Was driving home today from work and it just happens that it is the first good snow of the season and to my surprise at a stoplight... BANG!!! Trans Program Message on the Dash and the Check Engine Light came on...

Then the goocher... all my lights were REALLY dim... and you can hear the coils fighting for power... Anyways... my alternator went out. Sucks for me.. Just got a new battery last month tho so..

My question, anyone have an alternator they would like to sell? I need one for a 93 525i...

thanks in advance..
Jimmy

Wish I could help you on that one. Check ebay for those. I've seen them go for relatively good prices. That is if you can wait for it to get to your house.

aren't you in Oregon now?

try these guys, they're in Portland: Autobahn Sport
503-233-8726

good luck!
ian

CHECK THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR before you buy an alternator. My 140A died, would not charge, etc. I took a look at the voltage regulator and noticed the contacts were way worn. Instead of $$$ for an alternator, I bought a voltage regulator for like $25 and have been driving on it for many years now.

93 525i...$27 from bimmerzone. See those contacts? They wear down over time until they no longer make contact inside.

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/F4010108169KAE.JPG

CHECK THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR before you buy an alternator. My 140A died, would not charge, etc. I took a look at the voltage regulator and noticed the contacts were way worn. Instead of $$$ for an alternator, I bought a voltage regulator for like $25 and have been driving on it for many years now.

93 525i...$27 from bimmerzone. See those contacts? They wear down over time until they no longer make contact inside.

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/F4010108169KAE.JPG

DOH!! Check that first. :)

The contacts are called brushes. FYI.

+1 for regulator

The contacts are called brushes. FYI.

+1 for regulator

Yes, correct!

Niiiiiice.... I will be checking that real soon I think...

I will keep you posted on what I find

BTW, wtf is a goocher?

Where is this voltage regulator?

Where is this voltage regulator?


Backside of the alternator. There's a spot in the alternator where it sorta sticks/goes into.

My car did exactly the same thing over thanksgiving...trans program, dim lights, check manual, shifts to limp mode, and needed to be jumped, but wouldnt hold charge. I replaced the alternator for a grand total of $397.00 and everything works better than new.:buttrock

My car did exactly the same thing over thanksgiving...trans program, dim lights, check manual, shifts to limp mode, and needed to be jumped, but wouldnt hold charge. I replaced the alternator for a grand total of $397.00 and everything works better than new.:buttrock

A new alternator comes with a new voltage regulator....:D

If the voltage regulator was the only issue, then I got ripped:mad

Well after all, it was the voltage regulator and I guess it has been failing since I bought it cause DAMN.... this thing gets on it now... all the ticks, squeaks and other stuff... GONE!

Never knew that thing could cause so much havok... But now I understand. And now the car purrrrrrrrs....

Good to hear.

So how often does the actual generator go out?

I still want to know what a goocher is.

I still want to know what a goocher is.

I guess I would liken it to "kicker" ala "...then the kicker...".

yeah somethin like that... think i got it off the movie Stand By Me.

real nice call on the regulator. note to self...

I've been advised by bmw techs to find a place that will replace brushes and bearings (for <50 bucks)...and not waste the money on a whole new alternator. There's a place in knoxville that does it, but they're actually pretty common.

Good luck!

I've been advised by bmw techs to find a place that will replace brushes and bearings (for <50 bucks)...and not waste the money on a whole new alternator. There's a place in knoxville that does it, but they're actually pretty common.

Good luck!

Well the brushes are part of the voltage regulator. If you can find an alternator/starter rebuilding shop they can probably replace the brushes in the regulator itself. I actually used to work in the garage for an electrical specialist, they're out of business like damn near every other shop like that, got eaten up by old age and cheap imports, but it's not very difficult work if you have the proper soldering iron. Bearings you can pop out on your own with a little work too, basically a small arbor press will take care of them.

Well the brushes are part of the voltage regulator. If you can find an alternator/starter rebuilding shop they can probably replace the brushes in the regulator itself. I actually used to work in the garage for an electrical specialist, they're out of business like damn near every other shop like that, got eaten up by old age and cheap imports, but it's not very difficult work if you have the proper soldering iron. Bearings you can pop out on your own with a little work too, basically a small arbor press will take care of them.

I would really like to see a DIY on something like that. You don't see too many alternator rebuilds anymore. The 140A costs way too much to just swap out without giving it a shot. I think the parts are still available, too.

i GET A LOW VOLTAGE WARNING THOUGH MY RADAR DETECTOR AND A TRANS PROGRAM ERROR FROM TIME TO TIME. TRANNY NEVER GOES INTO LIMP MODE, AND NEVER GET THE MESSAGE UNTIL I AM GETTING OUT OF THE CAR.

I SHOULD REPLACE THIS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.....

LINK FOR PART?

i GET A LOW VOLTAGE WARNING THOUGH MY RADAR DETECTOR AND A TRANS PROGRAM ERROR FROM TIME TO TIME. TRANNY NEVER GOES INTO LIMP MODE, AND NEVER GET THE MESSAGE UNTIL I AM GETTING OUT OF THE CAR.

I SHOULD REPLACE THIS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.....

LINK FOR PART?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD23&mospid=47408&btnr=12_0460&hg=12&fg=22

#15...

nice, glad that is all it was... added to e34 favorite articles list

Hmm... correct me if i'm wrong... but the voltage regulator only limits the current so it doesn't charge past ~14 V or so... if the regulator goes out, you overcharge the batt, not undercharge it...

*edit* I see now that the regulator and the brushes are one part... if the brushes are dead, you replace the regulator with it... i'm sorry, didn't see the pic, i'm dumb/

if the voltage regulator dies, you may overcharge OR not charge at all.

Wow... i... well, i didn't know that. Thanks AE, i guess you really do learn something new everyday... Now i'm just wondering how many customer alt's i've replaced that only needed regulators... hmmm... would you mind not telling them..? :help

I would really like to see a DIY on something like that. You don't see too many alternator rebuilds anymore. The 140A costs way too much to just swap out without giving it a shot. I think the parts are still available, too.

DIY on what, rebuilding a bosch alternator? I can fake it I guess, I don't have the parts to rebuild my spare right now, I can take it apart and put it back together if you'd like. So far as actually replacing the brushes on the regulator goes, you need a friggin' serious soldering iron. The place I used to work at had one that was foot switch operated. Push switch and the iron instantly glowed red. I'd kill to have an iron that got that hot that quick.

Wow... i... well, i didn't know that. Thanks AE, i guess you really do learn something new everyday... Now i'm just wondering how many customer alt's i've replaced that only needed regulators... hmmm... would you mind not telling them..? :help


Not every car has an external or replaceable regulator. Most are built in. Don't feel too bad.

lmao, thanks man. i won't! :)

DIY on what, rebuilding a bosch alternator? I can fake it I guess, I don't have the parts to rebuild my spare right now, I can take it apart and put it back together if you'd like. So far as actually replacing the brushes on the regulator goes, you need a friggin' serious soldering iron. The place I used to work at had one that was foot switch operated. Push switch and the iron instantly glowed red. I'd kill to have an iron that got that hot that quick.

Yea. For the brushes, I would just buy a new regulator with them already attached. Not worth the few bucks when the new regulator is under $30.

The rotor is what gets worn by the brushes, right? That's doesn't seem to be a cheap part, but assuming the rotor is good (not sure of the tolerances for wear), you could replace the regulator and the bushings and bearings fairly cheaply. If you could source a new rotor from somewhere cheaper than the dealer, you'd be set. What else goes bad normally?