I think the alternator has just died

[andye30m3]

Driving home from work and the battery light started to flicker, then came on.

managed to drive about 10miles to a friends workshop which is 1/2 way home, now the car won't restart,

Started on the jump pack, once disconnect the runs but if you turn the lights on it just dies, no fault codes some up and it appears to only be charging at 10-11volts.

I'm guessing that's a new a new alternator for me then!

any recommendations for an online shop that will do an exchange one?

or am I better off with a new BMW one? any idea what the cost of a new one is?

Just waiting for the RAC now.

[glendog74]

Deffo alternator - quite a common fault.

That will be around £500 through a BMW stealership...

[magnust]

My generator died too. Oddly enough it charged a little bit so I could drive quite far and the voltage would drop very very slowly and each time it ended with the dash board lights blinking like a pin ball game and the SMG locking up in gear and no way to get into neutral

A month later the generator in my friends M3 2005 also died. His died more like yours did, no charge whatsoever. Wonder why it's such a common fault?

[Yanto]

it eventually comes to us all matey.....

http://www.cslregister.com/forum/sho...ght=alternator

[monkeycsl]

Mine went about two years ago,prob does not help if car is used infrequently so alternator is always working hard.I now keep battery charged to hopefully keep alternator from packing up.

[magnust]

From the other thread:

Originally Posted by glendog74

You're not a 'proper' CSL owner unless you experience a red battery light at some point!