Buying Alternator from eBay

[Igla]

Has anyone bought an alternator from brnparts on ebay? They selling them pretty cheap comparatively speaking, so I wonder if they're good alts or junk?

[Bob Kontak]

I bought mine from AdvanceAuto - Has been doing fine. Four years now. They have yours for $165.

I like the brnparts 160 amp alternator for $225 but have no idea if it's good or not. Sorry. I also don't know if extra "stuff" needs to be done to your car to use a 160 amp unit. It has a warranty and you get to keep your core so you could find a good re-builder and have it done so you have a backup.

[Flat Six]

Assuming you have an alternator now that you're trying to replace, IMHO you'd be much better off taking yours to an alternator shop and having it refurbished. A quick search turned up this in your area:

Allied Starter Alternator Services
4123 Washington Boulevard
Halethorpe, MD 21227
(410) 247-0736

No knowledge of or affiliation w/this shop but might want to consider this route.

[brads911sc]

They have brand new genuine bosche on am@zon. If you keep your eye out they sometimes have big price drops. Think mine was 265 when I bought it about a year ago. Came with a lifetime warranty.

[Igla]

Originally Posted by brads911sc

They have brand new genuine bosche on am@zon. If you keep your eye out they sometimes have big price drops. Think mine was 265 when I bought it about a year ago. Came with a lifetime warranty.

Now that's a good deal!

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by brads911sc

They have brand new genuine bosche on am@zon. If you keep your eye out they sometimes have big price drops. Think mine was 265 when I bought it about a year ago. Came with a lifetime warranty.

How many factory alt manufactures are there for 911's? Is Valeo "factory"

$265 is not a big increment from $165 for new, given the effort to install.

[Igla]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I bought mine from AdvanceAuto - Has been doing fine. Four years now. They have yours for $165.

I like the brnparts 160 amp alternator for $225 but have no idea if it's good or not. Sorry. I also don't know if extra "stuff" needs to be done to your car to use a 160 amp unit. It has a warranty and you get to keep your core so you could find a good re-builder and have it done so you have a backup.

Did you buy a ToughOne?

[mikeferg75]

FWIW, I'd only buy a rebuilt that is easy to return. Just had a "new rebuilt" come in for my car, the shaft wobbled to bad had to return for another...

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Igla

Did you buy a ToughOne?

If that is the one offered for $165 for an 81, yes I did. It's a Valeo.

Nice thing is there is a warranty and I don't (well, didn't) have to spend $25 to ship it back if it crapped out. Had to trade in the core though. The 160amp Ebay and the new Amazon Bosch will not require that. That's 40-ish dollars if having a backup is attractive.

Worth a call to the rebuild shop as well. They may be able to turn it around quick and with an attractive price. Plus you have the convenience of a local supplier that will warranty the work.

[Joe Bob]

No such thing as NEW alternators for an air cooled Porsche. They are all remans or rebuilds.

Lifetime warranty? OK...who pays labor on a cheap, crappy reman? Best to have a local rebuilder so you can beat him over the head if it fails. If you STILL want to buy a reman from eBay....bench test it first.

[brads911sc]

Joe bob

Happy to show you my receipt.

Also they have them on there now for 562. Clearly new Bosch. Not reman.

[brads911sc]

Pelican does sell new ones... Best I can tell...

Pelican Parts - Product Information: 911-603-120-04-M262

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Best to have a local rebuilder

I do like this. Rebuilding for the big box places is production oriented. An independent shop will take more time to double check things and have a broader experience base. Also, they are not judged by the number of units that pass through their hands.

FWIW:

Here is *********'s offer. You can get a Valeo for $135 but an $81 core charge and the hassle of mailing stuff around.

88 1988 Porsche 911 Alternator - Engine Electrical - Bosch, Pure Energy, Valeo - *********

********* is great for cheap aftermarket (non porsche) car fixes. Prices for "real" parts that we would use, Pelican offers the same price, plus customer service.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by brads911sc

Pelican does sell new ones... Best I can tell...

********* also has new Valeos - like the one in the Pelican link. $200 more than Pelican and both are out of stock.

Pelican does offer Genuine Porsche alternators for the 88 Carrera and they are new - close to $900 - and there is not an out of stock flag.

911 603 120 05. It's one of those items where they have to interface with Germany and it does not say it's a Bosch but suspect it is. Is it a truly "new"? - I don't know

They indicate there are rebuilt Bosch units that are NLA.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_Search.cgi?SUPERCAT_FLAG=&make=&please_wait=N&forumid=&threadid=&FILTER_911E=ON&FILTER_911M=ON&FILTER_911L=ON&FILTER_996J=ON&FILTER_997M=ON&command=DWsearch&command=DWsearch&REFINE=Y&FORUM_REFER=&SUPERCAT_FLAG=&make=&description=911+603+120+05&x=42&y=13&FILTER_911E2=ON&FILTER_911M2=ON&FILTER_911L2=ON&FILTER_996J2=ON&FILTER_997M2=ON&description=+603+120+05&FILTER_911E=ON&FILTER_911M=ON&FILTER_911L=ON&FILTER_996J=ON&FILTER_997M=ON&FILTER_911E2=ON&FILTER_911M2=ON&FILTER_911L2=ON&FILTER_996J2=ON&FILTER_997M2=ON

[quattrorunner]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I bought mine from AdvanceAuto - Has been doing fine. Four years now. They have yours for $165.

I like the brnparts 160 amp alternator for $225 but have no idea if it's good or not. Sorry. I also don't know if extra "stuff" needs to be done to your car to use a 160 amp unit. It has a warranty and you get to keep your core so you could find a good re-builder and have it done so you have a backup.

I got one of these. Only complaint was that I needed the nut for it shipped to me after I recieved it. I wanted higher amps because I knew I would be running cooling fans for oil coolers and ac fans too.
Works fine for almost two years so far.

[brads911sc]

Makes me consider swapping out the Bosch for the extra amps. Mine is abit iffy when its all on full blast esp if the headlights are on...

Quote de Bob Kontak

I bought mine from AdvanceAuto - Has been doing fine. Four years now. They have yours for $165.



I like the brnparts 160 amp alternator for $225 but have no idea if it's good or not. Sorry. I also don't know if extra "stuff" needs to be done to your car to use a 160 amp unit. It has a warranty and you get to keep your core so you could find a good re-builder and have it done so you have a backup.

I got one of these. Only complaint was that I needed the nut for it shipped to me after I recieved it. I wanted higher amps because I knew I would be running cooling fans for oil coolers and ac fans too.

Works fine for almost two years so far.

[Igla]

So which one should I go with; a rebuilt Toughone or a rebuilt Bosch?

[dporsche74]

If it spins nice still and the bearings arejust fine
just replace the voltage reg. they are like 30 bucks
i just did the 996 and 964 .. works perfect now

Alternator Regulator Repair Kit Porsche 911 603 913 01 | eBay

[Igla]

Had the alt tested this morning; read 12V. It can be rebuilt $130 at the shop, but I thought for that money I might as well buy one from advanced auto parts, like a Toughone or get rebuilt Bosch that has OEM parts.

[HawgRyder]

I recommend buying a new alt only when you can touch and feel the item.
I have bought some that were seized at the counter of the parts store...one time had to go through 4 before finding one that spun properly (and the counter guy put the other 3 back on the shelf!!).
Bob