This is more of a musing than anything.... I just recently starting working at a BMW dealership and I realized something. Most of the GMs me and my parents have ever owned have had at least one alternator replacement, because they have a tendency to overheat and wear quickly.

But it would seem that Beemers have the perfect solution. every single BMW (from as far back as 95 as far as ive seen so far) uses a "ram air" that runs from under the car, straight to the side of the alternator, which constantly feeds it ambient air while driving.

case in point.... i have yet to see one of these cars need an alternator that used this set up. perhaps this would be a good investment to create on one of our cars, since they have a tendency to run hot, especially with headers?
or do you think it would be a waste of time?

 

If this theory of overheating kills alternators is true, then some sort of air scoop to keep it cool sounds like a great idea.

 

Mention it to GM, and they'll market a KIT for the Cobalt, since it's a compacts, and introduce it as the nitrous cooling KIT

 

I was already planning this! haha awesome timing.

I have a 525 and the alt pulls air from next to the airbox, behind the headlight

 

you happen to have any pics? and does it seem to work? (not that i reallly know how you could possibly check that.....)