Alternator

JBird · 21-03-2013, 10:42 PM

Have been through 2 alternators in about 4 months. Am a bit worried that something else is causing it, but can't think what. Both have failed while it was raining.

Anyhow.... the best bloke in the bussiness is looking after it, just though i'd post here to hear if others have had issues.

BTW, quite scarry when your electrics completly die suddenly, and you are stuck in the middle of the road, pitch black, pissing down with rain, no lights on, no room to push the car off to the side, and cars aproaching from behind at 70mph.

Cesil was lucky not to get creased, as was her owner!

Anyway, off to the pub (in a 320D

!

Bounce · 21-03-2013, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBird

Have been through 2 alternators in about 4 months. Am a bit worried that something else is causing it, but can't think what. Both have failed while it was raining.

Anyhow.... the best bloke in the bussiness is looking after it, just though i'd post here to hear if others have had issues.

BTW, quite scarry when your electrics completly die suddenly, and you are stuck in the middle of the road, pitch black, pissing down with rain, no lights on, no room to push the car off to the side, and cars aproaching from behind at 70mph.

Cesil was lucky not to get creased, as was her owner!

Anyway, off to the pub (in a 320D

!

Mine didn't give up suddenly,the battery light started flashing now and again the day before.

3wheels3 · 21-03-2013, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBird

...BTW, quite scarry when your electrics completly die suddenly...

+1 bro

Just to add it knackered battery when it went.

JBird · 22-03-2013, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bounce

Mine didn't give up suddenly,the battery light started flashing now and again the day before.

My first one ceratinly did that. The second one i cant be sure, it caught me unaware. I lost the headlights first, then within about 5 secs everything went dead. Was night time, so the head lights, and having just started the engine a few minutes before probably put fair drain on the battery.

**shimmy** · 22-03-2013, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBird

My first one ceratinly did that. The second one i cant be sure, it caught me unaware. I lost the headlights first, then within about 5 secs everything went dead. Was night time, so the head lights, and having just started the engine a few minutes before probably put fair drain on the battery.

I have and three alternators but never had any fail on me

JBird · 22-03-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimmy

I have and three alternators but never had any fail on me

.... you just replace them for the fun of it?

**shimmy** · 22-03-2013, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBird

.... you just replace them for the fun of it?

Yep....or BMW do!

JBird · 29-04-2013, 09:51 PM

Just to follow up on this.... no electrical fault found by Dr G, alternator is just a weak point of the CSL apparently - though as far as I can see, its the same alternator as the std E46 M3.

Keeping a spare on hand now!

NZ_M3 · 30-04-2013, 12:26 AM

Get someone to check that the car has been programmed with the correct battery amperage - if not it's probably putting too much strain on the alternator, ruining the battery which in turn ruins the alternator - something isn't right if it's burning up the alternator in such short durations.

JBird · 30-04-2013, 04:14 AM

Cheers, I was going to buy an OBDII cable anyway, presumably i'll be able to check it my self then. Any idea what the correct amperage should be?

21-03-2013, 10:42 PM	#1
JBird S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Munich Posts: 280 Casino cash: $5259	Alternator Have been through 2 alternators in about 4 months. Am a bit worried that something else is causing it, but can't think what. Both have failed while it was raining. Anyhow.... the best bloke in the bussiness is looking after it, just though i'd post here to hear if others have had issues. BTW, quite scarry when your electrics completly die suddenly, and you are stuck in the middle of the road, pitch black, pissing down with rain, no lights on, no room to push the car off to the side, and cars aproaching from behind at 70mph. Cesil was lucky not to get creased, as was her owner! Anyway, off to the pub (in a 320D !

29-04-2013, 09:51 PM	#8
JBird S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Munich Posts: 280 Casino cash: $5259	Just to follow up on this.... no electrical fault found by Dr G, alternator is just a weak point of the CSL apparently - though as far as I can see, its the same alternator as the std E46 M3. Keeping a spare on hand now! Last edited by JBird; 29-04-2013 at 09:54 PM.

30-04-2013, 12:26 AM	#9
NZ_M3 S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,434 Casino cash: $13579	Get someone to check that the car has been programmed with the correct battery amperage - if not it's probably putting too much strain on the alternator, ruining the battery which in turn ruins the alternator - something isn't right if it's burning up the alternator in such short durations.

30-04-2013, 04:14 AM	#10
JBird S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Munich Posts: 280 Casino cash: $5259	Cheers, I was going to buy an OBDII cable anyway, presumably i'll be able to check it my self then. Any idea what the correct amperage should be?