Your alternator is an integral part of your BMW car or SAV's charging system. What it does sounds complex, but is actually simple. It takes the mechanical energy that's produced by the engine pistons and converts it into rotary motion. That motion moves a belt that's attached to a pulley located on the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft contains magnetic coils, which get agitated by the motion. They produce a magnetic field as a result, which is then captured as AC power by a rectifier. The rectifier transforms that into the DC electricity that charges your battery and powers such parts as your wipers, power windows, electronics, and more.

How to Spot Alternator Problems

Even the best alternator can eventually begin to go bad, though. When that happens, your battery is the sole source of electricity for all those parts and systems. That's going to cause your battery to quickly drain, potentially leaving you stranded by the side of the road. Signs of alternator failure include:

Power windows malfunction
Headlights dim or begin to flicker
Sound system trouble
Your battery keeps dying
You hear strange noises from the engine

Genuine BMW Alternators Fit and Perform Best

If you need to replace your factory alternator, get the right one for your vehicle. BMW makes the only alternators that are guaranteed to be compatible with your model, so you can trust them to perform as they should. Buy yours from our online auto parts store today, and we'll get your order shipped right out!