Pretty much any alternator you buy, unless it comes directly from the BMW factory is going to be a rebuilt/refurbished model. I get my alternators from a guy here locally in Northridge, CA. He has an actual storefront as well as an ebay store. The company is called Eagle Auto Electric. So far I've bought 3 alternators from him for 3 different cars, all of them worked like new, were professionally refurbished with new brushes, bearings and voltage regulators. They even clean and repaint them. They run about a hundred bucks, I paid $125 for my last one because it was a Bosch 140amp vs. the standard Valeo 80amp. Anyway, if your guy is willing to rebuild yours for 50 bucks, that's a good price. If you try to buy a rebuilt one, most places will charge a core fee which you'll get back when you give them your old alternator. | 
Alternator. Buy or send it to be rebuilt. 
Linear Mode
