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BMW '02 Owners

Topic: Alternator question

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Subject Author Date
Published: November 2007
Discussion message Re: Alternator question

 Thanks John, I'll look around for an early three series. Mike

 Michael Smailes 30 November 2007 18:50
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Discussion message RE: Alternator question

Is your car running the tii alternator? This is a higher output than a standard 02 alternator, but you have to modify the alternator to fit as the mounting postion is different. Your easiest option is to get an one from an E21 4cyl 320 or 320i or failing that, get one from an early E30 318i.

 John Hudson 30 November 2007 16:56
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Discussion message Re: Alternator question

 Hi I converted my January '71 car to conventional U.K. headlights . Initially I fitted a wipac backing shell and then fitted a Cibie headlight unit. Unfortunately, when I hit a deer earlier this year all this work was undone. However, I obtained two American headlight backing shells from USA and fitted new 7" Cibie units to those. This proved to be an easier job than the initial mod.

 Michael Smailes 19 November 2007 11:06
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Discussion message RE: Alternator question

Hi Guys, Just to clarify a point about headlamp wiring and relays. Cars (68 to 71) with a narrow single row fuse holder did not have a relay for the headlamps form the factory. A lot of these cars where modified later on and had relays fitted.

 John Hudson 18 November 2007 11:17
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Discussion message Re: Alternator question

To John's point about the headlight reflectors, you can see the before and after on the car I bought recently. The original reflectors were really bad and would not even pass the road safety test. I bought new ones from Jaymic (thanks again Fay) along with their custom badge/​light bar and I fitted driving lights.

 Bradley Prentice 18 November 2007 00:22
Discussion message Re: Alternator question

I meant I bought the carbs, well the whole head, off a guy who said they came off a good running engine (wondered what he thought a poor running engine was). Re the bumper, I'm not sure if I like the tourings with spots. I think they look OK on the saloons with lairy colours - like yours & the Golf Yellow but I'm not convinced on the others, particularly the Touring. Cheers anyway.

 kev brown 17 November 2007 20:12
Discussion message Re: Alternator question

Im not sure but would like to know if you find a solution. Its amazing that the person before you went to all the lengths to fit twin carbs etc and did not get them jetted and set up correctly. I must of run like a do when you tried to start it up?

 James Child 17 November 2007 19:44
Discussion message Re: Alternator question

Cheers James. Do you no if anyone has tried to "make" an H4 bulb fit ? PS I got my twin 40s running at last. The jetting was miles out + they even had a mixture of different size choke tubes - unbelievable how they were ever in a running engine!

 kev brown 17 November 2007 19:32
Discussion message Re: Alternator question

I think the bulbs are a funny size and quite difficult to get hold of as they are not a standard h4 bulb. Regards James

 James Child 17 November 2007 19:21
Discussion message Re: Alternator question

Thanks for the replies guys. As I said, I didn't like the idea of the lights sticking out from the grill, so the H4 conversion is out for me! I must admit though, I pressumed the headlights would have run off a relay anyway, so if they don't, this is the first step. I will also clean up the terminals on the voltage regulator if I can find it. I don't have any problem with battery drain though.

 kev brown 17 November 2007 19:17
Discussion message RE: Alternator question

Another possible way to improve them is to rewire them so that the light switch just operates a relay that then supplies power direct from the battery to the lights. This helped mine, as did fitting higher wattage bulbs, as John suggests. Bigger bulbs can be an MoT failure in some cars but I was told several years ago by an MoT tester that they’re permitted in a 1973 2002.

 Tim Palmer 17 November 2007 18:08
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Discussion message Re: Alternator question

Driving light I think are the way to go. Have them so they come on with the full beam. Here is a pic to show what they look like on a car. And the improvement in lighting is amazing once you have a pair fitted you will never go back Regards James

 James Child 17 November 2007 16:18
Discussion message RE: Alternator question

Hi, All 2002s had alternators, but the E21 and E30 alternators had a voltage regulator built into it. The stock 02 alternator has the regulator mounted in the nearside inner wing and it's an oblong box with 3 wires attached via a plug to the underside of the regulator. Some people change to the later style due to parts availabilty and some models have a higher amperage output.

 John Hudson 17 November 2007 15:56
Discussion message Alternator question

I have a 73 touring which has an alternator. Was this a standard fitment or were they Dynamo? The reason I ask is that my headlights are totally useless! I have read about the H4? conversion but apparently the grill then doesn't fit properly. I've also read about an alternator upgrade (E21 or E30?) but how do I know if this has been done already & is it a straight swop? I have checked the obvious earth connections & put new bulbs in.

 kev brown 17 November 2007 14:46