Mrsosoo

Sup fellas, a couple months ago while on the FDR my Idrive began flashing and the lights on the dash lit up. It scared me so I pulled over and shut everything off then started the car again. It has happened twice again since then, each time about a month apart. Now today I turned on the car and it says "alternator malfunction". What can I expect for the car to do next if I have to drive it to the shop, who has the best price for an alternator? and what is labor usually like?

2004 545i 78kmiles

akns

Almost the exact same thing happeend to my e60. Except that it doesn't say "alternator malfunction" afterward. It just starts up normally after you reboot it. Then a couple months later the same thing will happen again. And then reboot to be fine. So I've just been ignoring it. BMW's are such crappy cars.

2004 545i ~70k miles.

jma545i

Same thing happened with my 2004 545i, started off doing it here and there, and progressively got worse. The voltage regulators in these units go bad. After much research, I got mine from www.alternatorpros.com. Reman unit is only $329, with lifetime warranty and free overnight shipping. Plus a $30 rebate if you send core back, best deal around! And they know what they're talking about. My buddy threw it in for my in about an hour, easy to get to on these cars.

Howitzer

Normal. Alternators usually go to shit after 6 years.

Bimmerchop69

Great I'm next, 2004 545i 88k miles

Howitzer

2004 530i with 88k miles here, too! Never know! I might even just replace it just to be safe before it breaks.

akns

If it is just the voltage regulator, perhaps we can replace just that part. According to RealOEM, the voltage regulator is less than half the price of the whole alternator. Anyone try this?
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...84&hg=12&fg=22

bimmer722

ARGH!!!! Just got this code this morning on my way into work. Ordered the alternator this morning $329 free shipping from alternator pros.com I guess with 117k miles (2004 545i) I had a good run with it.