X5 3.0 Alternator and belts DIY (with pictures!)

[g300d]

Thanks OP! Just went through this, but had the alternator repaired, replaced the regulator and the bearings for good measure, now good to go!

I like a few others moved the PS reservoir out of the way and removed it from the top.

Cascios, my alternator guy could not check the regulator per se, but deduced it by checking all the other parts like the diodes, windings, etc. Everything else checked out, and combined with my symptoms of low voltage, he diagnosed a faulty regulator.

Seeing as it seems to be a common problem with a lot of the BMW alternator threads I researched, I let him do just the regulator. Mine had a Valeo 140amp, btw.

[upallnight]

While you had the alternator out, you should have replaced the oil seal between the oil filter housing and engine. It's only six more bolts and the seal is under 5 bucks. Dealers and Indy will quote you close to 8 hours to replace the seal since it involves removing the alternator to access the six bolts. The seal becomes hard over time with the engine heat and the only way I was able to remove the seal from the filter housing was to heat the seal with a heat gun so that it was soft enough to come off.

[g300d]

^dang it, I shouldve! I had that seal go bad on an e46 and your post just reminded me of it. It was clean at the time though so it slipped my mind. It was the PS steering reservoir that was making a mess down there though.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by kris363

Generx, thank you for your help....I had to use the handle of my breaker bar to pry the old alternator off.

O'Reiley Auto Parts was telling me that I had to stick with Bosch, since that's what was on my car... and the computer wouldn't be able to control it.. (aren't all OEM alts Bosch?). Anyway, I had never heard of anything like that, and all the forums were talking about swapping Valeo for Bosch and vice versa. So I bought the Valeo.

When I got it all put back together, charged the batt, and got it started, it ran REALLY rough, with the check engine light on. After a few minutes, the idle smoothed out, but the light stayed on. Well, today, the light is off, and it runs great (just needs a brake job really bad!). I would have never been able to to the alternator without this forum. Thanks again!

There's a bushing on the alternator that gets press in as you tighten the bolt to take out any slop in the bolt and alternator. Only easy way to get it out is to pry the alternator out. Once you have the alternator out you need to press the bushing back out a little so that installing the alternator would be easy. I use a socket and c-clamp to push the bushing back out. If you don't push the bushing back out, you'll be swearing all day

[RenaissanceMan]

Originally Posted by upallnight

While you had the alternator out, you should have replaced the oil seal between the oil filter housing and engine. It's only six more bolts and the seal is under 5 bucks.

I'm getting ready to replace my alternator and would like to also change the oil seal that has been mentioned a couple of times in this very helpful thread. can someone verify if #6 in the following diagram is the right one? thanks-

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 3.0i Lubrication system-Oil filter

[jac]

Yes, that's the seal. Replacing it did not fix the oil leak in my case (the leak is still there), but that's the seal mentioned throughout this thread. It is very time consuming to actually pry it off...

[RenaissanceMan]

Originally Posted by jac

Yes, that's the seal. Replacing it did not fix the oil leak in my case (the leak is still there), but that's the seal mentioned throughout this thread. It is very time consuming to actually pry it off...

thanks, jac! bummer that it didn't fix your leak.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by jac

Yes, that's the seal. Replacing it did not fix the oil leak in my case (the leak is still there), but that's the seal mentioned throughout this thread. It is very time consuming to actually pry it off...

If the seal is real hard, just use a heat gun or hair dryer to heat it up. This will soften the seal and it will come off in one piece.

[alnsquare]

Thank you GENERX!!!!
My GF's 2003 X5 3.0L 63,000 miles died a week ago and had to tow it back to my house. With this thread, I changed the Oil Filter Housing gasket even though it wasn't leaking, changed the alternator which was the culprit, and changed both belts. Your instruction made this project so much easier. Thanks again!!!

[LeiZ]

Mark!!!