Alternator Bad at 50,000mi 328i 2015

EddieMorra · 08-10-2019, 08:59 AM

Car is at 50,01xx mileage, factory warranty just expired. I was on vacation and hadn't driven it for a week but it is 70-80 degrees here. When I came home I made a 30 minute commute to work and everything was fine. On my commute back home the red warning came on "Charging malfunction, the battery is not recharging" I haven't heard any weird noises, or experienced any power loss or glitches in the car. I drove home and then drove the car to the dealer the next day. My SA said it was unlikely that it would be the alternator this soon and that usually a bad alternator throws a bunch of other fault codes on the dash.

They called today saying that it is indeed a bad alternator and they are having trouble getting the car to give enough power through the Bus connection for them to read all the fault codes. They quoted just $1200 to fix the alternator but then they would need to see what if anything else is wrong.

Is it normal for an alternator to go bad this soon?

Billfitz · 08-10-2019, 09:53 AM

It's far more common for the battery to be dead than the alternator, but it happens. $1200 is outrageous. Get thee to an indy, have them use a re-manufactured alternator. They're as good as new, cost around $300 plus installation.

EddieMorra · 08-10-2019, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It's far more common for the battery to be dead than the alternator, but it happens. $1200 is outrageous. Get thee to an indy, have them use a re-manufactured alternator. They're as good as new, cost around $300 plus installation.

Thank you for the advice!

Billfitz · 08-10-2019, 11:29 AM

Just make sure that the indy is a German car specialist, mainly due to the electronics. It may need coding to the car.

EddieMorra · 08-19-2019, 10:17 AM

Okay so update to my original post; the dealer matched the Indy quote and it was just under $900. Honestly I'm just glad to have it fixed but it bugs me I had a $900 repair 100 miles after my warranty expired on a part that normally lasts much longer.

cfm56d7b · 08-19-2019, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieMorra

Okay so update to my original post; the dealer matched the Indy quote and it was just under $900. Honestly I'm just glad to have it fixed but it bugs me I had a $900 repair 100 miles after my warranty expired on a part that normally lasts much longer.

Glad to learn the dealer matched the indy price. It doesn't always happen.

08-10-2019, 08:59 AM	#1
EddieMorra New Member 1 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2015 328i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Alternator Bad at 50,000mi 328i 2015 Car is at 50,01xx mileage, factory warranty just expired. I was on vacation and hadn't driven it for a week but it is 70-80 degrees here. When I came home I made a 30 minute commute to work and everything was fine. On my commute back home the red warning came on "Charging malfunction, the battery is not recharging" I haven't heard any weird noises, or experienced any power loss or glitches in the car. I drove home and then drove the car to the dealer the next day. My SA said it was unlikely that it would be the alternator this soon and that usually a bad alternator throws a bunch of other fault codes on the dash. They called today saying that it is indeed a bad alternator and they are having trouble getting the car to give enough power through the Bus connection for them to read all the fault codes. They quoted just $1200 to fix the alternator but then they would need to see what if anything else is wrong. Is it normal for an alternator to go bad this soon?
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08-10-2019, 09:53 AM	#2
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8228 Rep 16,067 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It's far more common for the battery to be dead than the alternator, but it happens. $1200 is outrageous. Get thee to an indy, have them use a re-manufactured alternator. They're as good as new, cost around $300 plus installation.
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08-10-2019, 11:29 AM	#4
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8228 Rep 16,067 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Just make sure that the indy is a German car specialist, mainly due to the electronics. It may need coding to the car.
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08-19-2019, 10:17 AM	#5
EddieMorra New Member 1 Rep 22 Posts Drives: 2015 328i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Okay so update to my original post; the dealer matched the Indy quote and it was just under $900. Honestly I'm just glad to have it fixed but it bugs me I had a $900 repair 100 miles after my warranty expired on a part that normally lasts much longer.
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