True, the downside of all this is the parts themselves have become much more expensive. Many times, though, the part costs that much more simply because they can get what they are asking for it. In the case of the GM system (one I am familiar with), the alternator itself is really no different than previous units, it's simply a larger, more powerful piece. Parts like this become cheaper as they find themselves in more cars and the supply of cores (from wrecked cars as well as defective units) become more available for reman. There is a new 'downside' in the last several years, and that is a so many parts last longer than they did in the past, none turn up to make a viable aftermarket reman source, leaving the OEM as the sole supplier. And we are all familiar with the dealer parts markup.

 

Wow...thanks everyone for contributing to this thread. As with many threads on NAM, some more than others, I, too, learned a lot.

 

Greatbear,
You probably already knew this but the R56 has the variable-displacement oil pump. It's one of the things that makes me a wee bit nervous about this engine. Failed oil pumps are not a welcome chapter in an engine's story. R56 also moved to electric power steering, though I'm less concerned about that one because it's an assist and not full drive by wire, right?

 

I'm waiting for automakers to finally move away from 12-volt charging systems entirely. With a 24-, 36- or 48-volt system, wiring harnesses and the various electric motors currently throughout the car will become much smaller and lighter, and we'll start seeing more creative use of electric motors in places where they won't physically fit currently.

 

I wonder how this new system will affect the following..

Would this change brake pedal feel? I test drove a civic hybrid and the
pedal feel was :(

Small drycell batteries for race applications are out of the question?

Stopping engine after some major turbo boosting will not be a good thing.
I assume the oil will still be running when engine auto-stops? If so, more
duty for the battery (thats now charging occasionally)?

 

Some of you may find this interesting/helpful? When I picked up my 07 MCS in April, I had to drive it home around 80 miles. The next day, I went out and put my quality battery charger on the battery. It took around 40 minutes to top off the battery. So if you have a good quality charger, you might want to go out to the garage right now and open the hood, open the battery compartment at the left rear of the engine compartment, and with the ignition and all electrics turned OFF, hook up your charger and see how long it takes to top off. I'd be interested to hear what some of you find when you do this, particularly with a brand new just picked it up Mini. I don't think these batteries are necessarily topped off even when they go in new at the factory, and the car sits for quite a while during it's journey to the US/dealer time, etc.
Instant update: I just went out to the garage and put the charger on the battery. The variable rate charger jumped to 10, then leveled off at 6 amp charging rate and took about seven-eight minutes to top off the battery. I've only driven the car about 1600 miles in six weeks, as it's NOT my daily driver right now. I DID drive it around 40 miles on the backroads yesterday. Driving so far has been largely daytime, air off/stereo system on/headlights off. Just an interesting FYI to conclude this post.
Tom

 

Don't know what the R56 is doing but in the R53, MINIUSA expected you to drive 10K miles/year. If you didn't, and the battery went did ... they will not give you a new one free. I know. Maybe things have changed ... dunno.

 

If you have a car that doesn't get driven every day or two, you might want to consider a "battery tender" or similar charger. You permanently attach wires to the battery, and plug it. You can leave it on and attached. It'll keep your battery charged and it'll last longer.

 

VW has solar panels that plug in to the power outlet, and suction cups that hook to the inside of the windshield to keep the battery charged during transit.

(you can find them on ebay. works great if you leave your car at the airport for a week or two!)

 

I have a couple of those but they're not the "installed" variety. You top the battery off with your "big" charger, then put this little rig on the terminals and leave it. My Grinnall Scorpion has not been out of the garage since the arrival of the MCS (that's going to change in a couple hours) but I just put the "big" variable rate charger on it weekly, and there's one of the small units on the vintage Bug. Batteries DO develop a "memory" if left less than fully charged, but it takes a lot more than a week...more like a month, I think. So either way will pretty well preserve your batteries optimum life. The Scorpion's high quality battery went about five years before I had to replace it... using this "weekly charge" method on top of it's usual non work related fun driving.

 

I thought that memory was a feature only found in drycell rechargeables like lithium ion and NiMH?