WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

[varco]

Hi Guys,

I am looking for Valeo Alternator 120amp. My alternator in my E46 is faulty and is causing vibration to my car and 2 workshops has confirmed that my alternator is faulty. They tried to change it to Bosch alternator but was not able to due to the error detected by the car. I am now looking for Valeo alternator that my car has now but no other places carry them except PML. The waiting time is approximately 3 weeks if I order in PML. Is there any other sources that your guys know can help me get the Valeo alternator?

Thanks in advance.

Varco

 

[ac323]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

Hi varco,

call Ernest of BVO 64551566........

cheers

 

[varco]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

Hi ac323,

Yes, my advise from BVO was to buy from PML. They checked and none of their suppliers have the Valeo alternator.

Regards,
Varco

 

[phil]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

No one keeps valeo, it is usually replaced by a bosch unit. it would be only purchased from BMW

 

[joon]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

I bought my spare alternator from ebay motors.. most of them are re-con units, price is about 300-400. It's cheap enough can keep a spare.

If you have the part number.. you can also get Eng Soon to order for you, but it's fairly expensive.. between 500-800, the bosch 140amp for my car was $788

Hi ac323,

Yes, my advise from BVO was to buy from PML. They checked and none of their suppliers have the Valeo alternator.

Regards,
Varco

 

[davidtch]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

My E39 alternator is also Valeo & PML replaces it for me LY. 1 day job only. My voltage regulator up lorry & alternator is charging @ 17V. My dashboard looks like Christmas Tree.

 

[ttee]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

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[varco]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

Hi ttee,

I have changed almost everything, engine mount is one of them. It happened that the workshop managed to detect an error saying that there were some communication problem with the alternator. I have no idea how the alternator causes vibration but my meter keep moving up and down sometimes and the car vibrates due to this and thw workshop said it's the alternator.

Regards,
varco

 

[ttee]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

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[sszone]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

get another workshop's opinion before u look high n low for the valeo

 

[varco]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

I can see that you had a problem communication you mechanic. The mechanic did not explain the error technically, which could be due to their lack of experience in electrical work or their attempt to hide something, so they only said that there is a communication problem between the computer and the alternator. This might have made you feel that there is a big problem that requires your attention.

To put it simply, the DME control unit and the alternator cannot "talk" to each other.

"They tried to change it to Bosch alternator but was not able to due to the error detected by the car"
This make me suspect that your mechanic lacks experience because the alternator are all the same, but there is still error detected even after installing the new Bosch alternator.

The BMW repair manual say:
"The battery is regularly monitored by the DME control unit, if the battery voltage falls below 2.5 volts or exceeds 24 volts, a fault is registered. The diagnostics become active 3 minutes after the engine has started. this ensures that the effects of the starting operation or starting assistance on the battery voltage will not be registered as a fault."

The problem comes from the inability of the DTM control unit to function properly because when the voltage is low, there will be the following phenomenon: sometimes the engine will misfire causing your car to vibrate, sometimes the meter needle keep moving up and down when the you start the engine, sometimes your meter light will keep turning on and off, sometimes you feel the engine loses power.

This is what had happened to my car two months ago. I use BMW carsoft 6.5 to detect an error, repair it by changing the carbon brushes in the voltage regulator. This cost me less than $10.

Why did the Mechanic ask you to change a new alternator?
A good mechanic should explain to you that "either the battery was disconnected or the voltage of the battery is too low or too high. check the battery and charging system", then help you to check the charging system and repair it for you.

How to check the charging system:
1. Remove the voltage regulator from alternator
2. Check the length of the carbon brushes
3. Change the voltage regulator if the length of the carbon brushes is less than 5mm

This regulator is usually the cause of charging problem.

I hate it when mechanics waste materials and waste their customers' money.
This is what had happened to my Vito van. The van broke down and was towed to the Vito specialist workshop at Sin Ming Autocare ground floor. At that time, I was busy with my business and do not have time to have a look at the car. The mechanic told me that the alternator had incurred serious damaged and need to be replaced. This cost me $1000 for 140amp. When i collected the car, the mechanic showed me the alternator and tell me that it is in serious damage. But in fact, it was only the pulley damage, which would only cost $300 to replace. I paid for $700 for nothing. After a few years, I went back to have a look at the shop, the shop closed down. Mechanics should indeed do a proper job, or they would "kill" themselves.

Hi ttee,

Thanks for the detail explanation. It may just be the brushes. May I know where can i get the brushes or voltage regulator? I do not have the tools if I want to do it myself and if there is any workshop that can do that? I do not think most workshop will want to just replace the voltage regulator or brushes.

Thanks alot.

Varco

 

[varco]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

get another workshop's opinion before u look high n low for the valeo

Hi sszone,

yeah, after reading what ttee wrote, i will seek another workshop advise.

Thanks
Varco

 

[ttee]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

...........

 

[ttee]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

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[dave]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

Hi bro,
PM sent.

A service to our BMW community

 

[varco]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

Hi Guys,

Finally gotten 2 more feedback from workshops and it's confirmed alternator faulty. The only problem is, I am not able to find a replacement and decided to went back to PML. Went o PML to buy the parts but they are not willing to sell them to me as the part number is different from what I had in my car and what it states in their system and has to book an appointment to get it fix in PML.

Happily went to PML to fix the alternator yesterday but CSA called saying that they do not have the stock on hand and will need to leave the car there for another day so that they can send the alternator from their Malaysia warehouse. Today, CSA called, said that the alternator is different from what I had again and they have problem reprogramming the unit in my car and asked me to leave my car there again. Asked for replacement car but replied do not have, requested them to fix back the old alternator and will go back again once they have a solution.

Any advise what I can do now? going to collect back my car later in the evening with nothing done. wasted my trip, my time. Anyone has a good CSA to recommend? I always get the senior CSA who serviced my car years back when he was still at Kampong Arang branch and was posted back to Alexandra but I always get a NO when I asked for replacement car or anything.

Regards,
Varco

 

[ttee]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

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[mybmmer318]

Re: WTB: E46 Valeo 120Amp Alternator

I cannot believe. If such a small alternator can cause vibration to your car, then your engine will shake your car for sure. although sometimes the alternator bearing have worn out, you will only hear the bearing sound, not the vibration.

I suspect that it's your battery and the engine mounting that is causing the problem. The battery is failing hence the alternator is charging all the time. There is a load, your engine mounting is ganna spoil. So you will feel more vibration. The vibration should come from an engine and not the alternator.

Can you descibe more clearly how had the mechanic confirmed the vibration on your car?

Indeed a faulty alternator can cause yr engine to vibrate..tested with my car..my original one going to die off soon and replaced a used one but that unit is not even chargng @ all..car started as normal(using battery power) but upon start up voltage gauge shows only 10volts and car vibrates like hell. end up buy a new one @ $500+ everything solve and aircon also stronger. end of the day its better to buy a new unit esp electrical parts than to waste the time and $$ getting it replaced over n over again.