Alternator Options

[0-60motorsports]

There are plenty of them online in stock around the world. No need to worry. Im sure they'll be back i stock at FCP sooner or later.

[eacmen]

According to FCP the M3/Z3 Valeo are discontinued. Shocking ! It is too early for these things to happen. There are still plenty of these cars on the road.

I got mine from Bimmerworld: https://www.bimmerworld.com/Alternat...831-436_2.html

They were out of stock then came back in stock recently. Maybe its discontinued just at FCP?

[Maxima SE]

According to FCP the M3/Z3 Valeo are discontinued. Shocking ! It is too early for these things to happen. There are still plenty of these cars on the road.

[Tbonem3]

I think the bosch alts, in my own experience and seeing others', either are bad pretty much immediately, or you get a good one that lasts. It took me 2 duds initially, but my 3rd bosch reman has also lasted me the last 5 years or so.

[Amos]

So just to add a data point:

My original alternator died at 195k km.

I guess I didn't do my research at the time because I went with a Bosch reman from FCP Euro but it's still running fine 5 years and 20k km later. Time will tell I guess.

[Maxima SE]

A multimeter won't really give enough detail for show a bad diode. Basically it can be detected by looking at the ripple on the output which will be what the tester is looking at. Cheap battery testers often can do a ripple test.

If you put the meter on AC volts, what do you get?

I took it back to autozone today and had them connect the tester to the battery directly. Both battery and alternator came back good.

[Shonky]

A multimeter won't really give enough detail for show a bad diode. Basically it can be detected by looking at the ripple on the output which will be what the tester is looking at. Cheap battery testers often can do a ripple test.

If you put the meter on AC volts, what do you get?

[Maxima SE]

anyone have a Valeo go bad on them? I picked up a Z4M couple months ago that had a new valeo alternator installed less than 2 years ago and it is already bad. Freaking thing still looks brand new. I was shocked to find out it is bad when I took it to autozone.

I ended up buying a multimeter and tested my battery voltage directly at the battery. The good news is that my alternator is charging perfectly fine. I am not sure why the autozone test showed "bad diode". I am thinking it has to do with connecting it to the jumper connections under the hood. In any case, ignore the false alarm about these new made in poland Valeo alternators being junk!

[elbert]

Where do we get a regulator for the valeo units? I havent seen one online. Also the Z4M alternator has a different part number than the E46 M3.

p/n 12317551153

If you get a new voltage regulator, make sure the commutator is in good shape. I ended up buying a new alternator because mine was severely worn down.

[Maxima SE]

Where do we get a regulator for the valeo units? I havent seen one online. Also the Z4M alternator has a different part number than the E46 M3.

[eacmen]

CHECK THE REGULATOR!!!
CHECK THE REGULATOR!!!
CHECK THE REGULATOR!!!
CHECK THE REGULATOR!!!

Often times, remans come with a worn out or crap aftermarket regulator.

Unless there is a bearing noise coming from the alternator...9 times out of 10 it is a bad regulator. A regulator is easy to replace and costs less than $100.

Yes I plan to keep my OG Valeo and do this swap if the new one fails!


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[Mrgunfun]

I swapped mine with brand new BOSCH, no issues so far, been 4 months, car drives nicely (as always)

[bigjae46]

CHECK THE REGULATOR!!!
CHECK THE REGULATOR!!!
CHECK THE REGULATOR!!!
CHECK THE REGULATOR!!!

Often times, remans come with a worn out or crap aftermarket regulator.

Unless there is a bearing noise coming from the alternator...9 times out of 10 it is a bad regulator. A regulator is easy to replace and costs less than $100.

[eacmen]

Same here (not smg though). Attached my data from a while ago. For my last event I got a replacement reman bosch and a new batter and still saw some fluctuation. It was less often though. For next season I'll put a new valeo in and I am going to clean up all of the wiring, all contacts and grounds, underdrive/power pully kit...amongst a lot of other stuff.

Doing a track event this weekend. l’ll report back if its any better.


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[fourmula1]

It would fluctuate and trend downward as the track session went on. I would also see periodic dips to 13v but I suspect that was because SMG pump was priming.


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Same here (not smg though). Attached my data from a while ago. For my last event I got a replacement reman bosch and a new batter and still saw some fluctuation. It was less often though. For next season I'll put a new valeo in and I am going to clean up all of the wiring, all contacts and grounds, underdrive/power pully kit...amongst a lot of other stuff.