My car died tonight when I got to my driveway (thankfully) and it looks like it was the alternator (tests showing alternator is not producing).

On tonight's drive home, the engine was making a high pitched whining (through the whole range, not just above 4000 RPM) that sounded something like the sound of the spark plugs/electrical through old car sound systems. An electric whirring sound just louder. It was very 'electric' whining sounding but definitely not the SC.
Either way, I've got a new battery and the old one is charging up.

Seems like there is a 120A and a 105A, but the 105 seems to be the one recommended by Real OEM and Pelican. It's kinda weird that it's the lower 105A version - any thoughts?

 

can you post links?
i looked into new alternators for a while, and only found a 105 and a 110; one was denso, the other was bmw or something? another major brand anyway.

have not seen a 120 amp one... but seems like more would be better; my car is almost always trying to charge the battery at a stoplight when i have the ac on full blast; theres just not enough juice at idle to run the ac for whatever reason :(

 

Real OEM, showing 105A for the 05S
http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...99&hg=12&fg=20


Pelican showing the 105A and 110A
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item0


Rock is only showing 105's and 110's


Up here in Canada at PartSource, NAPA and online parts sites I found a 120A. The site is having issues right now, but last night I found the 102A reference on www.autopartsway.ca

 

Watch what website you use , some might be wrong. I can see they have Cooper ( Non S W10 ) engines parts mixed withe the Cooper S ( W11 ) .

For the 2005 MINI Cooper S ( W11 ). We have the 105 amp . Part # 12317515030

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/12317515030/


I don't see any Canada only version for this like some other parts.

Thanks and hope that helps.

 

Very nice prices ECS, thanks for your input.
FWIW the local Dealer wanted $1000+ CAD for the OEM alternator (your price is much more attractive)


Even though it's a job I can easily do myself, I've got it over at my local shop for replacement. They were able to get the alternator in a few hours vs the best I could get was 1.5 days (no stock anywhere I could find). The weird thing is their systems are saying it's a 3.1-3.2 hour job. Bentley says it's removal of wheel cover, MFE, serpentine belt and 3 bolts - by my math that's 1.5 hours.

Either way, my guys are giving a lifetime warranty on it, and since I'm keeping this car it's not a bad idea.

Just for those who want to know, the mileage was exactly 11900kms when the car stopped (figure 100-200kms on battery alone).

This morning I bought a new battery and charged up the old one. I had both batteries in the car (along with various testers, chargers, tools etc) and I was able to make 40kms on just the new battery (without any accessories or lights on). The battery was still above 12 volts so I figure the alternator may have been helping a little bit. it's likely that I could have gone an hour or more driving on just the battery (without any accessories).

 

Thanks, we appreciate it .

Good luck on the install and hope you can back on the road very soon.

 

Something like this?


That's actually my own car when the alternator turned cannibal on its back bearing. It was still charging, but metal shavings and dust were flying around and I had to get it towed. I went for an oem one, I've had bad experiences with rebuilt ones, so for alternators on my cars, it's oem or nothing.