car just totally died

[Homerlovesbeer]

Nice info for the OP....well done everybody ��

[AlpineAce]

OK I finally had a chance to mess with the car, just barely.
I put the car on the charger, connected the positive right at the battery.
let it charge for a couple hours. then I turned the key and get the 10min countdown for the CODE (which I dont have anywhere) I came back about 10min later.
Then I connected my jumper box to the points in the engine bay AND turned my charger to the 50amp "START"

and it started!!! I turned the charger off and I let it run, the throttle responded and it seemed to be running normally.
and after about 5min.....the same thing happened, the dash starts to light up, ABS etc...and it start to run rough, and dies shortly after, not enough juice to crank the car.

So does that seem to point to the alt?? expect how come no alt light?

[getty150]

Voltage regulator is direction I'm thinking .

Sent from my TMAF035G using Tapatalk

[AlpineAce]

one thing I don't know if its related or not, but every once in a while the Nav headunit would sometimes cut out(it would stay "On" but no audio... or sometimes would have audio but none of the buttons would respond) and that happened here briefly before the engine died

[AlpineAce]

Originally Posted by getty150

Voltage regulator is direction I'm thinking .

Sent from my TMAF035G using Tapatalk

any chance that can be done without removing the alt?

[wpoll]

Nobody has mentioned the IVM - these are known to fail and cause some similar odd electrical isses.

[Effduration]

We are all guessing here....Too many possibilities..

But you REALLY should put a multi-meter on it to see what volts are being generated while running.. YES, you should be getting a battery light if alt is bad, but that is too simple of an indicator and may not be working.

So, I would either get a multi-meter, a cig-lighter volt meter, or unlock test# 9 on cluster sub-menu to see how many volts are being produced while running, OR bring it in to a non-dealer BMW specialist for help.

[AlpineAce]

Ok just, started it up, put a meter on it, looks like im only getting 11.6v

[Effduration]

Your options are:

1. try swapping in a new voltage regulator from Valeo or Bosch..
2. Get your original or Genuine alternator rebuilt by a reputable shop
3. Buy a new or rebuilt alternator.

Be careful on buying new or rebuilt. There is a lot of junk out there. Don't go cheap. Bosch's rebuilt business was sold to an Asian manufacturer a few years ago.

I like option #2...and there appear to be a couple good rebuilders in Denver area.

[aureliusmax]

Originally Posted by AlpineAce

Ok just, started it up, put a meter on it, looks like im only getting 11.6v

alternator either not getting the voltage to turn 'on' or its defective.