Possible Alternator Gone Bad e46 M3

H

haXor

Member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #1

Good Morning guys.

Was driving the M3 e46 this morning over a really bumpy road on my way to Leo Haese for the Brake Fluid Special when a lot of the lights on the dash came on.

Alternator Light, Handbrake, DSC, Brake Pad Lights.

The alternator light was steady and the rest where pretty much flashing constantly.

Its as if the car knew I was taking it in to Leo Haese today for the brake fluid special so something had to fail. :smashScreen:

So Leo Haese just called to say they want to charge me both my arms and legs to replace the alternator..

Could I have have possibly knocked a power cable out on the rough road?
Can these alternators be refurbished or repaired?

 

AdiS

Well-known member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #2

Alternators can be rebuilt - I had it done on my E46 M3, cost about R3k.

 

jettaz

New member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #3

Question is...Is it the alternator?

When my alternator gave issues, the battery light used to go on and off as I went up in the revs. lol

 

Pho3niX90

///Member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #4

It's probably not the alternator but the voltage regulator, it's a unit on the alternator and cheaper to replace it only. They are usually around R1000

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

H

haXor

Member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #5

I did notice that when I revved her up a bit +5K RPM, the lights would switch off.

@jettz, BMW diagnosed the car & said it was the alternator - hence why they quoted me to replace it.

Will start by checking the regulator though.

Any recommendations on where I could take the alternator for a rebuild?

 

Clownshoe

Active member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #6

haXor said:

I did notice that when I revved her up a bit +5K RPM, the lights would switch off.

@jettz, BMW diagnosed the car & said it was the alternator - hence why they quoted me to replace it.

Will start by checking the regulator though.

Any recommendations on where I could take the alternator for a rebuild?

Click to expand...

Sounds like BMW. They are steadily getting bolder. Regulator faulty so replace the alternator, transfer case actuator faulty so replace the transfer case, o2 sensor faulty so replace the engine, flat tyre so replace the car.

 

H

haXor

Member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #7

Just a minor update

I got the car back from the stealership. When I start it up the alternator light switches off, like normal. Only when I rev it up does it switch back on :hammerhead: and the other dashboard lights(DSC, handbrake etc) are no-longer flickering.

 

jettaz

New member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #8

haXor said:

Just a minor update

I got the car back from the stealership. When I start it up the alternator light switches off, like normal. Only when I rev it up does it switch back on :hammerhead: and the other dashboard lights(DSC, handbrake etc) are no-longer flickering.

Click to expand...

Sounds about right.

 

R!Yo

Staff - Social Media

Staff member

• Jun 3, 2016

• #9

Get someone else to read your codes and take it from there, BMW will tell you what they want you to hear.

 

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser

Official Advertiser

• Jun 3, 2016

• #10

Take a voltmeter and place it on the battery terminals.
Set the voltmeter to read DC

At idle the reading on the voltmeter should be between 13.4V to 13.8V

If less than above the alternator needs attention

The car is fitted with a VALEO alternator and the regulator if original (please do not buy anything else other than VALEO regulators) will be in the R1500/R1800 region.

If you are handy with a set of tools you can do the repair yourself.
If not take the car to a person who does your servicing.

R3k is about right

 

H

haXor

Member

• Jun 4, 2016

• #11

Thanks a1exander. I will be taking out the alternator tomorrow.

Here's a short video I took of the problemo.

[video=youtube]

 

polly

Member

• Jun 4, 2016

• #12

Hey bud
Your car still sounding sweet for the mileage.
Love that rasp from the e46
Sorry of the topic

 

H

haXor

Member

• Jun 5, 2016

• #13

Just a quick update.

Got the alternator out yesterday, it was a quick and easy job.

When I pulled the regulator out of the alternator, I noticed a bit of fluff on the bushes, its more like a piece of car-wash sponge.

This one is a bosch model..

The bushes don't have an even length.

Tomorrow is New regulator hunting day.

 

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser

Official Advertiser

• Jun 5, 2016

• #14

Diesel Electric will have the regulator.

 

H

haXor

Member

• Jun 6, 2016

• #15

Thanks A1exander.

I popped over to Diesel Electric in Wynberg today and bought a replacement regulator.

Note the different size bushings

new VS old

 

W

Waseem 333i

Active member

• Jun 7, 2016

• #16

I had this issue on my car two years ago. I replaced the brushes only

 

applehero

///Member

• Jun 7, 2016

• #17

haXor said:

Thanks A1exander.

I popped over to Diesel Electric in Wynberg today and bought a replacement regulator.

Note the different size bushings

new VS old

Click to expand...

Glad you got sorted :coolShake:

 

H

haXor

Member

• Jun 9, 2016

• #18

I refitted everything back yesterday.

Car is back to 100%.

Problem resolved.

I do suspect that the piece of car wash foam on the bushes may have been the cause of the intermittency of this alternator light. Ultimately, I'm glad the regulator is replaced.