Pilot error.

many vehicles have the Alt in that stupid location

belt diagram is on the sticker mate

7 series BMW with V12, same era as XJ, not very easy to work on !

You sound like a pretty clever guy...how do u get the car to the mechanic with no Alt or serpentine belt?
on a flatbed?...that must be disappointing when ur so close to getting the job done

Are you kidding me? He was nowhere near done, especially for him, usually his posts go on and on, for sometimes weeks, with this same result

I do agree that a BMW has certain superior features in the engineering to Jeeps, including for example fastener quality and corrosion protection, amongst others
That is reflected in the purchase price

therefore, appropriate maintenance in a rust prone area includes pentrating and preserving oil on exposed fasteners, anti-sieze, various underbody protectants,
and all internal cavities to be sprayed at pressure with nice smelling waxoil or similar.

I am familiar with working on vehicles up to 75yrs old, spent a lot of time getting old fasteners apart
pro mechanic mate of mine, who specialises in Vinatge vehicles, charges out many hours at $150p/hr doing the same

I was not even close. I never even touched the alternator.
Spent 6 hours but was not able to crack the secret code of XJ alternator removal.
All I did was remove the battery tray (nightmare) and loosen the serp belt (had to go under the car to reach the idler pulley)

Many videos and threads say remove from the top.
Not one of them mentions A/C lines.
So, that was a dead end, and I wasted all that time breaking battery tray bolts off.

It's so hilarious, you can't even make this up.
Worst online information of any car ever.

At about 5 hours into the project, I figured I would try to remove from the bottom.
Still was not clear how it would come out, and that weird bracket that I've never seen on any other alternator ever.
The alternator is right above the frame rail !! LOL.
It's so low that I was not able to break the alternator bolts free.
No way to get leverage without a professional lift.
Never heard of a car that removes alternator from the bottom.

By then, I remembered why working on the XJ offers zero joy, unlike my European cars.
Decided to screw this, and tightened up the belt and re-installed the battery.
I did clean some grounds while I was down there.

The most basic repairs requires a decades of experience.
Most bizarre and complex car I've ever worked on, period.

As usual, proof the XJ is not for casual weekend mechanics, only professionals.
I will drive it to the shop today. and gladly hand over $500 to work on this monstrosity of engineering !

Thanks for the heads up. Bimmer, that pm you sent me...here is the response in public that you asked for.
Millions of jeeps on the road, and people change the alternators all the time. I have decided that you are...special. Your jeep is special too. I think that's what you want to hear.

Can't back up your posts when called out on it ?
How did you remove the alternator with the A/C lines in the way ?
At least one other poster has called BS on your method.

You can go ahead and insult me like a emotionally stunted school bully.
Pretty standard fare for this forum.

Why is this even a conversation? Even if it doesn't come out (easily) from the top, at that point just let it go!! It's going to drop on the MF ground!!!!!!

Idiot.

So sad.

It is a known fact that it's a total nightmare to attempt removal from the bottom
since the frame rail blocks the removal

Almost everyone advised removal from the top,
but, in he real world, the A/C lines totally block removal.

It's a dead end both ways.
So, no, the alternator does not just fall out.
More erroneous information everywhere.

Another reason I bailed out of this nightmare project was that I was not even able to SEE the back of the alternator.
I have never owned a car where you can't see the back of the alternator.
I was very concerned that I would have no idea how to reconnect the alternator.

Even if I could loosen the stuck bolts somehow,
and even if I knew it could come out the bottom (I don't b/c everyone's got a different story)
how would you loosen the rear connections ?

If anyone here has actually removed an XJ alternator,
how did you manage to undo the wiring without even seeing the bolts in the rear?
Is it easier to see back there when the XJ is on a lift ?

Got an appointment at the mechanic for later this week.
Glad to rid myself of this cluster****.

So now you're saying I'm handing out erroneous information, and we certainly can't have that.

Here's how we're going to settle this. We'll both send $1000 to Ralph via PayPal. The bet is $500 if I can drop it out of the bottom, and $500 if I can pull it out of the top. So it's a wash if I can't do one. I'll post videos of the actual removal (not the belt, battery etc.) or if you want I'll go over to Ralph's house and show him (he lives pretty close by).

Deal?

Yes, you are posting utter nonsense.

at that point just let it go!!
It's going to drop on the MF ground!!!!!!

Really? Seriously?
Based on dozens of threads and videos, it does not just fall out.

You still want to bet $500 that if you "just let it go!! It's going to drop on the MF ground!!!!!!"
There is something called a frame rail, so stop lying and trying to make this sound easy.

Why do you think people without A/C remove it from the top?