Alternator bearings shot.......

nomiS330d · 08-19-2018, 12:07 PM

......I think! I’ve got a squeak coming from the alternator area, it seems to go away once the engine has warmed up but is getting a more consistent when cold. Until I get chance to take the belt off and spin all the pulleys independently to establish it is indeed the alternator I’m assuming the worst case scenario and have been looking for a price. It seems I can get a Bosch off car parts for less minus the discount and exchange for £250. However, eBay has got Valeo remanufactuered units for about half that!
Which way have any of you in a similar situation gone or are there other options?

Msportshqwn · 08-19-2018, 01:16 PM

I thought my alternator bearing was shot in my e91 320d so bought a second hand unit off ebay to test. Swapped out noise still there. Was one of the other drive pulleys. Cheap as chips from eurocar parts sorted that out. May be worth checking.

What engine do you have?

Thanks

therealdb1 · 08-19-2018, 05:11 PM

Before you even worry about a new alternator find out which part you need and then ask.
It is equally, if not more, likely to be the belt tensioner or idler pulley.
These are much cheaper repairs and readily available.
Fit a new serpentine belt while you are at it as they do age and it might just be that the rubber has gone hard.

nomiS330d · 08-20-2018, 01:19 AM

It’s a 3.0 diesel aka M57B30. Yes I will be making sure which bearing is on its way out first.

bishbosh · 08-23-2018, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Msportshqwn

I thought my alternator bearing was shot in my e91 320d so bought a second hand unit off ebay to test. Swapped out noise still there. Was one of the other drive pulleys. Cheap as chips from eurocar parts sorted that out. May be worth checking.

What engine do you have?

Thanks

^^ As above

I thought my alternator bearing was worn as I could hear a horrible squeak but in my case it was a pulley and also the belt tensioner.

After new tensioner and pulleys fitted and bedded in the noise went away.

nomiS330d · 08-26-2018, 01:58 AM

Never overthink it is the lesson here. I decided to change the belt after seeing a youtube video demonstrating how belts can get squeaky. Even though the 'old' belt looks to be in good condition I thought for the sakes of £16 and half an hour I might as well try it which gave me the opportunity to spin all the pulleys to see if I could identify any bad bearings. They all sounded and felt ok so I put it all back together with the new belt. Bingo! The squeak has gone!

As you can see the old belt looks almost new and hasn't even got any cracks in it. By sheer coincidence the new one is the same brand as the old one so I expect it'll get squeaky again before it's worn out but hay ho, when or if it does I'll splash out on a better quality belt. Happy for now anyway.

Msportshqwn · 08-26-2018, 03:24 AM

Happy days. Feels good when originally think its an expensive job but turns out to be easy. I changed altenator first. Not a nice job 😆

nick46 · 08-26-2018, 06:16 AM

Good stuff mate. Glad you got it sorted.
Just out of interest how easy is it to change this belt? My car has done just over 85k so I should probably think about replacing mine really. Going by your name I assume you have a 330d like me?

nick46 · 08-26-2018, 06:18 AM

Just read through again and seen you've already said it's a 3ltr diesel. However mine is the later N57. Anyone know how easy these are to replace?

nomiS330d · 08-26-2018, 06:52 AM

I don't know how different the n57 is to the m57 but I would have thought similar. It's pretty straight forward to do once you've got all the 'stuff' out of the way like the intake snorkel. I also removed the radiator fan for even better access. This only takes a couple of minutes to take out then you work out which pulley is the tensioner. To work that out grab the belt on the long run and pull it up. Doing this will show you which tensioner moves against the spring. On the front of the pulley there is a plastic cap which you need to prize off. Under that is a torx bolt. Get a ratchet with the correct torx bit and turn anti clockwise which should release the tension allowing you to slip the old belt off. Replacement is the same in reverse..... just remember how the belt goes around the various pulleys by taking a picture before you remove the old one.

bishbosh · 08-27-2018, 03:17 AM

These are 2 pulleys and the tensioner side by side with the new ones when I did the job last year. Car had about 185k miles on when the TVD broke.

The old pulleys look like they have grooves but it was mainly grime. After fitting the new parts the belt squeal disappeared.

08-19-2018, 12:07 PM	#1
nomiS330d Lieutenant 75 Rep 541 Posts Drives: E92 330d Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Doncaster iTrader: (0)	Alternator bearings shot....... ......I think! I’ve got a squeak coming from the alternator area, it seems to go away once the engine has warmed up but is getting a more consistent when cold. Until I get chance to take the belt off and spin all the pulleys independently to establish it is indeed the alternator I’m assuming the worst case scenario and have been looking for a price. It seems I can get a Bosch off car parts for less minus the discount and exchange for £250. However, eBay has got Valeo remanufactuered units for about half that! Which way have any of you in a similar situation gone or are there other options?
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08-19-2018, 01:16 PM	#2
Msportshqwn Enlisted Member 2 Rep 44 Posts Drives: E61 530d Msport Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	I thought my alternator bearing was shot in my e91 320d so bought a second hand unit off ebay to test. Swapped out noise still there. Was one of the other drive pulleys. Cheap as chips from eurocar parts sorted that out. May be worth checking. What engine do you have? Thanks
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08-19-2018, 05:11 PM	#3
therealdb1 Lieutenant 106 Rep 576 Posts Drives: Graphite E93 335i Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Norfolk UK iTrader: (0)	Before you even worry about a new alternator find out which part you need and then ask. It is equally, if not more, likely to be the belt tensioner or idler pulley. These are much cheaper repairs and readily available. Fit a new serpentine belt while you are at it as they do age and it might just be that the rubber has gone hard.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-20-2018, 01:19 AM	#4
nomiS330d Lieutenant 75 Rep 541 Posts Drives: E92 330d Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Doncaster iTrader: (0)	It’s a 3.0 diesel aka M57B30. Yes I will be making sure which bearing is on its way out first.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2018, 01:58 AM	#6
nomiS330d Lieutenant 75 Rep 541 Posts Drives: E92 330d Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Doncaster iTrader: (0)	Never overthink it is the lesson here. I decided to change the belt after seeing a youtube video demonstrating how belts can get squeaky. Even though the 'old' belt looks to be in good condition I thought for the sakes of £16 and half an hour I might as well try it which gave me the opportunity to spin all the pulleys to see if I could identify any bad bearings. They all sounded and felt ok so I put it all back together with the new belt. Bingo! The squeak has gone! As you can see the old belt looks almost new and hasn't even got any cracks in it. By sheer coincidence the new one is the same brand as the old one so I expect it'll get squeaky again before it's worn out but hay ho, when or if it does I'll splash out on a better quality belt. Happy for now anyway.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2018, 03:24 AM	#7
Msportshqwn Enlisted Member 2 Rep 44 Posts Drives: E61 530d Msport Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	Happy days. Feels good when originally think its an expensive job but turns out to be easy. I changed altenator first. Not a nice job 😆
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2018, 06:16 AM	#8
nick46 Captain 338 Rep 640 Posts Drives: Bmw E91 lci 330d msport Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Bridgwater iTrader: (0)	Good stuff mate. Glad you got it sorted. Just out of interest how easy is it to change this belt? My car has done just over 85k so I should probably think about replacing mine really. Going by your name I assume you have a 330d like me?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2018, 06:18 AM	#9
nick46 Captain 338 Rep 640 Posts Drives: Bmw E91 lci 330d msport Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Bridgwater iTrader: (0)	Just read through again and seen you've already said it's a 3ltr diesel. However mine is the later N57. Anyone know how easy these are to replace?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-26-2018, 06:52 AM	#10
nomiS330d Lieutenant 75 Rep 541 Posts Drives: E92 330d Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Doncaster iTrader: (0)	I don't know how different the n57 is to the m57 but I would have thought similar. It's pretty straight forward to do once you've got all the 'stuff' out of the way like the intake snorkel. I also removed the radiator fan for even better access. This only takes a couple of minutes to take out then you work out which pulley is the tensioner. To work that out grab the belt on the long run and pull it up. Doing this will show you which tensioner moves against the spring. On the front of the pulley there is a plastic cap which you need to prize off. Under that is a torx bolt. Get a ratchet with the correct torx bit and turn anti clockwise which should release the tension allowing you to slip the old belt off. Replacement is the same in reverse..... just remember how the belt goes around the various pulleys by taking a picture before you remove the old one.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-27-2018, 03:17 AM	#11
bishbosh Lieutenant Colonel 840 Rep 1,993 Posts Drives: F30 335d Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (1) Garage List 2014 BMW 335d [0.00]	These are 2 pulleys and the tensioner side by side with the new ones when I did the job last year. Car had about 185k miles on when the TVD broke. The old pulleys look like they have grooves but it was mainly grime. After fitting the new parts the belt squeal disappeared.
	Appreciate 0 Quote