ALTERNATOR....help please....

[SLEEPERracer]

i have a 1985 325e. want to know what are all the parts attached to the alternator? i know theres the bushing, the adjuster bracket, and the screw that goes inside the bushing. are there any other parts? like another bracket cause im having a problem with my belt squeeking guessing my alternator belt is way too loose since i could definitly tell and the fact my alternator is slanted due to the bushing being worn and possibly a bracket is missing or a screw is gone. this is why im asking if there are any other parts dealing with the alternator. thanks

[SLEEPERracer]

heres pics of it slanted a little.....

the alternator is rubbing on the metal of the adjuster bracket....




this one is an up-close of the bushing which is totally destroyed..... #-o


anybody know what to replace so the alternator wont be slanted and the belt wont be loose anymore? also is there another bracket holding the alternator at the bottom not seen? thanks!

[DaN]

The alternator should be held on the bottom by another long bolt.
My fix for the alt bushing problem is use large fender washers that totally cover the bushing and rest on the frame of the alternator. This way they cant really flex or break. I had to enlarge the hole in the washers to the 8mm bolt size.

[SLEEPERracer]

The alternator should be held on the bottom by another long bolt.
My fix for the alt bushing problem is use large fender washers that totally cover the bushing and rest on the frame of the alternator. This way they cant really flex or break. I had to enlarge the hole in the washers to the 8mm bolt size.

so i switch the bottom bolt to a bigger one? can you show me a pic of this?? thanks!

[Operator62]

You could just replace the bushings. You can even get urethane bushings. Seems like BMPD had some. Can't really remember. Best thing to do is to replace the bushings though.

[SLEEPERracer]

You could just replace the bushings. You can even get urethane bushings. Seems like BMPD had some. Can't really remember. Best thing to do is to replace the bushings though.

if you remember lmk, thanks!

[DaN]

so i switch the bottom bolt to a bigger one? can you show me a pic of this?? thanks!

No, not a bigger bolt. Bigger washers. But replace the bushings first.

[SLEEPERracer]

No, not a bigger bolt. Bigger washers. But replace the bushings first.

alright thanks!!

[SLEEPERracer]

from this pic can you tell me which washer to make bigger??

[DaN]

from this pic can you tell me which washer to make bigger??

Take all the #8 washers and replace them with ones that are bigger in diameter, this way it fully covers the bushing, and it can't really flex as much.

I was saying before, it may be hard to find the right outside diameter and inside diameter washers. So you may have to increase the hole size of the washers you purchase.

[SLEEPERracer]

Take all the #8 washers and replace them with ones that are bigger in diameter, this way it fully covers the bushing, and it can't really flex as much.

I was saying before, it may be hard to find the right outside diameter and inside diameter washers. So you may have to increase the hole size of the washers you purchase.

can i make the OEM washers bigger or just buy bigger ones all together and work with that?

[Hick]

i just fixed this on my e28. If you want to do it cheap and fast, head off to the hardware store woth alternator in hand. Look for brass bushings, shaped just like the rubber ones pictured above, and fine ones that fit. They are out there, you just ahve to go to a good hardware store. Either way, solid fit, no movement, causes a bit of sound resonance, but they will work for the rest of the life of the car.

[SLEEPERracer]

i just fixed this on my e28. If you want to do it cheap and fast, head off to the hardware store woth alternator in hand. Look for brass bushings, shaped just like the rubber ones pictured above, and fine ones that fit. They are out there, you just ahve to go to a good hardware store. Either way, solid fit, no movement, causes a bit of sound resonance, but they will work for the rest of the life of the car.

ight thanks man!

would i still need to do the bigger washer thing?

[jht3]

do this the right way. replace the rubber bushings and any worn out hardware like washers and the tensioner bracket. yours might be different than mine, but that pic looks the same. the m3 alternator is completely rubber mounted, and i thought the 325's were solid mounted.

i put the white bosch poly bushings in my alternator and replaced the broken tensioner. i would get belt squeel at 4k before, now its fixed and it sits square.

[DaN]

can i make the OEM washers bigger or just buy bigger ones all together and work with that?

How are you going to make them bigger?

PURCHASE larger outside diamter washers.