Alternator Options

[sapote]

it was a bear not completely removing the fan and shrouds.

It seems like the new alternator has solved some issues I was having, cold start oem xenons flickering has stopped.

Pop off the fan shrouds is not hard -- just a few plastic expanded pins, and leave the piece goes thru the upper hose on the car. The secrete is to slide the "slide nut" at the rear of the alt rearward by couple millimeters to free up the alt. Using the same or shorter bolt and a socket as spacer, to pull the slide nut rearward.

The old regulator brushes still have a lot of life, so something else is bad, probably the electronic regulator itself failed, which is rarely happened.

[bigjae46]

Thanks! The brushes don't look too bad!

[elbert]

My alternator looked similar when it was replaced -- the brushes looked decent, but the commutator had severely worn down grooves.

[Will ZCPM3]

Still have the old one? Pull the regulator and post of a pic of the brushes if you don't mind.

[bigjae46]

My Valeo alternator started flashing the red battery light this past week. The alternator was original to the car, 2005 with 90k+ miles on it. I replaced with the Rockauto Valeo alternator, it was a bear not completely removing the fan and shrouds. If you're doing a cooling system refresh I would just go ahead and replace the alternator b/c it would be way easier with all that out.

That being said, it's doable to do it without removing the oil lines, fan/clutch, shrouds, etc. My pulleys and belts are all pretty new, so I didn't need to replace them. The worst part is the shroud on the side that goes around the coolant line. Not sure why that doesn't have a slot to just completely remove it. It seems like the new alternator has solved some issues I was having, cold start oem xenons flickering has stopped.

Still have the old one? Pull the regulator and post of a pic of the brushes if you don't mind.

[Will ZCPM3]

My Valeo alternator started flashing the red battery light this past week. The alternator was original to the car, 2005 with 90k+ miles on it. I replaced with the Rockauto Valeo alternator, it was a bear not completely removing the fan and shrouds. If you're doing a cooling system refresh I would just go ahead and replace the alternator b/c it would be way easier with all that out.

That being said, it's doable to do it without removing the oil lines, fan/clutch, shrouds, etc. My pulleys and belts are all pretty new, so I didn't need to replace them. The worst part is the shroud on the side that goes around the coolant line. Not sure why that doesn't have a slot to just completely remove it. It seems like the new alternator has solved some issues I was having, cold start oem xenons flickering has stopped.

[PSUEng]

Waking up to say it's my turn. Thanks for the RockAuto link, seems the way to go. Question - what else to do while in there? Pulleys and belts?

When I did mine I also did both belts, both tensioners, idler pulley, fan and fan clutch along with new bolts for everything. Looking back on it, I should have also done the oil filter housing gasket and associated sensor (I can’t remember if it’s temp or pressure) since the alternator was out. I also bought my Valeo alternator from Rockauto, best price I found at the time.

[BlueBimmers]

Waking up to say it's my turn. Thanks for the RockAuto link, seems the way to go. Question - what else to do while in there? Pulleys and belts?

[old///MFanatic]

Sean C (FCP Euro) Nov 3, 2023, 2:48 PM EDT Hello Nathan, Thanks for contacting FCP Euro! I am happy to look into this for you. I do apologize as the replacement does have to be the same exact brand for the lifetime replacement program. The refunds are processed on the original price and not the replacement cost.

Welp there’s that. Not sure when they changed this part of Lifetime warranty. I do know a few here had issues with the Elring (oe) VCGs becuz of their packaging. We all switched to Genuine BMW next time around and only paid the cost difference to upgrade.
Even the site says they don’t cover the price difference to upgrade. Nor price differences in original cost. That reads to me that the customer would have to pay, not that they can’t upgrade. Dunno, suppose somewhere else it may say that I don’t see.
I did wonder if it had to do with core charge being same type but heck I don’t have any idea what FCP does with other old stuff other than trash/recycle.

[dukeofchen]

I believe this was baked into the recent changes to their Lifetime Guarantee policy

[Nate047]

Sean C (FCP Euro) Nov 3, 2023, 2:48 PM EDT Hello Nathan, Thanks for contacting FCP Euro! I am happy to look into this for you. I do apologize as the replacement does have to be the same exact brand for the lifetime replacement program. The refunds are processed on the original price and not the replacement cost.

[old///MFanatic]

Agreed LOL I am not stoked about having to do this again.

Also just as a data point, FCP replied to my ticket and they will only allow me to return and replace with the same unit, not allowed to upgrade and pay the difference.

Hmm that’s strange. They had in past allowed to upgrade and pay the difference if a part was faulty and replaced under Lifetime Warranty.

[Nate047]

Agreed LOL I am not stoked about having to do this again.

Also just as a data point, FCP replied to my ticket and they will only allow me to return and replace with the same unit, not allowed to upgrade and pay the difference.

[Slideways]

Cool yea I'm not planning on doing another Bosch. Basically I'm trying to decide if these two are comparable quality and reliability wise:

Valeo branded, "brand new" : https://www.bimmerworld.com/Alternat...831-436_2.html

"Remanufactured Valeo alternator" also called "Genuine BMW" : https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...z3-12317831436

Assuming both are equal quality (are they?) does the risk of failure outside of the a 2 year warranty, offset the $200 cost difference to buy the one from FCP?

edit: just saw your other post with the Rock Auto link, I assume that is the same as the BimmerWorld one, and also I assume that's the way to go

No, alternators are not a consumable item like tires, brakes, etc. and typically go more than 10 years depending on use. Buy a new one for $235 and don't install one every few months, unless you really enjoy DIYing that much lol

[Nate047]

You want a new Valeo unit, not remanufactured by Bosch.

Cool yea I'm not planning on doing another Bosch. Basically I'm trying to decide if these two are comparable quality and reliability wise:

Valeo branded, "brand new" : https://www.bimmerworld.com/Alternat...831-436_2.html

"Remanufactured Valeo alternator" also called "Genuine BMW" : https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...z3-12317831436

Assuming both are equal quality (are they?) does the risk of failure outside of the a 2 year warranty, offset the $200 cost difference to buy the one from FCP?

edit: just saw your other post with the Rock Auto link, I assume that is the same as the BimmerWorld one, and also I assume that's the way to go