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Alternator OEM Volkswagen or GENERAL MOTORS
Reviews
I will always vote for a 10SI or 12SI GM alternator swap on an L-series engine. Affordable conversion bracket. 1-wire GM alternators are simple, reliable, cheap and readily available online but not easy to find in parts stores. 3 wire GM alternators are are easy enough to wire up and are absolutely everywhere in parts stores if you’re more concerned about parts availability and potential breakdowns on long adventures.
Pros: simple, reliable, cheap, readily available
Cons: 1-wire not easy to find
The OEM alternator is only 55 amps and costs nearly $400, which is stupid expensive and wholly inadequate for off-road lighting, audio amplifiers, and other additional accessories so I decided to go with the CS130D GM alternator, purchased for under $100 new (no core charge) and has a 130 amp capacity.
I'm getting 14.8v from the upgraded alternator at 700rpm and maintaining 14.2v when every possible accessory and light is turned on at idle.
Pros: 130 amp capacity, under $100
Cons: OEM is expensive, inadequate
Drove it for a day and the alternator crapped out. Installed a new one asap.
Pros: new one installed
Cons: crapped out
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
The alternator was dead (as expected), and was replaced with a used one that I sourced locally from junkyard.
Pros: cheap replacement
Cons: used part
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
My shitbox, I replaced my alternator just for my window motor to go bad, I replaced the window motor just for the thermostat to go bad the next day, it’s inevitable.
Alternator stopped charging while driving and it slung grease all over the engine bay and hood.
Pros: alternator worked initially
Cons: stopped charging, slung grease
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Golf
4 aftermarket alternators in a Volkswagen Vanagon… after the last shit the bed i insisted on a factory one. That solved the charging system issue.
Pros: factory one solved issue
Cons: aftermarket alternators failed
Vehicle:
Volkswagen
When I finally bought another car and started preparing the Bora for sale, the alternator failed. The only real issue it ever gave me.
Cons: failed
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Jetta
I just put a new alternator and the batty is dead again but when I jump it the car run fine until the next .morning I am going Crazy trying to figure this.
Pros: car runs fine when jumped
Cons: battery dead again
I owned one for about a year. Loved the car, wish I could have kept it. That being said, it was only in drivable condition for about half the time I owned it. I replaced the alternator, fixed the air suspension, redid some vacuum lines, tried to repair the front diff, and that's where I gave up.
Pros: loved the car
Cons: difficult to work on, parts unavailable
Vehicle:
Volkswagen Touareg
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Which alternator to choose — OEM Volkswagen or GENERAL MOTORS?
If choosing alternator across many manufacturers, check the part ranking. If your choice is down to two brands, the PartReview part comparisons help.
We compare alternator across these categories:
- PR Score.
- Overall ranking.
- Vote balance.
- Average rating.
- Number of reviews.
- Feature ratings.
- Car owners’ choice.
Which alternator are better — GENERAL MOTORS or OEM Volkswagen?
In March 2026 on PartReview, alternator OEM Volkswagen were overall better than GENERAL MOTORS.
- OEM Volkswagen received a PR Score of 55 out of 100, and GENERAL MOTORS scored 50 points.
- OEM Volkswagen ranked 11 in the overall ranking, and GENERAL MOTORS ranked 16.
- The average rating is higher for OEM Volkswagen (3.1) than for GENERAL MOTORS (3).
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Alternator OEM Volkswagen have better feature ratings than GENERAL MOTORS:
- Noise - owners believe, that this property for GENERAL MOTORS is better than OEM Volkswagen.
- Lights - drivers claim, that this property for GENERAL MOTORS is outperforms OEM Volkswagen.
- Warning light - reviews suggest, that by this property OEM Volkswagen does not differ from GENERAL MOTORS.
Which alternator are more popular — OEM Volkswagen or GENERAL MOTORS?
In March 2026 on PartReview, alternator OEM Volkswagen were overall more popular than GENERAL MOTORS.
By vote balance, alternator OEM Volkswagen surpassed GENERAL MOTORS:
- For OEM Volkswagen, the ratio of positive (64) to negative (52) votes is 12 votes.
- For GENERAL MOTORS, the ratio of positive (17) to negative (17) votes is 0 votes.
By number of reviews, alternator OEM Volkswagen surpassed GENERAL MOTORS:
- For alternator OEM Volkswagen there are 36 reviews: 16 positive, 8 neutral, 12 negative.
- For alternator GENERAL MOTORS there are 11 reviews: 5 positive, 1 neutral, 5 negative.
Which alternator do car owners prefer — OEM Volkswagen or GENERAL MOTORS?
In March 2026, according to PartReview, alternator OEM Volkswagen and GENERAL MOTORS have not taken top places in car-specific ratings. You can help by adding your review about these manufacturers.
Other comparisons of alternator
If this comparison didn’t fully answer your question, there are many others on PartReview.
For example, comparisons of alternator OEM Volkswagen with: Denso, Bosch, Duralast, OEM Toyota, VALEO, OEM Honda, AC DELCO, OEM FORD, OEM Audi, OEM Nissan.
Also available: comparisons of alternator GENERAL MOTORS with: Denso, Bosch, Duralast, OEM Toyota, VALEO, OEM Honda, AC DELCO, OEM FORD, OEM Audi, OEM Nissan.
You can also see who is better among other alternator manufacturers: Bosch or Denso, Denso or Duralast, OEM Toyota or Denso, Bosch or Duralast, Denso or VALEO.