Man that blue is gorgeous. With the alternator there are both Bosch and Valeo alternators - they have different plugs so def wanna use your mirror trick before you order. They can be interchanged but needs the correct plug wired in. Also - you can usually get away with just a voltage regulator replacement. Much cheaper! But if it’s a daily and ya need it now, an alternator is the way to go. You can also view voltage in the hidden menu on the cluster. Need to get INPA so you can scan those modules. Common for dsc to throw lights with low voltage. Sometimes will go away with a key cycle or two. Try the o2 pilot mod for the oil consumption. Use vacuum nipple off the back of the intake to the vacuum port on the CCV. The M54B30 has issues with oil control rings. The added vacuum helps suck the rings out and seal better. Has helped mine a bit. I think I’m gonna do a headliner/ABC pillar resto on the silver 330ci. Did it on my grey one a few years ago. About $100 in materials. Keep an eye out for the vid!

You are one of the best on YT!! But hey my friend don't you know about just replacing the "Voltage Regulator" on your BMW alternator?? Seriously this will save you a LOT of cash! Plus after wards you'll have new brushes and the thing is ready to go for another 100,000 miles or whatever we get out of them. LOL. Look into doing just the VR on these Both Brads that BMW uses not just Bosch but Valeo too. BTW 13 Volts on the E46 Won't do the charging job!!! Seriously! The car MUST put out 14 Volts preferably 14.1 or 14.2 to really run healthy!! I know I've had the charging troubles too! LOL.

that vtoman looks sick

Just FYI, I own an E46 convertible with the M54B22 engine for little over a year, and because of your E90 video, I just bought a 2006 E90 with the N52B25 to replace my daily. I'll pick it up now early April and I'm planning on basically just following your E90 "restoration" video. Wish me luck, cuz I tried before an E90 with the N53 engine and right next day I had a CEL with misfires... the dreaded injector issues on the N53. Really looking forward to working on The N52 :) just because of you! Cheers bro!

Bro you help us out so much thank you! Keep the vids coming your the best!

Loving seeing some more E46 content man, this one reminds me of mine a lot! My bodywork is poor and the interior also looks like crap (way worse than yours), I have the beige as well so it just looks so tired! Pretty sure I need a new bonnet too, luckily it had basically a new alternator when I bought it. Keep up the great videos man!

Glad this is an easy repair. Still on my original alternator. Ugh, I can’t change the time on my car. That dial on the right broke on my car 😢

Love the videos, keep it up im sure this one will be as great as the rest

Love Sages parqkore off the bean bag at the end 😂 She is such a darn cutie. Nice video. This will be so helpful for many. These charging systems can seem tricky sometimes and I think we can over think them. With the IBS and potential draws… this was great! Showing simplicity with using deductive reasoning and rechecking things! As well as how parts can be faulty out of the gate!

Sage is so cute… oh, and the BMW is nice also😂. Great video, I have a 2000 E46 328i. I am the second owner, a sweet daily driver. Original alternator at 170k miles, but on its 6 th water pump, second radiator, 5 th coolant reservoir, 5th power steering reservoir and hoses!!! But still a great driver. Keep up the great videos.

Great channel. Just a tip I picked up from Scanner Danner - Charging a low battery with a new alternator, before the brushes have had a chance to bed in to the rotor, can sometimes smoke the new alternator. It makes sense if you think about what the voltage regulator would have to do if new brushes are making line contact instead of area contact when bedded in - resulting in a smoked voltage regulator. That might be what happened to the first one you put in. Definitely worth recharging the battery if low before using a new or rebuilt alternator.

I support you always Sir. Waching your video always. I have my BMW also, I get a little bit knowledge from you.

Another great video released 👏

Great work buddy 😊 I'm enjoying watching your KZfaq videos you go a great job I love that BMW too shame you cdnt keep.it lol 😂😂

I wonder if the ABS light came back on as soon as you started to drive again. In mine, the ABS unit seems have gone bad and has to be sent to a repair shop that refurbishes it. Probably re-flows bad solder joints and such. It takes a couple of weeks, but is a lot cheaper than a complete new unit. Furthermore good repair!

This is a very timely video... My battery light started flickering on and off today, and now stays on :( The OBC test menu, and my voltmeter, shows just under 12 volts with the engine running. I've got a (probably original) Valeo 90A alternator in my 2004 325Ci. Gonna check the connections, and measure the voltage, at the starter (if I can get to them) and the back of the alternator before deciding on what to do. I'd like to get just a voltage regulator if possible. The car's only done 86k miles so I think the rest of the alternator should be OK. Gonna check the bearings. The belt and deflection pulley are new. Thanks again for the video!

Sir I have a Question. I have N52 and it’s burning oil. How can I fix burning oil?

I think its the Alternator die Month.... My Alternator bearing was shot which made my belt come off and my Waterpump got damaged 100meters away from home. I had luck because ive driven over 200km´s to home and it didnt happen on the Autobahn... First i thought it was my Waterpump which threw the belt off... but after replacing both belts and the waterpump ive started the car with hope... but smoke came from the alternator area and ive shut off the car immediatly. The belt was hot... and it was close that the belt would came off again. The Idler pulley had scratch marks in couple seconds.. So ive checked the alternator if u pressure from the top on the Alternator Pulley the internals touch together and the pulley doesnt turn "smoothly" im an hobby Mechanic and i guess bringing this to a shop would cost me at least 700-1000€... And ive did a voltage regulator replacement 6months ago. That regulator was completly destroyed inside after the bearing damage. One part of the "regulator" was missing.... My Car had 329.000kms with the alternator damage. I think u should directly replace that whole thing. After those repairs the car drives different and the Gear Changes are much smoother... i cant explain it my self maybe i had that for a long time but didnt notice that the belt had so much "move" while driving??? I dont know Peace out keep up the videos and sorry for my English im from Germany

Seems like you have the infamous bmw parasic draw

You mentioned oil consumption. If there are no obvious leaks on the m54 bottom or top part of the engine, and I lost 5 gallons of oil over 5k miles, whats the first thing u would check or replace? Thanks! Great work. Proud e46 owner

No hammer to push in that Alternator bushing ... cast aluminum is brittle and the ear could break off.

Can't trust parts quality now a days just had to replace a gates water pump with less than 2000 miles on it the other week.

In your opinion what's the best engine for reliability? I have two e30s but have been looking at a f30 for a new daily.

what an extreme situation for an alternator from 17v to 1v on the battery lol

Соленоид ваноса срочно поменять 😂😂😂😂 весь ржавый 😂

sage 🤣

Where you able to get ISTA to work on other cars? If so which ones. Also if you have INPA, does that work for this car? An idea that popped into my mind was maybe the cable you are using is incorrect or not switched to the proper setting. I use a K+DCAN cable for my e46, e39, and e60. The e60 uses KCAN and the e46 and e39 I believe uses the DCAN. On my cable there is a switch to choose the different CANs. If I don't choose the correct one ISTA can't communicate with the car. (After finishing the video) Maybe its the car's electrical issues that are causing the communication failures :(