replacing the regulator in the alternator

TommN · #1 08-20-2011, 01:35 PM

Hi,i´m gonna replace the regulator in the alternator myself,so i was wondering if you had any tips on how to do this properly,how is the regulator seated in the alternator..do i have to pull of the belt??

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Zulu95 · #2 08-20-2011, 07:01 PM

You'd be better off just replacing the whole alternator. Then if it is something other that the regulator you are covered.
That is the value of my "been there, done that" experience FWIW.

TommN · #3 08-20-2011, 07:47 PM

Well that´s one way of doing it,but i have already bought the regulator..so i might as well do the job and take it from there. :-)

f16driver · #4 08-21-2011, 09:07 PM

I did the regulator in my E53 4.6is yesterday and today. It was a slow process only because I was doing it for the first time. I think I could probably do the whole swap in 2-3 hours. But guess what....my battery lite is still on after all that work. I guess now I'll get a new alternator and hope that fixes the problem. I checked all the fuses and the voltage on the battery engine on and off. The battery is actually new as of 3 weeks ago.
You never said which model X5 your working on. Is it watercooled or an external alternator?

TommN · #5 08-22-2011, 07:14 AM

Sorry about that.. :-) I drive a X5 4,4,it has the watercooled alternator.did you replace the regulator on your alternator,was it hard to reach?

f16driver · #6 08-23-2011, 09:27 PM

I did replace the voltage regulator myself. Getting the alternator out is the tough part. And because the repaired voltage reg. didnt fix my problem, I had the pleasure of taking the alternator out a second time. The first time took me most of the day. I pulled the alternator the second time and it took 40 minutes. If your handy with tools its probably a 6 on the 1-10 scale. Installing the new voltage regulator is not difficult either. But I had trouble getting one of the 4 screws off/out that hold the cover plate on. I found that an impact air wrench worked best cause the screws have some locktight liquid holding them in place. I also used the impact wrench to get the pully nut off the pully.
What other question do you have?

TommN · #7 08-24-2011, 08:55 AM

Thanks for the reply,that really helps a lot.

f16driver · #8 08-24-2011, 09:00 AM

No Problem. The following links have some pretty good info on the subject.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-pictures.html

How to Replace Alternator in a 99, 00, 01 740il

TommN · #9 08-24-2011, 05:24 PM

Thanks a bunch for those links,awesome.

TommN · #10 09-12-2011, 09:49 AM

Thanks for the tip,have replaced the alternator ,and it works now.

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