Alternator online? - A question about where to buy Mercedes

[wportre]

I need a new alternator for my 123 (280TE) as I found out the hard way 30 miles into a 500 mile drive back from France yesterday :-/ . Happy ending , in that I was able to wring a few hundred miles out of the existing brushes with the help of the toolkit (take a bow, Mercedes). But finding an alternator to pop in myself (easier than the round trip to the garage) is proving tricky. There must be somewhere selling such a standard item (Bosch or Lucas both fine by me) online, but where?

(Edited by wportre at 7:32 pm on July 28, 2002)

 

[Andy]

Alternator online?

Hi

If the regulator is the problem. Which by the sounds of it, it is. Just replace the regulator. The alternator should be available from most Bosch stockists.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[wportre]

Alternator online?

[The earlier alternator was a Lucas with replaceable brushes. Switching them so the longer brush was over the more deeply grooved slip ring gave me a roadside repair.]  I called Bosch for a dealer in my area, sent my wife and she came back with a Sovereign rebuilt alternator, slightly to my surprise. Should be OK, I guess? Does anyone have any experience or view before I put it in?

 

[Andy]

Alternator online?

Hi

Somebody has already replaced the alternator once. MB NEVER used the Lucas product. But fit what you have and get the vehicle back on the road.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[eddieb4merc2]

Alternator online?

there is on  ebay auctions at the moment search automotive then mercedes and it will come up. good luck
www.ebay.com

 

[JR]

Alternator online?

try halfords, they do re-cons for most makes
and surprisingly enough are sometimes cheaper than
some of the smaller "corner shops"

 

[wportre]

Alternator online?

Thanks, gang. I'm done now. Thanks, Andy, for the Lucas knowledge: I was puzzled.

All the best

W.

 

[JesusE]

Alternator online?

Try finding an electrical specialist that rewinds and repairs them. I was recently quoted £270 plus vat from the Stealeship, and £103 plus vat from Europarts.  I found a guy in Leicester who repaired the unit (an 80 amp Bosch original) fro the pricely sum of £35!  He did it in two hours, appologising for the long wait; I almost snogged him!  (for the record, G & C Auto Electrics, Thurmaston, Leicester).  A good hunt in the Yellow pages or phone book will find you onsimilar.

 

[wportre]

Alternator online?

Thanks, Jesus. That guy is a find: there's a lot of money to be saved. I have a similar story of a corroded exhaust downpipe. It's the little old lady who pays £1200 for the whole new system, as I was quoted, that I worry about. (2 phone calls and I was done for £80 inc. labour, btw).

But, I am in trouble. The Bosch alternator I have bought has a Woodruff key on the shaft and the pulley I took off the Lucas does not. Cannot find the pulley anywhere. I cheated while I looked and it is now slipping...  Merc has none nationally, my Bosch stockist likewise. I was told Halfords have a standard kit but they deny it. HELP! Where, in a hurry, can I find a Woodruff-keyed alternator pulley to fit a Bosch?

 

[G4VSQ]

Alternator online?

Talking of on-line parts buying, I'm very surprised that no one has mentioned GSF (Geman, Swedish and
Fench) as they have your alternator listed on their Website (from which you can place on-line orders) for £74.50, plus VAT plus shipping.

Website address is: http://www.gsfcarparts.com

Alternatively, try EuroCarParts as they have loads of Mercedes parts available on-line at:

http//www.eurocarparts.co.uk

Though I don't see the alternator for the 280TE listed, you may find another one to fit.

I have used EuroCarParts a lot recently and find them to be very good indeed, and they have saved me a lot of money! Both GSF and EuroCarParts have a lot of branches now, so there may be one nearby.

Cheers,
Al
260E