Voltage high 18 volts

[chope97]

I was checking my voltage at the battery and it was 18 volts is this a sign of a bad voltage regulator. My 73 has the external alternator and my 71 has an internal VR. I installed the NOS external one about 2 years ago. Thanks

 

[sfdon]

You are cooking your battery
Change your regulator asap

 

[chope97]

You are cooking your battery
Change your regulator asap

Here is the old voltage regulator

 

[jmackro]

I was checking my voltage at the battery and it was 18 volts .... My 73 has the external alternator and my 71 has an internal VR

OK, so you have a '71 and a '73. Since your picture shows an external regulator, I'm guessing that came off the '73. As sfdon wrote, "Change your regulator asap". Is your electronic tachometer still working? A bad regulator fried my tach several years ago. The Pertronix ignition too, which was a bigger problem since I was several hundred miles from home. Those regulators are readily available, since they were also used on Mercedes, Volvos and Alfas of that era.

Was it that corroded when you installed it two years ago? Man, that looks nasty!

 

[Dlc]

If you are not sticking with original BOSCH, there are plenty of inexpensive aftermarket parts:

Ebay link

 

[chope97]

voltage now

OK, so you have a '71 and a '73. Since your picture shows an external regulator, I'm guessing that came off the '73. As sfdon wrote, "Change your regulator asap". Is your electronic tachometer still working? A bad regulator fried my tach several years ago. The Pertronix ignition too, which was a bigger problem since I was several hundred miles from home. Those regulators are readily available, since they were also used on Mercedes, Volvos and Alfas of that era.

Was it that corroded when you installed it two years ago? Man, that looks nasty!

Yes I have two E3's my 71 has a 3.3 and an internal regulated alternator. This car was given to me as a totaled car over 20 years ago and it took me over 10 years to get it back on the road. It was converted to a 5 speed from an auto. It runs well be needs some body work and paint. It is a driver. My 73 I purchased in 2017 from an auction in Pa. The car came from Cali. It is an automatic with a newer trans maybe from an e12, the shifter is on the left not in the center of the console. It was a non standard blue paint. Whoever owned it did lots of odd stuff like having two antennas one in front and one in the back. The interior is black but the passenger seat is dark blue. It had two different seats bets in the front neither from a BMW. Now that I am retired I am trying to do a lot of the little thigs this cars needs. It is a driver also. I may have been mistaken about when I replaced the voltage regulator. Last year I replaced the Allison ignition with a Pertronix and a new coil I couple of years ago a friend a retired BMW tech replaced the head. The trans has been serviced. I freshen up the carbs last year too. It needs a front windshield gasket real bad, I have the gasket just need someone to put it in.. Hopefully my friend will move back to Maryland from Florida he can do this in his sleep. It has led headlights and instrument cluster lights I have a sport steering wheel 18" style 5 wheels and the car is lowered.. Also the ignition switch only practically works so I have a start button. Part of my problem is I do not have a garage. Below is the 73