Generator — removal and installation (BMW 3 Series E46)

4-cylinder engines

Removal - M43TU engine

1. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery (see paragraph 4).

2. Remove the air cleaner and air flow sensor (see paragraph 12 of chapter 4A).

3. Remove the accessory drive belt (see chapter 1).

4. Remove the cover from the rear of the generator, unscrew the terminal nut and disconnect the wire (Fig. 7.4).



5. Remove the cover from the idle pulley of the auxiliary drive belt, unscrew the pulley mounting bolt and remove the pulley to access the upper generator mounting bolt. Remember the position of the pulley to install it in the same way later.

6. Unscrew the nuts of the upper and lower generator mounting bolts (fig. 7.6, a, b).





7. Remove the generator from the engine.

Installation - M43TU engine

8. Installation is carried out in the reverse order. Install and tension the accessory drive belt as indicated in chapter 1.

Removal - N42 Engine

9. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery (see paragraph 4).

10. Remove the air cleaner (see chapter 4A).

11. Remove the accessory drive belt (see chapter 1).

12. On the front side of the generator, unscrew the support bracket mounting bolt and remove all hoses and wires from it (Fig. 7.12).



13. Release the lock and disconnect the electrical connector of the generator. On the rear side of the generator, unscrew the nut and disconnect the battery wire (Fig. 7.13).



14. Remove the two lower bolts and remove the generator from the engine (Fig. 7.14).

Installation - N42 engine

15. Installation is performed in the reverse order. Tighten the generator mounting bolts to the required torque.

6-cylinder engines

Removal

16. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery (see paragraph 4).

17. Remove the air cleaner and air flow sensor (see paragraph 12 of chapter 4A).

18. Remove the cooling fan viscous coupling (see chapter 3 - M52TU engine).

19. Remove the accessory drive belt (see chapter 1).

20. Remove the power steering fluid reservoir mounting bolts and move the reservoir to the side. Do not disconnect the hoses from the reservoir.

21. Under the generator, remove the blower hose from the rear cover.

22. Remove the rear cover of the generator and disconnect the wiring from the generator (Fig. 7.22).



23. Unscrew the upper and lower generator mounting bolts (Fig. 7.23).





24. Remove the generator from the engine.

Installation

25. Installation is carried out in the reverse order, taking into account the following notes.

• a) When installing the idler pulley of the alternator drive belt, make sure that the pulley protrusion fits into the corresponding cutout of the support bracket.
• b) Install and tension the accessory drive belt.

(This publication was borrowed from an online resource: «BMWman.ru»)