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Alternator woes continue! long (archive)
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Posted by Tim on March 04, 2000 at 17:29:35:

Still having charging system problems. Now on the 4th replacement alternator - they keep dying in 1-3 days. Each time the garage that installed them confirms that they are bad and gets another. Once it was bad brushes, the other times diode failures. And each time it was during daytime driving with only the radio on - low power draw. I took the car to the BMW dealer before the last replacement and they confirmed that the alternator was bad - stating that nothing in the car could "kill" an alternator. They want $350 for a BMW factory unit, which I'm tempted to go for even thought the net cost would be $575.
Could I be unlucky enough to get four bum alternators in a row? Or is the BMW tech wrong - something in the car "killing" each one? (It passed PA inspection during last weeks alt. swap out, so all systems seem to work OK) Any advice or thoughts appreciated. I just want to drive the @$%^ car!

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