Alternator Removal – BMW N52 6 Cyl. 2003-2013 1,3,5,X3,X5,Z4

December 28, 2023

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Alternator Removal – BMW N52 6 Cyl. 2003-2013 1,3,5,X3,X5,Z4

The alternator in your BMW is responsible for recharging the battery. Like all mechanical engine parts, it has a finite lifespan and will eventually fail. The good news is the alternator in the N52 six-cylinder engine is easy to access and remove. Ths following article gives step-by-step instructions on replacing the alternator in all BMW vehicles with the N52 six-cylinder engine.

Not sure which engine you have in your BMW? Use our engine finder tool to easily identify it!

Possible Symptoms: Battery not charging, error message

This repair can be used on the following BMW models:

2004

325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Sedan, 328i Touring, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Touring, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2005

130i 5 doors, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Sedan, 330xi Touring, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2006

128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Sedan, 330xi Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2007

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2008

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2009

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2010

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2011

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 28iX SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2012

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Touring, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 28iX SUV,

2013

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328xi Coupe, 330i Convertible, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

2014

530Li Sedan, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

2015

730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

Advanced level repair.

Step 1 - Purchase Parts

You will need the following parts and supplies to perform this repair.

Alternator

If your alternator fails, you will find yourself stranded rather quickly. Symptoms of a failing alternator include dimming lights when stopping, and bogging accessories when running A/C, stereo or window switches. Be sure to replace your alternator before it's too late.

Alternator Mounting Bolts

The alternator mounting screws in your car are torque-to-yield, meaning they stretch to a point when torqued and therefore cannot be reused. Complete set for mounting the alternator.

Step 2 - Repair Procedure

Unless otherwise noted, all vehicle repair step images in this article are copyrighted, and used courtesy of BMW of North America, Inc. .

The N52 six-cylinder engine was found in many different BMW vehicles. The following instructions may differ slightly depending on year and model.

The alternator drive belt must be removed before starting this repair.

For instructions on removing the alternator drive belt, please see our repair article Alternator Drive Belt Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder

Warning

Disconnect battery before starting this repair!

The negative battery terminal must be removed before starting this repair to avoid causing a short when the alternator is disconnected.

1. Remove N52 engine alternator

Remove the intake filter housing (intake muffler) from the N52 engine

Click to enlarge image

- Remove the air filter housing (intake muffler) by first detaching the air intake hose (2).

- Unplug the mass air sensor (2)

- Remove the two bolts (marked with arrows) and remove the entire intake filter assembly out of the vehicle.

View part diagram for this step

Click to enlarge image

- Locate the alternator (3) mounted to the left side of the engine.

- Release the electrical connector (1) and unplug the alternator.

- Loosen nut (2) as shown in image.

- Remove the four alternator mounting bolts depicted with arrows in the image. Grasp the alternator and remove from the vehicle.

View part diagram for this step

Installation notes:

The alternator mounting bolts are aluminum and must be replaced every time the alternator is removed. See our parts list above for reordering.

Torque the new alternator mounting bolts to crankcase to 10Nm (7.5 ft-lb), then turn an additional 180 degrees.