Alternator Work

[tonycajjo]

i took the belt off to determine which pump/pulley was making nosie. It was def the altrnator. It's really chunky when i turn it. So i took it out (that was a bear of a yob.) Do you think it can be just the bearings? maybe i can just replace those?

Or is that water cooler alternator not able to be opened and fixed?

[Zulu95]

Never actually looked at the water cooled alternator but it must strip like anything else. I'm sure somebody here may have stripped one at some time. Post some pics.

[tonycajjo]

I dunno what happened here, but the inside of this thing was mangaled. the bearings were fine it seemed, but maybe they had a little bit of a wobble that cause the inside of the alt to get all chewed up.





i got the new one in, not as bad of a job as you would think. i had a lot of people screaming DEALER JOB! granted its not your typical alternator job, water cooled, alum bolts, gotta remove a bunch of stuff. i did the removal in about 3 hrs, and put it back in with an oil change and new belts in about 4 hrs. if i did it again i'd be upset but think it would only take a few hrs total.

i tested the battery and that was good, so i think it was jsut a freak thing - i dont think she was over worked. i have a couple tvs in the head rests, but dont really use them that much. i wonder if who ever installed them (previous owner) made a mistake and they are cause the alternator to work overtime. i gotta look into that.


anyhow, shes purrin like a kitten.

[NBX]

Originally Posted by tonycajjo

I dunno what happened here, but the inside of this thing was mangaled. the bearings were fine it seemed, but maybe they had a little bit of a wobble that cause the inside of the alt to get all chewed up.





i got the new one in, not as bad of a job as you would think. i had a lot of people screaming DEALER JOB! granted its not your typical alternator job, water cooled, alum bolts, gotta remove a bunch of stuff. i did the removal in about 3 hrs, and put it back in with an oil change and new belts in about 4 hrs. if i did it again i'd be upset but think it would only take a few hrs total.

i tested the battery and that was good, so i think it was jsut a freak thing - i dont think she was over worked. i have a couple tvs in the head rests, but dont really use them that much. i wonder if who ever installed them (previous owner) made a mistake and they are cause the alternator to work overtime. i gotta look into that.


anyhow, shes purrin like a kitten.

Was it worth it - the time???? Effort?? How much did you save??

[fast4d]

how much is the new alternator?

[tonycajjo]

i read a post that it cost someone $2200 at the dealer for Alternator Replacement.

it cost me 400 (370+tax) for the rebuilt alt (anderson auto electric in waterbury CT. They do drive shafts and differentials too - this guy hooked me up nice and Quick!)
two new belts (52K miles on the original) (60 bucks from BMW)
a
gallon of antifreeze (20 + 1.50 for distilled water)
8.5 Quarts of Mobil 1 (about $6 a quart)
New Oil Filter and Drain plug (15 a la BMW)
New Air Filter ($15, this should hold me off for awhile. i want put on an intake)

that's a total of just under $600 or so. (including gas and such for driving around gettin the parts. I havent sold my 2005 Ford Ranger yet. So i got a rebuilt Alt, belts, I got an oil change in and new coolant. I learned alot about BMW's and Didn't break anything else in the process of working on the Truck - So yes it was worth it. If i broke something i would have cried, or if i put it back togather and she blew up, i would have fainted then woke up and cried.

[Ecko]

Gob well done