which alternator is this?

[Hermes]

I was gonna order the TMS pulleys so I went to check which alternator I have but I don't see any markings. Any ideas how to tell if it's Bosch or Valeo?

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/A000A532-8CD9-4B25-B55F-132448A974EB-4811-000008EEEDF85936.jpg

edit: I figured it out
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/D77343C2-5708-4BAD-BA28-1229E128100F-4811-000008F610B503A9.jpg

[wsmeyer]

Looks like Bosch but there's a comparison pic here:

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?4802-pulleys&p=154026#post154026

[Hermes]

yeah it's a Bosch, took me a while to find the name on it

[Crickett]

Looks like you have the same alternator I do:

http://tcholo.net:8080/images/bmw/altBosch7519618.jpg

Note what I said in that thread linked by wsmeyer:


+1 what these guys said. I'll add my $0.02 as I just got & installed TMS's kit: there are actually two different Bosch alternators, one that's apparently 330-specific. I selected the options appropriately on their website for a 330 with Bosch alternator (& no aftermarket stereo), but they still mistakenly sent me the wrong Bosch pulley. They quickly shipped out the correct one when I called about it, so just double check the pulleys as soon as you get them. :thumbsup

The correct pulley for that alternator is TMS P/N TEN9922004, "330 Underdrive ALT", "Bosch Alternator Pulley 1.477 inch or 37.50 mm".

[Hermes]

Yeah, I have the same one. It was tricky to find these stupid markings without taking the alternator off

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/3509F607-F4FB-4C1A-A709-4A4948F11B94-4811-0000091365CB6AE4.jpg

Thanks for that heads up about the 330 specific alternator, I think I'll just call them tomorrow and order over the phone so there are no mistakes. How do you like those pulleys? You got the underdrive alternator pulley, not the lightweight one?

[Crickett]

Yeah, I have the same one. It was tricky to find these stupid markings without taking the alternator off

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/3509F607-F4FB-4C1A-A709-4A4948F11B94-4811-0000091365CB6AE4.jpg

Thanks for that heads up about the 330 specific alternator, I think I'll just call them tomorrow and order over the phone so there are no mistakes. How do you like those pulleys? You got the underdrive alternator pulley, not the lightweight one?

I did my pulleys at the same time as my BMW Performace intake, so I'm not sure which was more to credit, but I definitely could feel a touch more power! I got the underdriven alternator pulley, not the "audiophile" lightweight one.

[johnrando]

I got the underdrive pulleys. Really couldn't tell much difference at all, except the engine maybe seemed to breathe easier, meaning there was slightly less effort when it started to pull when you got on it some. For me, it wasn't noticeable enough to make the change if I had to do it over, but it didn't hurt and I needed new belts anyway.

[PsychoCemia]

HEY, Listen! I'm fighting this battle myself. That's the same alternator that I've got, but I didn't notice the plug until I had a replacement Bosch 120amp unit already bolted in.

They both have the same "0 124 515 105" P/N stamped on them. Both Bosch. Both 120amps. I'm convinced the alternator is the same, but the Voltage Regulator is different (and therefore the connector is different).

Some of us seem to be afflicted by some franken-setup that has a wiring harness from '03-'04 Z4s. Here's the RealOEM Diagram (http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT53&mospid=47799&btnr=12_1204&hg=12&fg=22) for the CORRECT voltage regulator and here's the CORRECT alternator (http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT53&mospid=47799&btnr=12_1082&hg=12&fg=20) (also listed for our cars as seen here (http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BD53&mospid=47713&btnr=12_1082&hg=12&fg=20)).

Correct P/Ns:
Alternator: 12317519620
Voltage Regulator: 12317515319


Effectivity for the voltage regulator is supposedly:
525i E60 M54 2004 - 2005
530i E60 M54 2004 - 2005
Z4 2.5i Roadster E85 M54 2003 - 2005
Z4 3.0i Roadster E85 M54 2003 - 2005


Check this out:

Both alternators:
http://i.imgur.com/26iPOh.jpg

My original alternator/voltage regulator with oval plug:
http://i.imgur.com/nbDdZh.jpg

New alternator with square plug:
http://i.imgur.com/dih9Nh.jpg

Now, I bought all this stuff from ECSTuning, and am about to give them a call to see if they can sort things out for me here. Their site says that this replacement alternator works with all E46 330i/ci models, and it obviously doesn't.

Check this out:

This is the 120Amp Bosch that fits "all" E46s and that they said would drop right in (and that I bought). Note the square connector:

http://i.imgur.com/fqISX.png

This is the 120Amp Bosch that also fits "all" E46s, and happens to be the one that came out of my car. Note the oval connector:

http://i.imgur.com/tTlKC.png

So...just a heads up:

*****Check that voltage regulator select plug before you buy a new alternator!*****

~Psycho

[danewilson77]

Thanks psycho. Good research.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[johnrando]

Had no idea. Great info, thanks.

[alexandre]

I'm gonna bump this as I went to hell and back with alternator issues in the past 2 weeks.

My car has the oval plug - alternator PN #12317519620. I replaced my OE alternator about a year ago, with a Bosch Remanufactured AL0816X, which is what will show up as the only available option on most parts sites. It failed 4 months later, the bearings were garbage. BMA Parts sent me a new one at their cost, and it was installed the next day. The voltage regulator off of this one essentially melted in my car 3 weeks ago. Needless to say I wasn't happy. I did a lot of research, and have found the following:

- Bosch remanufactured alternators are generally garbage - they clean up cores and replace failed parts, and that's it. If the 250,000 mile voltage regulator works, that's what you get in your seemingly new unit.
- Remanufactured alternators in general are garbage - this, http://ednixon.com/pix/Alternators.html, is an interesting read.
- BMW only sells remanufactured alternators for this part number. After my issues I doubt quality is much better.

Upon doing some research, I found out that there was a new version of the same alternator, Bosch # AL0816N. I haven't tried it, but if it's actually a brand new unit, I don't see why it couldn't be a good option. It retails for ~$300 though, and I wasn't ready to put forth that amount of money. I bought a used unit off of a low-mileage Z4, installed it this morning, and it works perfectly - all for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

Therefore, if you have the round plug and need to replace your alternator, you really only have 2 options - brand new Bosch #AL0816N or used Genuine BMW unit.