Alternator Options

[R60BBA]

I might be in the market for another alternator. I usually buy everything from FCP. However I have talked to several folks who had the reman'd bosch units failing quickly.

I found brand new Valeo units for sale at Bimmerworld:

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Alternator-120-Amp-12-31-7-831-436_2.html

There is also the "Genuine BMW" option at FCP for significantly more than the Bosch unit (any difference in quality?):

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-alternator-m3-z3-12317831436

Has anyone checked to see if the voltage regulator on all these reman'd units are actually swapped in with new ones?

They all have decent warranties but as we all know...

As per others can vouch for a new Valeo unit.

I usually only use Genuine BMW parts on my car but for this job I would advise against this. Iirc I paid ~£250 for a new Valeo alternator from ECS Tuning in 2019 (incl import tax as I live in the UK), but BMW wanted £600 for a new genuine unit.

The units are made by Valeo (not Bosch) and so I could not justify paying an extra £350 for a BMW stamp on the part (which you cannot see once it’s installed). The previous unit lasted 17 years / ~85,000 miles. The Valeo unit I replaced is now 3 years old covering ~30,000 miles, still going strong and I expect it to last as long as the original unit. (Never bothered to check the voltage as the voltage on the old unit was practically nil).

[bigjae46]

Before scrapping the original alternator, I’d try replacing the regulator. It’s $60 then you don’t have to worry about how crappy your rebuild is.

[PSUEng]

That Autozone deal was a steal! I emailed, since online shows not available in store or for oder; Autozone told me they no longer carry the Valeo.

[Randall921]

Wish this thread was up a few months ago. I bought a Bosch reman’d From FCP and it completely seized after a single day on the track. Couldn’t turn it with a ratchet. Stay away as others have said.

[0-60motorsports]

AS others have said best to get a new VALEO.

[thegenius46m]

May I ask where are you buying new Valeo for sub $200?

No joke I got it at Autozone with a $50 off promotional coupon via the Honey chrome extension. Had to call to verify 100% that the unit was indeed BNIB and was not let down when I got it. Just checked and I paid $211 with tax to my door lol.

Just google Valeo 43917 and go with whoever has the cheapest price atm.

[old///MFanatic]

Just buy brand new Valeo. Remans are nothing but issues and honestly they are barely a saving and you're getting used parts. I just bought a new Valeo for sub $200.

May I ask where are you buying new Valeo for sub $200?

[thegenius46m]

Just buy brand new Valeo. Remans are nothing but issues and honestly they are barely a saving and you're getting used parts. I just bought a new Valeo for sub $200.

[Shonky]

I attempted to rebuild mine and bought some parts (bearings, brushes and rotor) from a company in Ireland. However in my case it was the the rotor winding that was OC and for some reason they didn't send it. I couldn't get an response from them so filed a claim on PayPal and got all my money back. I couldn't be bother stuffing around any more so just bought a new one for about $300 at the time.

Point being is that it depends exactly what's wrong with your alternator. I expect my case was somewhat rare though.

Main specialised tool you might need is a big soldering iron to solder/desolder things.

[Will]

Does anyone have experience with rebuild kits from Maniac Electric Motors (link)?

Individual parts available, or kits like this for $55, too:

[Shonky]

I purchased that part from FCP a couple months ago and there were no differences from stock. Maybe the bosch has a different connector? Haven't purchased a bosch unit so can't comment on that.

My stock unit (as far as I know it was the original factory unit) was Valeo. Valeo seemed to be the only new option at the time (apart from genuine locally at more than double the cost) and I had read a few bad stories about the Bosch remanufactured ones (like those in this thread) so was a pretty easy decision to buy the Valeo.

[heinzboehmer]

I purchased this part number from ECS about 5 years ago to replace my Valeo with a fully new Valeo.

I seem to remember the plugs might be different between Bosch and Valeo though so you had to get the right one? edit: Looking at the pictures now, the connectors do seem the same though.

I purchased that part from FCP a couple months ago and there were no differences from stock. Maybe the bosch has a different connector? Haven't purchased a bosch unit so can't comment on that.

[Shonky]

FCP sells the new valeo unit too, but they don't have it listed as compatible with the E46 M3, so it's a bit hard to find.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...eo-12317831436

I purchased this part number from ECS about 5 years ago to replace my Valeo with a fully new Valeo.

I seem to remember the plugs might be different between Bosch and Valeo though so you had to get the right one? edit: Looking at the pictures now, the connectors do seem the same though.

[George Hill]

Valeo or BMW only, stay away from Bosch or any of the others.

[Nate047]

I replaced the one my car came with with a Bosch unit a couple years ago. Came to find It was overcharging the car, and I replaced it again with the same (FCP) No issues so far on round 2 of Bosch, maybe they fixed the problem.