318ti.org forum

Go Back   318ti.org forum > Technical, Maintenance and Modifications > Electrical

Notices

Electrical All wiring questions.

.
» Recent Threads
1999 M-Sport For Sale
12-31-2023 05:10 PM
Last post by Coop540iT
03-23-2024 06:39 PM
1 Replies, 106,867 Views
Once again 318ti owner...
03-20-2024 12:39 PM
Last post by two30grain
03-22-2024 02:04 PM
1 Replies, 69,730 Views
What brakes do I...
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
Last post by huirtera
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
0 Replies, 66,998 Views
Reply Share/Bookmark
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-19-2010, 08:16 PM   #1
Laxpunk2006
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davidsonville, MD
Posts: 68
iTrader: (0)
Default Alternator Upgrade

After upgrading the speaker system to MBQuart components, JL 300/4 amp, 10w7v2 powered by a JL 500/1v2 I noticed some dimming from my lights when the volume was up.

Yesterday while driving from Florida to Savannah my battery light came on. Shortly after I lost all power and was left on the side of the road. I'm still doing some diagnostics (everything is closed Sunday in Savannah) but I'm fairly certain my alternator finally bit the dust. My car is a 1995 with 167xxx miles so it's to be expected at this point.

While I'm forced to rip this alternator out and replace it I'd like to upgrade the unit. I've seen a lot of e36ers upgrade from the 80amp alternator to the 140. It seems the main issue when performing this swap is sticking with the same brand (Valeo, Bosch) to prevent the need to replace the pulley as well.

My question is if a 140amp alternator form another e36 is compatible with the m42 engine found in my 318ti or are they only compatible with the inline six engines found on the rest of the e36s.
Laxpunk2006 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2010, 05:14 AM   #2
Whiplash71
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Florida - Tampa
Posts: 92
iTrader: (0)
Default

Might be a ground fault that is a root cause of your cascading problem.
Good luck!

Last edited by Whiplash71; 12-20-2010 at 05:22 AM.
Whiplash71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2010, 05:40 AM   #3
cooljess76
NOBODY F's with the Jesus
 
cooljess76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Ventura California
Posts: 7,824
iTrader: (6)
Default

4cyl and 6cyl coupes, sedans and compacts came with 80 amp alternators. Only 6cyl convertibles came with 140 amp, 4cyl convertibles came with 80 amp. A simple realoem search confirms this:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partxref....ur=&series=E36

Apparently, up to 9/93, some 318's came with 105 amp alternators:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...24&hg=12&fg=20

And the pulleys between Bosch and Valeo have no impact on whether the alternator will work or not. Either way, it has to interact with the pulleys on the other components such as the water pump, power steering pump and crank pulley.

I don't think they made a 140 amp alternator that will fit the 4cyl engines. I'm fairly certain that 6cyl alternators will NOT bolt up to the 4cyl engine.

Last edited by cooljess76; 12-20-2010 at 06:02 AM.
cooljess76 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2010, 09:30 PM   #4
Laxpunk2006
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Davidsonville, MD
Posts: 68
iTrader: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Whiplash71 View Post
Might be a ground fault that is a root cause of your cascading problem.
Good luck!
This would certainly be ideal. Unfortunately my car and I are in Savannah, GA and all of my tools are in Annapolis, MD at my parent's house. I'll be going up there for Christmas and bringing them back with me so I can start properly diagnosing the problem.

Thank you (and cooljess76) for the speedy replies.
Laxpunk2006 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
broken wire on back of alternator and alternator replacement jota.pe Electrical 6 09-27-2009 02:34 AM
Alternator is bad USMC318ti Electrical 2 06-09-2006 11:53 PM
Alternator HuGo Engine 8 05-20-2006 12:38 AM
Alternator HuGo US and North America 1 05-18-2006 12:04 AM
ALTERNATOR FIX vix_98_318ti Misc 1 05-03-2006 06:02 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:30 PM.


.
Powered by site supporters
vBulletin Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, 318ti.org
© vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2
[page compression: 69.05 k/80.48 k (14.20%)]

318ti.org does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or products discussed.