recall price..would prob go that way for conveniance if wasn't going warranty route. :thumbs:

[Nords]

I said, secondhand bosch, but with warranty I'll be getting it sorted with at the same time as my flap!

:thumbs:

[shimmy]

I bought a Valeo recon unit for £200 at Bennetts and Simpsons fitted it. Valeo are good units, OEM on e36. Glad I did it as it seems like I was living on borrowed time at 70k miles.

[mole]

I bought a Valeo recon unit for £200 at Bennetts and Simpsons fitted it. Valeo are good units, OEM on e36. Glad I did it as it seems like I was living on borrowed time at 70k miles.

Bennetts? These boys? http://www.bennettsbmw.co.uk I think you did well to get to 70k by the looks of things.

[Nords]

I have had it on the bike's trickle charger for 2 nights on a row and it still hasn't gone onto 'trickle' yet!

:whistle: