Alternator

[JBird]

Have been through 2 alternators in about 4 months. Am a bit worried that something else is causing it, but can't think what. Both have failed while it was raining.

Anyhow.... the best bloke in the bussiness is looking after it, just though i'd post here to hear if others have had issues.

BTW, quite scarry when your electrics completly die suddenly, and you are stuck in the middle of the road, pitch black, pissing down with rain, no lights on, no room to push the car off to the side, and cars aproaching from behind at 70mph. :banghead: Cesil was lucky not to get creased, as was her owner!

Anyway, off to the pub (in a 320D !

[Bounce]

Have been through 2 alternators in about 4 months. Am a bit worried that something else is causing it, but can't think what. Both have failed while it was raining.

Anyhow.... the best bloke in the bussiness is looking after it, just though i'd post here to hear if others have had issues.

BTW, quite scarry when your electrics completly die suddenly, and you are stuck in the middle of the road, pitch black, pissing down with rain, no lights on, no room to push the car off to the side, and cars aproaching from behind at 70mph. :banghead: Cesil was lucky not to get creased, as was her owner!

Anyway, off to the pub (in a 320D !

Mine didn't give up suddenly,the battery light started flashing now and again the day before.

[3wheels3]

...BTW, quite scarry when your electrics completly die suddenly...

+1 bro :119:

Just to add it knackered battery when it went.

[JBird]

Mine didn't give up suddenly,the battery light started flashing now and again the day before.

My first one ceratinly did that. The second one i cant be sure, it caught me unaware. I lost the headlights first, then within about 5 secs everything went dead. Was night time, so the head lights, and having just started the engine a few minutes before probably put fair drain on the battery.

[shimmy]

My first one ceratinly did that. The second one i cant be sure, it caught me unaware. I lost the headlights first, then within about 5 secs everything went dead. Was night time, so the head lights, and having just started the engine a few minutes before probably put fair drain on the battery.

I have and three alternators but never had any fail on me:-D

[JBird]

I have and three alternators but never had any fail on me:-D

.... you just replace them for the fun of it?

[shimmy]

.... you just replace them for the fun of it?

Yep....or BMW do!

[JBird]

Just to follow up on this.... no electrical fault found by Dr G, alternator is just a weak point of the CSL apparently - though as far as I can see, its the same alternator as the std E46 M3.

Keeping a spare on hand now!

[NZ_M3]

Get someone to check that the car has been programmed with the correct battery amperage - if not it's probably putting too much strain on the alternator, ruining the battery which in turn ruins the alternator - something isn't right if it's burning up the alternator in such short durations.

[JBird]

Cheers, I was going to buy an OBDII cable anyway, presumably i'll be able to check it my self then. Any idea what the correct amperage should be?

[JBird]

I should add that I had done quite a few miles in the last 6 months, around 5000. But still, an alternator should be good for longer than that, otherwise BMW would be constantly handing them out under warranty to every E46 M3 or CSL owner.

[mattCSLnut]

I should add that I had done quite a few miles in the last 6 months, around 5000. But still, an alternator should be good for longer than that, otherwise BMW would be constantly handing them out under warranty to every E46 M3 or CSL owner.

From my own experience (looking through my Warranty invoices) they seem to last about 35 000 miles before needing to be replaced.
5000 miles seems a little short of the mark.

[niall1]

Mine gave up at exactly 50k miles (last summer) and then the replacement died 100miles later! On my third alternator now and all seems to be fine..
Probably a dodgy batch?

[AlexGTT]

Mine is original!! Fine for now.

That's done it! Hope Gareth carries a spare for Munich!:whistle:

[Bounce]

Mine is original!! Fine for now.

That's done it! Hope Gareth carries a spare for Munich!:whistle:

Same hereIve asked Gareth to bring a spare.:whistle: