Alernator starter fsr and service

[DougieV8]

Hi all,

Got some niggles sorted on my 2002 4.4 recently - Thought I would share and hopefully help some others with similar issues.

Dropped car off for a general service including spark plugs, oil, filters etc. I also asked to sort noisy starter as although doing the job it was getting embarrassing! My trusted mechanic is great and suggested that he would simply oil/grease up starter rather than replace - I wasn't convinced but let him try.

Got car back all serviced, starter greased up but not really any different. Mechanic apologised for this and said that I was probably right that at 102k miles a replacement due. Anyway I noted flashing battery light while running so mentioned issue - Car left for further investigation.

Note - My X5 has had a flickering battery light on tickover since purchase - A slight press of the accelerator  (est 50 revs) would put this out. The flashing while running though clearly suggested a charging issue.

First port of call was to replace the noisy starter, thinking that disrupting this may have caused a short - Replaced, nice and quiet but still flashing battery light! I suggested FSR as a check - I had one at the ready as heater was intermittently cutting in and out. FSR removed, bypassed - No difference, replaced - heater sorted but battery light still flashing when running.

My mechanic had fully charged battery meanwhile and said that all was back to original with only flickering light on tickover - His thoughts are that battery drained down during service due to doors open, ignition on etc. The alternator works but not fully so struggling to bring a drained battery up but ok if battery charged.

Decision time - I want a totally reliable car so went for a new alternator - I have owned my X5 for 18 months and was advised that the flickering battery light was sign of it not operating at 100% soon after purchase. New alternator ordered and replaced - all sorted with no flickering light on tickover, no flashing light when running and no non-starting issues.

So starts strongly and quietly like a new car, runs well, heater blower operates great and no annoying lights

So here is my advice part - Alternator quote from BMW was £1057! (£146 return on old) so £911. My mechanic uses Dingbro - they were £360ish and wanted return of old. I purchased from www.alternatorsnstarters.co.uk - £193 all in delivered with no return required, this is for the 150amp water cooled unit which is a beast of a part. Well chuffed with that - My mechanic mentioned to Dingbro agent who examined part and advised that it was a good quality unit that they also sell and could not understand how it was sourced so cheaply.

Anyway - I have spent a fair bit but all relative a massive saving on what it could have cost and niggles sorted.

[AW8]

Big thanks for sharing this info. I just called Julian at Alternatorsnstarters.co.uk today he quoted me the same £193 next day delivered and stating this was with no quibble 12 month warranty.

I know someone who paid nearly £500 for a well known part suplied from a euro focused motor factor only for that unit to totally fail early within warranty period.........so considering labour and work required for each swap out then £193 seems worth a punt.

My car currently sat on drive sulking & a non runner..........will post elsewhere re this as needs further diagnosis to identify cause of the problem albeit potential for alternator.

[CondorX5]

Alternator caused no end of strange issues with my car last year- luckily Raj had gone through the same lengthy diagnosis over many many months of dealer messing about and alternator change remedied it all.  Managed to persuade same dealer to reduce the delays and just swop out the alternator which they did-  BMW dealer so genuine expensive part, I think it was £800 or so, probably gone up since then, thank heavens for the warranty. 

You just never know with alternators, either, I had a new one on my Audi S8 pop its clogs within the warranty period, luckily replaced FOC but a nuisance nonetheless. And have had cheapie cars alternators go forever without any issues.  Thats electrics for you.

[Greydog]

I had problems with the Merc, battery would run down over 2 days or so every thing tested OK charging was OK yet battery drain was there. Turned out to be one of the diodes in the Voltage Regulator goes and allows a trickle drain when engine is off but charges fine. It took the Merc Dealer 3 attempts all expensive all failed, then I had to call the AA when it failed to start the guy turned up and said " we these a lot with this model its the voltage regulator"

[X5Sport]

Certainly sounds like a regulator issue.  On the older cars - and it may still be the same - the warning light was held 'off' because the charge from the system exceeded the discharge so there was no 'circuit' for the lamp, but if the charge level dropped due to fan belt or regulator problem (or in my case the 600W of front lighting  :-[ ) then the light came 'on' as a path to ground now existed.  Having an ammeter on the dash was such a joy in those days - along with oil pressure gauges, proper temp and fuel gauges too.

Richard

[Jayx5]

My alternater was replaced a few days ago, I paid £330 for a Bosch exchange one.