# BMW Water Cooled Alternator Replacement

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-water-cooled-alternator-replacement/218845>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\
**Created:** [December 2, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-water-cooled-alternator-replacement/218845 "2011-12-02T15:31:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Norb\_O](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/norb_o/32/5189_2.png) [@Norb\_O](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Norb_O)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-water-cooled-alternator-replacement/218845/1 "2011-12-02T15:31:23Z")

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The water cooled alternator took a crap in my '01 BMW 540i. Bearings are just completely shot and the pulley is almost completely seized. It was so bad that the belt was slipping on it as I limped it home.

Autozone, Napa, and Advance all want $400 for a reman’d one, and that’s with the core given to them. I called NAPA to see if they do rebuilds, but they said no.

What are my options for replacement/rebuild? I have the part already out of the car, just need to replace it.

---------- Post added at 06:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:27 PM ----------

this looks to be compatible and is an okay price…

> <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/compatibility-chart/B000CB3AQS/ref=au_pf_dp_chart>

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**Author:** ![Jam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jam/32/7235_2.png) [@Jam](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jam)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-water-cooled-alternator-replacement/218845/2 "2011-12-02T19:58:44Z")

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This may be out of their expertise but dell electric in Hamburg rebuilt an alternator for me years ago and it was as good as new. Worth a shot, eh?

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**Author:** ![Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@Jon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jon)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-water-cooled-alternator-replacement/218845/3 "2011-12-02T20:03:56Z")

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$168 after the $62 core on rockauto.

[www.rockauto.com](http://www.rockauto.com)

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**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-water-cooled-alternator-replacement/218845/4 "2011-12-02T21:51:08Z")

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can’t beat that with a stick^^ but how long will it take to ship one, then get yours back, fuckin 8 business days, or pay to overnight everything, can you go without the car?

---------- Post added at 12:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 AM ----------

edit: if ya use rock auto, get a discount code from the thread on this forum

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**Author:** ![JustinH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JustinH](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JustinH)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 7:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-water-cooled-alternator-replacement/218845/5 "2011-12-03T07:43:59Z")

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I just ordered a part from rock auto, it was here in 2 business days. That is their regular service. It depends what warehouse your part comes from, but they are usually faster than most. You will be down less than a week using rockauto.

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**Author:** ![Norb\_O](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/norb_o/32/5189_2.png) [@Norb\_O](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Norb_O)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 8:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bmw-water-cooled-alternator-replacement/218845/6 "2011-12-03T08:17:37Z")

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thanks guys. just trying to verify that the first one is indeed water cooled, as it doesn’t show a picture. it should be the right one though.