x5 lost power

[nebilex]

David, my indy said mine is also water cooled... And doing a search for alternators all i find are water cooled ones.
@joshdub, 1.5 doesnt sound too bad

[Joshdub]

The 3.0 alternator is not watercooled.

[edogg]

Originally Posted by David.X5

I don't know the labor times, but the 3.0 uses an air cooled alternator that is similar to most other cars. The 4.4 uses a water cooled alternator that is more expensive and requires draining the cooling system to replace.

Yup. They had to replace a worn out hose on mine to the tune of $120. Expensive sucker...but at least they didn't charge any extra labor.

[nebilex]

@joshdub. Thanks i will make sure i confirm that with the indy. He saw coolant leaking around so maybe he thought its water cooled.
So if its air cooled, does the black hose section connect to anything?

[nebilex]

Update:
My Alternator is a Valeo 120amp and Indy will replace it with a rebuilt Valeo with a lifetime warranty. I asked him what the difference was between the Valeo and Bosch and he said the rear plug/connection is different between the two. I wondering why BMW decided to have two different alternator with the same amperage? did they change supplier half way through production or something?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Joshdub

I don't know what the book time is but it shouldn't take more than a hour and a half.

WRONG

Just to do the OFHG which is a 6-8 dollar part is 3-4 hours labor job. You need to remove the alternator in order to remove the 6 bolts that holds the OFH to the block. To the OP now will be a good time to replace the OFHG if you have a 3.0 engine. The parts is very cheap and it will save you another 3-4 hour labor cost when it starts to leak.

[nebilex]

Originally Posted by upallnight

WRONG

Just to do the OFHG which is a 6-8 dollar part is 3-4 hours labor job. You need to remove the alternator in order to remove the 6 bolts that holds the OFH to the block. To the OP now will be a good time to replace the OFHG if you have a 3.0 engine. The parts is very cheap and it will save you another 3-4 hour labor cost when it starts to leak.

I had the OFHG done last year, but thanks for the suggestion.

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by upallnight

WRONG

Just to do the OFHG which is a 6-8 dollar part is 3-4 hours labor job. You need to remove the alternator in order to remove the 6 bolts that holds the OFH to the block. To the OP now will be a good time to replace the OFHG if you have a 3.0 engine. The parts is very cheap and it will save you another 3-4 hour labor cost when it starts to leak.

That is only because you do not know what you are doing. The alternator is in a very easy spot to access. You only need to remove the fan clutch, fan shroud, airbox, and unbolt the power steering res. Pop off the belt, disconnect alt wires, unbolt two alt bolts, and it come straight up. Had you actually done one before you would know, but it sounds like you are just regurgitating what your mechanic told you to justify $500 in labor.