r50 Can't find the correct alternator!
 

I've been trying to replace the alternator in my r50 but there doesn't seem to be one that can be bought that directly fits. WTF! I tried Partsgeek and they sent me the correct one based on their pictures but it does not fit. How is this possible? The alternator never changed over the 6 years of production of the r50. I tried StarterPros, and they had the exact same pictures as Partsgeek and they are not affiliated either. Autozone has the same one as well. How is this possible?!?! I even ordered an S version alternator because it looked a whole lot more like the one I needed but it is still not it. Has anyone found the correct alternator anywhere in the world for an r50 and be kind enough to send me the link to it other than the $300 Bosch alternator that I would be afraid to purchase just because it is so likely it isn't it. Don't get me started on the RMA procedures on these parts and how many months it will be before I get my money back.....

Based on the pictures, it looks to be the Mini Cooper S alternator because the pulley is spaced out further and yet it says it fits an r50. I'm losing my mind...

Give 'em a call ... these guys have been doing MINI since day one and Mini b4 that. They have helped me sort out my 79 several times.


Alternately, try WayMotorWorks .... he parts out wrecks routinely. A little hard to get on the phone occasionally as he's a small operation but hard to find someone who knows their way around MINI better.


There have been several threads of folks getting wrong parts from the generic parts sellers for their MINI. An effort to save a few bucks that costs time saves what? I made that mistake with my Mini once, learned the lesson .... watched the car sit not running for 3 months because I didn't call someone who KNEW. Then one call and I had the right part air freight the next day. Actually I listen to an expert who WASN'T an expert and took too long to check their 'expert' advice.

You look at rockauto?
Do you know the brand of the unit on the car?
If I recall most r50 units are valeo....
Most r53 unit's are denso...
Some units were Mitsubishi... Was the 2nd supplier, but rarely seen on cars shipped to the us...
What year r50 is it? Production date?
And with the date info...maybe a supplier like waymotorworks knows what's going on..but still gonna be a $400+ unit if you go OEM...

Thanks for the advice gentlemen.


I will look into Rock Auto.


The closest looking one is currently the Pelican Parts Bosch alternator
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item0
I might give it a shot.


This is a 2006 r50. When for example I look on ebay, the closest one to the one I have are advertised for 2007-2010 Minis. But I am not going for that because the hole alignment is probably way off...

This is the unit that I need from what it looks like:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SB187-Mini...-/370550578853
Take note of the length of the 2 bolt holes next to each other. They are shorter than all the other manufacturers.


Here is one that is an example of what I bought and is advertised as if it fits but doesn't
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Alternator-MINI-COOPER-1-6L-2002-2003-2004-2005-2006-02-03-04-05-06-/261585512691?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3ce7b628f3&vxp=mtr

Ok RockAuto has it, it has 3 that will definitely not fit and 2 that will. You can distinctly see the difference in the mounting holes and their length.

Here it is. 12317550997


http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2006-Cooper-R50-Base-Coupe-L4_1.6L_W10B16A/Engine/Electrical/

http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/184152_x600.jpg


If you go to the 110 A from the stock valeo unit , you will need the power cable ( 12427534704 ) and the short cable ( 12517534705 ) for the conversion. Pick up three 07130770522 new bolts also.

Thanks

The MiniMania, PelicanParts, and ECSTuning ones all look like the right parts.
The Ebay one doesn't.

there are 3 different alternators for the R50 so you can't go by pics or even production dates. We see this all the time when people shop the walmart style websites.
You need to pull your alternator off and look at the back of it to find out which one it is. Then give us a call and we'll get you the right one. If you put the wrong one on you will get faults as I've seen it happen.

That is so ridiculous that I can't begin to describe. So the geniuses at Mini Cooper decided to change their alternators willy nilly and not even associate it with a year of manufacturing.


This is the first car ever that I've had such an issue for such a run of the mill type part. Why the hell would they just change the mounting bolt hole length for no good reason. There is plenty of tension on the serpentine belt as it is...

Is there a shop nearby that can rebuild it?

Ok, if it's an R50 Denso unit, try PN 12 31 7 515 029.
The R53 Denso PN is 12 31 7 515 030.
Both are rated 14v-105A & have exactly the same core except for the plug location.
How I know? I once tried to fit Denso from an R50 into my R53 & the plug was was an obstruction. Hope this helps.

I would echo ZippyNH on this: Rockauto is much better than Partsgeek. Partsgeek has legendarily bad service and accuracy. The prices are sexy, but you end up getting burned.

Pelican Link:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...-12%2F04%29%20

ECS:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/12317515029/ES29691/

Learned my lesson for sure. It'll be months before I get any money back it looks like. The unit came in damaged and so it will take 30 days for them to get a return label from UPS because that's how ****ing long apparently it takes to do so. Then it will take another 30 days at least for them to process the fact that I returned the item. And then it will take another who knows how long for my card to be credited.... :mad:

Wow, if we would have had that happen we would have got a replacement with a return label out that day.

Call your credit card company and ask them to put a dispute to the merchant...tends to speed things up.

As for Way Motoworks I can attest to the fact that when my PS pump arrived with a broken plastic connector - he responded to my email within a few hours and a replacement was on it's way to me very shortly after that.

I've found that working with a small shop who specializes in MINI has worked out much better....MINIs are still not selling at anywhere near the speed of Hondas ....so the familiarity with parts is not there at big box shops.

I hear yea but this problem could have also been avoided if MINI engineers would not change parts mid year or whenever they feel like and perhaps attach it to a manufacturing year for example like a proper quality system should have. I'm a Quality Assurance Engineer and this shiet makes me go crazy.

I had an old Jeep Grand Wagoneer that was like that. You physically had to have the old part in hand to match it. It was crazy.

Al