Help me ID this alternator

[redhatpat]

These pics are of a used alternator I picked up. My car is a 90 325i and this alt looks a little different, it doesn't have the voltage regulator unit on the back of it. Can I get some help identifying it? Can it work in my car? It looks like it will bolt in with no problem, and I'll use the rear plate from my old alt (assuming the rear bearing is in good shape and also assuming I can even do this) so that it has the removable voltage regulator. Will the front pulley swap over?

I strongly suspect I won't be able to mix and match parts like that. The reason I'm replacing my existing alt is the bearings are pretty noisy and I'd like to swap it out before it seizes up and leaves me stranded.

Does anyone know what I have here?

[rs4pro3]

appears like an m20 alternator and it does have the voltage regulator on it.

[redhatpat]

appears like an m20 alternator and it does have the voltage regulator on it.

Is the V.R. the small black plastic box on the back? It looks nothing like my current alternator, and also doesn't look like the one in my Bentley, page 15-19. Is this an earlier style of alternator? Does it use the same brushes?

[rs4pro3]

yes thats the voltage regulator looks like the one on my 85 but the alternator i self looks different. what brand is it?

[redhatpat]

Printed in the black plastic on the back is "Valeo". I've heard the name before, I thought they made the early alternators before Bosch.

[rs4pro3]

ya that's what I was thinking, I've yet to seen a Valeo unit, as all the ones i've seen are bosch

[PeaveyBassist]

Btw... my boss worked on e21s and e30s at the stealerships when they were new and he has always had problems with Valeos not lasting as long as the Bosch ones. Just my 2 cents.

Will

[Rocla]

Is the V.R. the small black plastic box on the back? It looks nothing like my current alternator, and also doesn't look like the one in my Bentley, page 15-19. Is this an earlier style of alternator? Does it use the same brushes?

That one wire box on the back is not V.R. it's radio suspense capasitator, it prevents the humming noise to radio that some alternators genrate.

I'd say regulator is build in, so its not easily replaced like on bosch units.

[AdamF 88iS]

Valeo is the made-in-France crapo brand they have used off and on since the late 80s. 9 times out of 10 when I have an alternator problem with a customer it's a Valeo.

[Jean]

Been searching this forum on "alternator" and found this thread.

Are alternators for 84-86 e30 cars different from the 87+ alternators ?Also, how is 325e alternator different from a 325i ?