Hi guys, I'm trying to find an alternator for my car and I really would prefer a new one over a remanufactured one even if it's a bit more expensive. Would this: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/min...wE#description be a new alternator? I'm finding it really difficult to tell. Any tips?

 

Looks like it would be a new oem replacement

Nothing wrong with rebuilt

 

not true... I went thru 3 rebuilts in months before the store finally ended up giving me a "new" alt & not a rebuilt one... was fine after that. The supplier for that store sucked.

 

That's a "Genuine MINI" alternator, and you can determine if it's remanufactured by looking in the description then look for Quality: Genuine, Remanufactured, or OE. This is a brand new part.

This is the slightly cheaper remanufactured one.

 

Have to agree with Cockroach.
Typically remaned parts will have a core charge that is refunded when you return the old one.
Also, there's nothing wrong with a rebuilt alternator. You can make an argument that some remaned parts are not as good as new (parts from scketchy remanufacturers) but something branded as OEM is as good as you can get - remaned or not.

 

Rebuilds have been more problematic in the last few years. New If you can get it. FCP has a good rep for standing behind their sales.

 

Seen many issues with the aftermarket ones and remans so we only use new original MINI ones
https://www.waymotorworks.com/altern...-cooper-s.html

 

Having worked in the biz for over 20 years, it appears as though it is a New part. Looks like the tag has a Denso label on it, Denso does not do a lot of remanufacturing.

That being said, the brand of the reman makes a huge difference. Also where you get that brand from. Unbeknownst to a lot of people, most remanufacturing is done by A1-cardone, every store chain just slaps their own label on the part. Often times you can see the actual manufacturers number on the corner of the store label.

Now having worked for NAPA, I can tell you that their brake calipers are remaned by Cardone, however they are done to NAPA's specs, and Painted Black to NAPA's specs. Other store chains just buy the silver coated cardones and slap their own label on them. A lot of rotating electrical is done by only two companies, I cant think of their names right now, but its a pretty controlled market. As soon as a small guy pops up with a quality product, usually one of the two comes in with a great offer and buys the company.

Just be careful, and check the brands.

 

Hmm. I appreciate your sharing of parts experience- your link is to an alternator that has a core charge- but it's a NEW alternator?

Why does a NEW alternator have a $100 core charge?

 

While I cannot speak for his part in particular, I can tell you that new parts can have core charges on them. It simply means they need/want the old unit back to rebuild. good rebuilable cores, may be low in supply. I work for freightliner, and we have plenty of new parts that have core charges on them. We also have the same part as a reman at a reduced price, those as well have core charges.

 

Thanks.

I spent years as a jobber parts guy- granted in the previous century.

Core charges were customary on reman parts, but new was, well, NEW.

 

Correct, new and having a core charge was not common some years ago. Easiest way for me to say it is catalytic converters. Many came with core charges, but were new in box. they however didn't want them to rebuild, they just wanted to reclaim the precious metals in them. We sell a bunch of aluminum parts that have cores, mostly to claim back the aluminum, but in some cases they want the old units back to rebuild and put back in the field as reman.

 

The same with batteries, probably to increase the likelihood of the proper disposal and recycling of hazardous materials.

 

There are core charges on new parts
like alternators so that there will be
a supply of cores to make remanufactured
parts with.

 

Yes.

That's why they charged core charges on remanufactured parts. Charging "core charges" on NEW parts is, in my opinion, kind of a crappy move. I'm paying a premium for new parts, I shouldn't need to turn in my old part (shipped at my expense). Why am I subsidizing the cost of somebody else's remanufactured part? Let them pay for it, I'm buying new.