Where to connect Alternator ground cable?

[visufish]

E30 noob here and in need of some assitance. I searched around but could not find any info. I have a e30 318i m42 and when I took out the alternator the ground wire is disconneted from the engine block. I am not sure where exactly it's suppose to be bolted in the m42 engines. Does anybody here know or has a pic that can help me? Thanks much.

[Hey_You]

Well, it should connect very close to where the alternator is (or even the mounts for the alternator). The ground on my m10 alternator was shot, so I replaced it with I think 6ga battery ground cable. I wanted to make sure it was connected and always in sight for easy trouble shooting, so I connected it to an upper timing cover bolt. Sorry my post wasn't too helpful, but there are multiple points you can connect it if you can't find where it REALLY goes.

[visufish]

Thanks man. That helps.

[TobyB]

ha- at least on the E36, yon M42 alternator has no bushings, and thus a metal- to- metal
contact. And no ground wire needed.

Yes, I bought bushings for an E30, thinking they needed 'em like the 2002 does,

and now I have a spare set for one of the street 2002s.

Because the M20 doesn't use 'em either.

t

[jonmon6691]

E30 noob here and in need of some assitance. I searched around but could not find any info. I have a e30 318i m42 and when I took out the alternator the ground wire is disconneted from the engine block. I am not sure where exactly it's suppose to be bolted in the m42 engines. Does anybody here know or has a pic that can help me? Thanks much.

You can really get away with bolting the cable to anything on the engine or chassis that's not painted and nearby.