Morning all. New day, new fault!

Driving home from work last night the dash started randomly throwing up "Charging System Fault" warnings - they'd pop up, then disappear, then pop up again .. (bit like the randomly failing convertible roof on the BMW that fixes itself!)

I used a generic OBD2 reader this morning to scan for faults and "No Fault Found" (I'll try my slightly more expensive Autel in a minute, but it usually agrees with the cheapies), so went for a drive logging the reported voltage at the ECU.

I should add that the warning did not appear during the drive this morning, but Torque reported the ECU voltage wavering between 12.2V (way, way too low - that's dead battery territory) and 14.7V (about "right" for an un-managed alternator or managed alternator running at max chat)

You can see the "min" (orange arrow) & "max" (red arrow) here, and the voltage it was showing when I parked back on my drive:

Click image to enlarge

If it started OK this morning, I'd say the battery was not the problem, more likely the alternator is getting ready to down tools.

Don't know if it is worth changing the regulator, normally not.

Dave

I gave Rockingham Landrovers a quick call - ouch .. that is not a cheap job, not a cheap job at all.

Since I only bought it three months ago (just under, in fact) I gave the supplying dealer (not a LR dealership) a call - they'll "have to check if that's something that's under warranty" and call me back on Monday  2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S

Spoke to another indy near me - he reckons a Denso alternator is a viable alternative to genuine - Rockingham strongly suggested genuine, and to be honest that would normally be my preference, but it's the difference between £250 and £600 for the atlernator, and £600 and £1100 for the job, or thereabouts.

Also found this thread: https://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic47979.html

Actually doesn't look like an awful job .. if it weren't for the fact that I've just spent most of the week doing the brakes, oil, filters, timing tensioner, rocker cover and headlights on her MINI, I'd be tempted to DIY it. *insert scratchy chin smiley here* 2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S

Oem are Denso

Only used denso

Denso it is, then.. they did also offer Lucas reman, but I declined the Prince of Darkness  2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S

If you buy from a trader, any trader, they will give a minimum of 3 months warranty. I'm sure that under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (have a Google), if a fault becomes apparent within 6 months of purchase, it is considered to have been present on purchase. The trader must therefore fix your car. Pound to a pinch of brown stuff they will try to fob you off though.

Not long ago I was looking to overhaul my alternator, easy cheap DIY job,
but then in my search came across this online company: http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/Schmitz-Rotary...34.c0.m322

They claim products are made in Japan, like Denso,
so took the plunge and spent £100 on new alternator and I must say it looks 100% like the Denso apart from missing label.

Sure it could be Chinese, the company is also on Alibabababah but hey it works brilliant,
bearings seems solid. adjust the voltage and current precisely like it should.

Took me 1/2 hour to change.

How did I miss that reply? 1/2 hour? Crikey - which engine? TDV8 seems to have a 'book time' of a couple of hours, at least per the indy I booked it in to for next week..

That said, they list one at £313 for the TDV8 right now, which IIRC is more than the indy wanted to charge me for a Denso.

Also booked it in for an MOT at the same time, at which point I looked at the advisories for last year - I think it's going to cost me a fortune to get it through.. normally I look at these things before buying. Not quite sure how I got myself sucked into buying this particular car ... ever make a large purchase and then seriously regret it?

Advisories were:

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources nearside (4.7.1 (b) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material centre rear (1.1.11 (c))
Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material offside rear (1.1.11 (c))
Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material nearside rear (1.1.11 (c))
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge nearside front (5.2.3 (e))
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge offside front (5.2.3 (e))
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge nearside rear (5.2.3 (e))
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge offside rear (5.2.3 (e))
Oil leak, but not excessive rear suspension pump (8.4.1 (a) (i))
Rear axle bush contaminated with oil
spare wheel missing


OK, I knew the spare was missing (that was quite obvious!) - someone had cut through the winch (now replaced), and the tyres are now legal (probably replaced to move it on).. sneaking suspicion the lower arms on the front will fail the MOT this year, which would explain the uneven tyre wear at the last MOT, and I'll just cross my fingers on the rest for now!


I do find it funny how inconsistent MOTs can be though - 2015 the MOT advisory states that the spare wheel is missing and the cable cut, then there's no mention of it at all in 2016, 2017 until it comes back in 2018 testers with white canes, maybe.. 2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S

4.2 S/C well the splash shield was already of, but it's one of the easier jobs to change the generator if you have the right tools.
You do need the belt off the alternator and correct tools are essential for keeping all fingers

Ah yes - I do lack the tool for that bit, and I like my fingers..  2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S