This can't be right... can it??

[brady-lamb-ctfb 10+ year member]

Hi i have been thinking about upgrading my sound system. But before i go and buy a $1,600 amp i thought i should see how powerful my alternator was first. So i went to several online stores and manuals and every site i went to said the the stock alternator for my 1993 525i bmw puts out 140 amps... this doesnt sound right to me i though it would be a lot less. If someone has the same car as me and know's if this is right, or if you could check some sites you know of to see if this is correct or not i would greatly appreciate it.

-Thanks

Click to read more...

 

[rollerdj 10+ year member]

mine stock is 130, so it very well might be

 

[big_mofo 10+ year member]

120 for my regal

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

That is correct. You most likely have the 140 amp.

 

[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/furious.gif.fc81ca146dbff91fede3ed290dbc4f4c.gif but the thing is, it doesnt do 140 amps at IDLE, so you need some serious current back up or some batts.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

which amp you looking at?

 

[JeremiahCoffel 10+ year member]

I have a 100+A Alt, stock (as far as I know) but the car had a rebuilt motor, so I'm not sure.

 

[jonnybusa 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/furious.gif.fc81ca146dbff91fede3ed290dbc4f4c.gif but the thing is, it doesnt do 140 amps at IDLE, so you need some serious current back up or some batts.

thats correct.....the alt ratings are @ a certain rpm, not @ idle. @ idle, you may only see 90a. Some see full power @ like 2000rpm's, etc, so you still may need the big 3 to help you out.

 

[JeremiahCoffel 10+ year member]

an alternator and a motor have nothing to do with each other. IF its the same motor that came stock was rebuilt or the exact same motor put in then it will be the same, if a different motor was put it then your amperage might vary.

You're just a dick aren't you? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif When you rebuild a motor, you don't buy the parts that came stock, you rebuild a motor to make it better, therefore it could have a bigger alt. Wait, am I wrong about this? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

**** Orange County whinebags, THEY'RE ALWAYS RIGHT!!!

 

[mannyb18b]

Don't mind him

 

[02parkave 5,000+ posts]

You're just a dick aren't you? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif When you rebuild a motor, you don't buy the parts that came stock, you rebuild a motor to make it better, therefore it could have a bigger alt. Wait, am I wrong about this? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif
**** Orange County whinebags, THEY'RE ALWAYS RIGHT!!!

did it have a stereo in it when you bought it? or alot of lights, or something like that? if not, then why would they care about the alt. as long as it works....

 

[BassAddictJ 5,000+ posts]

first off.....you're not going to pay 1600 for an amp. if you do that yo're be sterile for the rest of your life. if you have 90amps to workw ith or more. youll be fine with 1 or 2 runs of 1/0 wire from front battery to back battery, and equal runs for he big 3 and the bat backttery ground. it's supper important you have abattery in the back for the amp to draw off of. it'll help a lot. Getting an HO alty would help a lot too.

whatever amp you're looking at....look for a used or refurbished one. amps either work or they dont typically. i recall a kicker zx 2500.1 being 1800 bnib from adealer down the street. i found a refurbished kx 2500.1 (same board, pratically same amp, still under rated as hell) and got it like new for550 shipped....... dont pay 1600 for whatever the hell you're looking at. for 1600 uan get almost everything youll need for ur stereo if not al of it.

get budget together and let us know. we'll find you the best bang for the buck. again...dont spend 1600 on an amp. let u help //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[envengineer 10+ year member]

You're just a dick aren't you? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif When you rebuild a motor, you don't buy the parts that came stock, you rebuild a motor to make it better, therefore it could have a bigger alt. Wait, am I wrong about this? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif
**** Orange County whinebags, THEY'RE ALWAYS RIGHT!!!

It could be smaller too. A lot of performance motors run small alternators because they care more about HP than they do about powering extra electronics. Not saying yours is that way, but if I rebuilt a motor for performance alone, I would buy the smallest alternator that kept the thing running.

Also the terminology you used is a little confusing, "rebuilt" typically means that a non-running motor, or a motor with problems is stripped down to the block, cleaned, inspected, then put back together using the original parts or replacements. It does not typically mean that performance modifications were made. If you meant to say your motor has been built up in some way (new heads, bored, stroked, etc) then you may want to clarify that in some way before getting offended.

 

[brady-lamb-ctfb 10+ year member]

the amp im getting is a rockford fosgate t20001bd and im goin to wire it at 4 ohms... the actual watt output at 4 ohms is 1243 since my subs are dual 4ohm and 600 rms each this is perfect and brand new this amp IS 1500 extended warranty pushes it over 1600 so yes i am spending that much on an amp

 

[brady-lamb-ctfb 10+ year member]

and the motor as not been rebuilt all stock parts