X5 4.4 alternator problem
 

2001 w/ 109K - noise from the belt. Metal for alternator is broken where it bolts to the block. Any other failures out there?

i changed mine at 65k... alternator went. changed the alternator belts and tensioners... cost me some dough cause i wasn't under warranty. alternator alone costs 500 and plus the labor... good luck emptying out ur pockets ;)

Thanks for the reply. I will assume that the metal casting of the alternator did not break as it did on mine. After the casting broke, the alternator did not align with the remainder of the serpentine belt. Another advisor said he had seen this once on a 325. This seems unacceptable since this type of failure should have never happened. The cost to fix this water-cooled alternator by the dealer is $1K.

The 4.4 alternator is water cooled? I'd like to know more. Sorry to hear it cost you so much to fix.

i had my alternator change last year, at 25k also starter. im glad i got that extended warranty, 2001 x5 4.4 if not was would have been looking at an easy 1500.

theres no easy fix with a water cooled alternator, you would have to get a rebuild one rebuilt one from bosh. since im into car audio, i tried to find anyone who would work on high output alternators, and all say no way jose on these water cooled. there still too new. from what i was told the hardest part on a water cooled alt, is putting it back together. and not a risk any tech would take at a 500. alternator.

Bearings seized up on alternator, casting of alternator broke instead of belt, and caused power steering pump to fail also. All drive belts to be replaced. After this repair, it will be sold. Enough!

Water-cooled alternator details are on this site in the description of the M62 engine.

Flekz,

How did you know your alternator went bad? Is there a way to detect when the car does not start?

It is at the dealer now. I found the broken metal for the alternator prior to having it towed for repair. The belts made noise due to the misalignment of the alternator after the casting broke.

Nextel773, I'm sorry so were you or weren't you able to find high output alts for the X? I have been browsing here and there for one for a while now...(in car audio as well) I'm planning on putting a pretty high wattage system in pretty soon so I'm looking at upgrading my electrical system just in case....