OEM BMW Alternators

You already know that the battery, spark plugs, and starter team up to produce the ignition needed to start your BMW. The electricity for that comes courtesy of the battery. After that, though, the majority of the electricity that powers your many systems is produced by the factory alternator.

How Your Alternator Works

First, a crankshaft converts the engine pistons' up-and-down movement into rotary, or circular, motion. That turns a drive belt, which spins a pulley located on the rotor shaft. That pulley causes magnetic coils inside the rotor to begin to rotate, which produces electricity. That's the source of the power that your windows, electronics, and more rely upon to operate.

How To Spot An Alternator That's Going Bad

Unfortunately, your alternator won't announce that it's going bad. Instead, have yours checked if you notice any of these signs:

• Your windows stop operating
• Your entertainment system starts acting up
• Your headlights start to dim or flicker
• Your battery dies repeatedly
• You hear a whining sound from your engine

If you suspect that your alternator is starting to fail, the first thing to do is to test your charging system. Measure your battery's voltage with the engine turned off. If it reads below 12.5 volts, give the battery a good charging. If it still reads low after that, your alternator is probably at fault. You don't want to risk having a complete electrical system shutdown on the open road. If your alternator does need to be replaced, make sure that you only use a genuine BMW alternator. They're the only ones guaranteed to work with your model. We have plenty in stock in our online auto parts department, along with any accessories you may need. Buy now and save!