Quick Poll - Are you on your 4th alternator

[BigBody]

My alternator is nearly 14 years old. It is showing signs of failing , so it will be changed soon. N62B44 original.

[jsoto]

LOL. I should start a new poll on the waterpump.
I have similar ROI on those. The last job was due due to the bearings on the WP.

[srmmmm]

Air cooled - 126,000 miles on the original. The dealer installed replacement currently has 226,000 miles. Alternators get a heavy load for A/C work here in Texas.


As for water pump - 263,000 miles on the original with its replacement at 89,000 and counting


2002 X5 3.0 351,800 miles
2014 428i 45,000 miles


2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles


1970 Firebird under restoration

[crystalworks]

^That's really good mileage out of an M54 water pump. They typically last 100k-120k.

I have a replacement N62 water pump that is going in soon sitting on the shelf... along with a whole host of other common problem parts. Xover pipe, thermostat, cooling hoses, VSS, alternator gasket, timing cover gaskets, motor mounts, etc, etc. I would guess $1000 worth of parts.

[mr_robot]

So N62 alternator only fails due to oil leaks?

My the valve cover gasket was always maintained. Just replaced it two weeks ago as maintenance and had no signs of leaks.

The alternator bracket gasket did fail and was replaced by the dealer.

But I don't think that leak gets on the alternator does it?


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[crystalworks]

I wouldn't say only. But it certainly seems to hasten the alternator's demise. I'm not sure a bracket gasket leak will get into the alternator, haven't had the pleasure of that particular failure.

[jsoto]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

^That's really good mileage out of an M54 water pump. They typically last 100k-120k.

I have a replacement N62 water pump that is going in soon sitting on the shelf... along with a whole host of other common problem parts. Xover pipe, thermostat, cooling hoses, VSS, alternator gasket, timing cover gaskets, motor mounts, etc, etc. I would guess $1000 worth of parts.

Well what are u waiting for ;-)

Heh, I used to have spares on hand .
Some sat around, leasers went back. Mods never installed.
Now it gets installed otherwise it gets purged during my annual spring cleaning

[SlickGT1]

103k miles, 2006 n62 4.8is. Original alt. But I rebuild my own slightly. I purchased the voltage regulator. You can buy it separate for our cars. I polished up the brass spindle thing by making a spinning block with my drill and using Emory cloth. That was like 30k miles ago. Still kicking.

[BigBody]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

103k miles, 2006 n62 4.8is. Original alt. But I rebuild my own slightly. I purchased the voltage regulator. You can buy it separate for our cars. I polished up the brass spindle thing by making a spinning block with my drill and using Emory cloth. That was like 30k miles ago. Still kicking.

How tough is swapping the regulator? I’m about to just go all in & do the alternator, though I suspect the VR is the real issue...

[andrewwynn]

My alternator quit after oil leaking on it. I refurbished for $20 new slip rings and brushes. I noticed when I did it that only one slip ring had any significant wear so if you flipped the polarity of the field winding you could almost double the lifespan. If you have the valeo model it's not difficult to replace the slip rings.