Diagnosis help needed - Alternator vs. Voltage Regulator. E53 3.0i '01

[cn90]

I just did a quick check, all Valeo alternators from 2001-2006 X5 M54 should use the same VR.

VALEO VR 593423 fits:

2001 X5 Valeo SG12B029 (oldskewel's photo)
2006 X5 Valeo SG14B020 (my car)

PS: "12" is for 120A, "14" is for 140A.





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[oldskewel]

BMW X5 3.0i Sport Utility E53 3.0L L6 VALEO Voltage Regulator

Part Number: 12-31-7-551-153 / 12317551153

Manufacturer: VALEO

For Valeo 90 Amp and 120 Amp alternators

BMW VALEO Voltage Regulator 12317551153 (12-31-7-551-153)

That is all direct from the RM European website. Note that it says 90 and 120 Amp, but not 140. I did not look into the 140A thing at all since mine is 120.

I usually get my parts at RM European there since they have good prices and the free shipping is usually overnight to CA. The price there is $73.42 right now.

But I actually came across a guy on the M3 Board who had bought this exact part from RM European to fix his car, but it turned out to not do the job so he got a whole new alternator and sold me his barely used VR for a good deal.

The new part looked exactly the same as the one I took out, not counting all the numbers everywhere. Fit and function were perfect.

So cn90, why are you needing a new VR? Do you think you've got a problem with more than just the brushes?

[cn90]

Hi,

I don't have any problem (yet) but would like to know ahead because once the alternator goes out, it is inconvenient, and also the local parts store (Autozone, Advance Auto etc.) sells only crap.


According to realoem, 12317551153 is:

* Superseded by:
12317543917

* Supersedes:
12317501749

So, I think that VR may be good for 140A too (I may be wrong). But for future reference, if you get 12317551153, it should be good for 90A, 120A and 140A alternator.



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[oldskewel]

All good information. But actually, my reading of that information, and giving the benefit of the doubt to RMEuro's 90+120 statement (I have generally found them to know what they are talking about), would tell me:
12317551153 came on the x5 '00-'06 90 and 120A Valeo alternators
12317501749 was on something else
12317543917 is the current replacement for both of those. So it will do whatever they were supposed to do, at least, maybe more, such as work on 140A Valeo alternators.

But, I would not assume that something sold as ...153 would work on a 140A. It might, but I would not count on it.

At some point in my parts hunting for this, I think I came across the actual Valeo part numbers (not the BMW numbers as we are talking here), but did not save them.

As an example in the confusing aspect of this, you can buy either a Valeo or a Bosch alternator for these cars, if you're replacing the whole Atl+VR. They are of course different items, the VR's are not interchangeable between the two brands, and they will both work in these cars. AND they both have the exact same BMW part number - at Realoem and everywhere else: 12317501599

For the Bosch option, by the way, the Bosch part number for my Alternator is AL0703N or AL0703X, where "N" means new, and "X" means remanufactured by Bosch. If I had not found the solution I did, a lightly used AL0703X (ebay / junkyard) appeared to be the best price/quality.

The exact ~new one that is in my car now:
1. had that ...153 part number on the receipt from RM Euro
2. looked identical to the one I took out except for new vs old of course, and the many many numbers stamped everywhere, none of which match any BMW numbers. The Alt itself has a BMW number on it, alongside Valeo, but I expect that an internal part like the VR did not, for that reason.
3. a molded-into-the-plastic date code shows it was manufactured in 2013
4. "Valeo" is molded into the plastic, just like on the old one

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Nice updates and thanks for sharing. Me and wife both have 2001 x5 bought used this year (128 & 108k miles) and prepping for any failure.

I recently rebuilt a fan motor for a brother: the commutator was only crimped no solder and Manu of the windings were no longer connected. I cleaned it, soldered the wires and it ran like a top.


Sent from my awrPhone using Tapatalk

If you, cn90, or anyone else ends up having the same problem I did, at this point I'm convinced that the only thing I really needed here was new brushes and a quick touch-up on the slip rings. At least to last me another 30+k miles.

Just the brushes can be bought for <$10 and stored in your parts bunker just in case. And the effort to replace the brushes is negligible vs. getting the alternator out and in. If you really wanted to be prepared, you could even leave them in the parts bunker in your trunk, along with your battery operated soldering iron.

[oldskewel]

The rebuild kit arrived today, about 7 days after I ordered it, delivered from Ireland.

Everything looks just like I expected. The big bearing is NTN, made in Taiwan. The small bearing is NSK, made in Poland. It will be on the shelf for a while.

[StephenVA]

Thanks guys for all the great insight on our alt issues and how to solve with a Reg and Brushes install.

[Bmwtvboy]

What is so unique about BMW X5 , 3.0 systems that they have to be Valeo/Bosch alternators? Wouldn't any well made 120 amp alternator work just fine? What about
aftermarket brands that claim "Valeo Compontents"? Anyone try one of them?