Is there any reason why voltage regulators would continuously die out on you?

[Erick]

My 318iS' regulator took a crap not too long ago. I'd say about 2 months ago?

Stuck on the side of the road I got a ride to pick up a spare alternator I had and put in a used voltage regulator. Since it fixed it well enough, I figured I'd keep driving. As far as I'm concerned, I don't see these things going bad often anyways. Plus the one I put in looked to be in very good shape.

Now today I get stuck on the side of the road with the same symptom (CEL light, radio shut off, etc) again. My dumbass decided to pull over and turn the engine off at the first sight of it, so obviously getting the car running again turned out to be quite the entertaining sight to the traffic passing by.

Anywho, I barely made it home, and before I go buying a new regulator, I want to know if there's anything I should look out for that might be causing the regulator to wear out prematurely.

Thanks,
Erick

[xwill112x]

fyi, pelican parts offers the best price for the m42 vr's iirc.

[jlevie]

Get a Bosh reman alternator and you should be okay unless you've added some mega sound system that needs obscene power levels.

In all probability, the failure is the result of worn brushes in the used VR. Those can be replaced.

[Erick]

Thanks for the tip, but I got parts sources that I trust :) But not to put down Pelican. They buy from the same guys KO Performance does (did?). Those guys are always on point. After working in the parts business for a year, they were the only ones that time and time again delivered every time on point.

Got the voltage regulator today. A whopping $14.50 later :)

Just put it on. Took 15 minutes from start to finish, which is good. The one on the car was definately FUBARd, and even missing the bottom metal piece (guessing it fell off?)

Let's see how long this one lasts.

- Erick

[WhatWentWong]

Hi there,

Do you know if BOSCH re-man alternators are still able to use Bosch voltage regulators?

I looked at my alternator, it's a reman, and it doesn't carry any BOSCH markings anymore. I found the Reman P/N, and it turns out to be reman'ed by a company called Dixie Electric in Toronto. They assured me that my alternator was a BOSCH, and would still take bosch regulators.

...then I found out 318is also came with Valeo alternators. Apparently Hella makes VRs for bosch alternators too! What a fuss.

Are VRs internchangable from BOSCH to Valeo?

[Erick]

Should be. Almost all BMWs use the same VR. It's a very common piece among all chassis. I also know of 3 brands that make voltage regulators that work with our cars.