[slattrick]

My 2008 328i sedan needs a new starter, called my bmw dealership and they charge 470$ for a new one, what other brands of starters are good and reliable, ive read reviews on some but i want some more opinions, im looking to not spend that much money when i know there is other quality products for a cheaper price, is bosch a good brand?, thank you.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Bosch & Valeo

[porsche959]

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...SABEgL66PD_BwE

[The Nightman]

Bosch SR0492N as mentioned above is OE. Only difference was that my factory BMW/Bosch starter was made in Germany while my replacement Bosch was made in Hungary.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by freedomfries

Bosch SR0492N as mentioned above is OE. Only difference was that my factory BMW/Bosch starter was made in Germany while my replacement Bosch was made in Hungary.

Nice deal on rockauto $132

[Explorerlyon]

See if you have a shop nearby that rebuilds starters and alternators. I just had an alternator rebuilt and the cost was 1/2 of anything new and probably better quality.

[mecheng77]

I went with Bosch which I hope lasts, maybe they improved the design because it didn't last very long.
The Bosch in my wife's Volvo is a much better design, the car has twice the mileage of my car and is still very strong

[smass]

I had one of the $130 rebuilt Bosch fail after 3 years. New bosch are $30 more. My latest starter purchase was a used on from ebay for $35. A one-year-old BMW OE part. Date codes can be seen on the sides of the starter in many auction pictures.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by smass

I had one of the $130 rebuilt Bosch fail after 3 years. New bosch are $30 more. My latest starter purchase was a used on from ebay for $35. A one-year-old BMW OE part. Date codes can be seen on the sides of the starter in many auction pictures.

Originally Posted by smass

I had one of the $130 rebuilt Bosch fail after 3 years. New bosch are $30 more. My latest starter purchase was a used on from ebay for $35. A one-year-old BMW OE part. Date codes can be seen on the sides of the starter in many auction pictures.

Oh shit, it was a pain in the ass to replace. I'm glad I lubricated the bolts, the rear bolt was a pain and needs a torx wrench.

If it fails early I will use some Chinesium brand

[Efthreeoh]

I bought two starters last September, one for my newly acquired E46 and one for the E90. The E46 failed a week or two after I bought the car, the E90 was in prep for a CCVectomy.

Both were re-man BMW OE Bosch units bought from getbmwparts.com. Been working fine. Seemed like quality units. Both were around $180 each.

[SF07e70]

Fcp has a lifetime warranty so I’d go that route for $160.

[lordnikon]

New BOSCH SR0492N is now made in China. Not sure whether that's a bad thing but hope it lasts.

[The Nightman]

Apparently the Hungarian made Bosch SR0492N starters are now SEG 0001.107.527

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-bosch-sr0492n
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...e-0001-107-527

"SEG Automotive is an OE producer of new alternators and starters. In 2018, SEG bought Robert Bosch OE Alternator and Starter production facilities worldwide. SEG has launched its aftermarket division to introduce its branded starters and alternators. SEG is an OE supplier to nearly every OEM for new Starters and Alternators, including the EV and Hybrid platforms."

[StradaRedlands]

If you want to go with Chinese made, TYC has a good reputation:
https://www.amazon.com/TYC-1-17922-N...JZ0/ref=sr_1_1

[Hoody007]

I’d do Valeo. It’s what BMW switched to later as an OE supplier. Stay far away from Denso, IMHO.

FYI you should be able to use the uprated starter from an N55 with auto start/stop (F10 535i, for example). That starter worked very nicely on my N52.

[mainbearing]

I had the infamous slow crank with the factory Bosch starter. Replaced it preventatively with a TYC off Rock Auto. Cranked strong and worked well for me for about $75 plus shipping. I would not put in a Bosch junk again.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...4&postcount=94

I used a Harbor Freight version of this ratchet on the rear-facing starter bolt. You can also find e-torx sockets on Amazon.

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by mainbearing

I had the infamous slow crank with the factory Bosch starter. Replaced it preventatively with a TYC off Rock Auto. Cranked strong and worked well for me for about $75 plus shipping. I would not put in a Bosch junk again.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...4&postcount=94

I used a Harbor Freight version of this ratchet on the rear-facing starter bolt. You can also find e-torx sockets on Amazon.

Does the post MY2006 N52 have DISA valves? Mine is a 2011.

[mattanderson]

Originally Posted by mainbearing

I had the infamous slow crank with the factory Bosch starter. Replaced it preventatively with a TYC off Rock Auto. Cranked strong and worked well for me for about $75 plus shipping. I would not put in a Bosch junk again.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...4&postcount=94

I used a Harbor Freight version of this ratchet on the rear-facing starter bolt. You can also find e-torx sockets on Amazon.

You can also just use an 11mm 12-point box wrench on the rear bolt.

I recommend a set of E-torx for working on these cars, regardless, but not for that bolt.

I recently preventatively replaced mine @ 100k with the SEG that FCP lists as OE, since I had the intake manifold removed anyway. So far so good.

[crashoverride]

This is one of the few parts where there is no such thing as a "Bad" brand

[mainbearing]

I have a CARB state N51, so it has the three stage intake with TWO DISA valves. I replaced both while doing the starter, along with the Bosch alternator voltage regulator and 3-way CCV brittle plastic pipe.

N52 two-stage system should have just one DISA?? I am not sure.

Originally Posted by lordnikon

Does the post MY2006 N52 have DISA valves? Mine is a 2011.

[mainbearing]

An example Amazon E-Torx socket set, E4-E24:

[StradaRedlands]

All N52s have at least one DISA, while the 2006 330i models (the best!) have thwo DISAs. I don't know about N51s, I guess two? Do they have the extra hp as well?