Some recent problems...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,660
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From: Orange County
a land yacht.
Some recent problems...
So within the past couple weeks I have encountered some issues with my car...
First, I was getting on the freeway when my car all of the sudden lost all power, seemed as if the supercharger wasnt even working. So I do a quick test and sure enough it said the problem was the IC Pump. I have my JohnsonCM30 on its way...
And yet another problem... I get a red warning light a few days later while I'm driving and it says Alternator/Battery...So I check my battery and everything is tight and it is a relatively new battery as well...
So I do another quick test and it says that it is the voltage regulator...I take my car to the stealership to have a new one put on, but I get a call about an hour ago from them saying that I need a new alternator and it is going to cost $1250
and on top of that I owe them $120 for the labor of them putting in the voltage regulator..
All in all I am just going to pay the $120 to get my car back but I need a place to get a new alternator for cheaper than $1250. This sh** is adding up with new tires and a car payment coming up as well
Does anyone know if it would be a hard DIY, or know of a place that can do it for cheaper in SoCal? Also should I get a better one, or just replace it with a stock one?
First, I was getting on the freeway when my car all of the sudden lost all power, seemed as if the supercharger wasnt even working. So I do a quick test and sure enough it said the problem was the IC Pump. I have my JohnsonCM30 on its way...
And yet another problem... I get a red warning light a few days later while I'm driving and it says Alternator/Battery...So I check my battery and everything is tight and it is a relatively new battery as well...
So I do another quick test and it says that it is the voltage regulator...I take my car to the stealership to have a new one put on, but I get a call about an hour ago from them saying that I need a new alternator and it is going to cost $1250
and on top of that I owe them $120 for the labor of them putting in the voltage regulator..All in all I am just going to pay the $120 to get my car back but I need a place to get a new alternator for cheaper than $1250. This sh** is adding up with new tires and a car payment coming up as well
Does anyone know if it would be a hard DIY, or know of a place that can do it for cheaper in SoCal? Also should I get a better one, or just replace it with a stock one?
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
Likes: 4
From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
I went through the alternator issue last year. The voltage regulator is integrated into the alternator on the C32, so if they are charging for a separate charge, call BS.
Search this forum for the alternator threads. I know I contributed to a couple of threads that ended up with some great contributions from members that found some great DIY solutions. Otherwise, I went to a local indy shop, near the Irvine Auto Center, that charged me 1/3 what MBLN wanted.
Search this forum for the alternator threads. I know I contributed to a couple of threads that ended up with some great contributions from members that found some great DIY solutions. Otherwise, I went to a local indy shop, near the Irvine Auto Center, that charged me 1/3 what MBLN wanted.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,000
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From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
I went through the alternator issue last year. The voltage regulator is integrated into the alternator on the C32, so if they are charging for a separate charge, call BS.
Search this forum for the alternator threads. I know I contributed to a couple of threads that ended up with some great contributions from members that found some great DIY solutions. Otherwise, I went to a local indy shop, near the Irvine Auto Center, that charged me 1/3 what MBLN wanted.
Search this forum for the alternator threads. I know I contributed to a couple of threads that ended up with some great contributions from members that found some great DIY solutions. Otherwise, I went to a local indy shop, near the Irvine Auto Center, that charged me 1/3 what MBLN wanted.
https://mbworld.org/forums/3188668-post5.html
and here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c32-amg-c55-amg-w203/258769-how-long-does-c32-alternator-usually-last.html
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
2005 C55
This is going to sound funny but what I would do is go to Pep Boys and buy a rebuilt Alt.
They have a lifetime warranty...
I had a 300e before I bought my C55 and when the Alternator went bad I checked PB on a high output alt from a S55? to transplant and it was around $200
I learned about this from when I had a VW GLI that had a Bosch 110 amp alternator.
They had a plastic cup around the rear bearing that would disintegrate around every 30k miles.
After replacing the alt. once I bought one from PB and after that every 30k or so when it went bad I would call the local PB and make sure they had one in stock then pull the bad one and take it back for warranty replacement.
Heh, I drove that car for 200k miles and the lifetime warranty saved a bunch of money.
They have a lifetime warranty...
I had a 300e before I bought my C55 and when the Alternator went bad I checked PB on a high output alt from a S55? to transplant and it was around $200
I learned about this from when I had a VW GLI that had a Bosch 110 amp alternator.
They had a plastic cup around the rear bearing that would disintegrate around every 30k miles.
After replacing the alt. once I bought one from PB and after that every 30k or so when it went bad I would call the local PB and make sure they had one in stock then pull the bad one and take it back for warranty replacement.
Heh, I drove that car for 200k miles and the lifetime warranty saved a bunch of money.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 66
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From: ny
SRT6
check your local yellow pages for automotive electronic repair. I had this problem when the windshield wiper went out on my wife's Volvo 780 Bertone. Dealer wanted 780 plus 300 install. Delta Electronics local to me rebuilt the unit for $35 dollars and I installed it. You need to find the shops that rebuild alternators, door window motors....
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
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From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
Guys, the thing you need to realize is that the C32 has a unique alternator/voltage regulator combo that is not readily available at parts stores. My Tech ordered the less expensive OEM Bosch (for the other W203's) and it did not work. He had to go back and order the C32 specific Valeo Alternator. It is not a $35 unit, trust me.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
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W210 E55 & W204 C63
I replaced my alternator about 10 days ago.
They should discount you about $250 if you let them keep the broken alternator, because they send them back to Deutschland, repair and resell. And it sounds like $1250 is for the install and parts, about what I paid.
They should discount you about $250 if you let them keep the broken alternator, because they send them back to Deutschland, repair and resell. And it sounds like $1250 is for the install and parts, about what I paid.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2006
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02 C32 AMG
I'm just going to throw this out there, not sure if as a question or statement of fact/truth, but hasn't the more quickly pumping CM30 Johnson led to some intercoolers cracking or leaking? i thought i may have read somewhere Brandon of Code3 suggesting this or someone else....or at least there may have been speculation of this.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
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W210 E55 & W204 C63
I'm just going to throw this out there, not sure if as a question or statement of fact/truth, but hasn't the more quickly pumping CM30 Johnson led to some intercoolers cracking or leaking? i thought i may have read somewhere Brandon of Code3 suggesting this or someone else....or at least there may have been speculation of this.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,034
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From: Corona, CA
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
there is a durlast replacement at autozone for $200 but duralast is POS. You can buy the oem valeo replacement online for $300. The install is about 2hrs, a indy shop charged me $140 for install.
here's the link where you can buy it...provided by boobramblers
http://www.bimmerspecialist.com/part...154-02-02%2088
here's the link where you can buy it...provided by boobramblers
http://www.bimmerspecialist.com/part...154-02-02%2088
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,359
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From: California
06 C55, 09 E350
I went through the alternator issue last year. The voltage regulator is integrated into the alternator on the C32, so if they are charging for a separate charge, call BS.
Search this forum for the alternator threads. I know I contributed to a couple of threads that ended up with some great contributions from members that found some great DIY solutions. Otherwise, I went to a local indy shop, near the Irvine Auto Center, that charged me 1/3 what MBLN wanted.
Search this forum for the alternator threads. I know I contributed to a couple of threads that ended up with some great contributions from members that found some great DIY solutions. Otherwise, I went to a local indy shop, near the Irvine Auto Center, that charged me 1/3 what MBLN wanted.
I just checked and I see the regulator does come seperate.
003-154-17-06 @ $134.00
the cost of the MB alt is $677 w/exchange
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,359
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From: California
06 C55, 09 E350
Yea I grabbed a vin from fleabay and it shows it applies. You can check for yourself
http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/
http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
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From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
Been there, done that.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,359
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From: California
06 C55, 09 E350
Well I never had any first hand experience with the issue, but the car is 5 years old I would think they would have ironed out any wrong info in the catalog since then or maybe the original one is different than the replacement. Either way no one needs it at this point so it's not really worth trying to figure out especially since many others have had the same conclusion.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,660
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From: Orange County
a land yacht.
well I ended up going with the stealership, after some negotiating they dropped the price down to $800 and I still have the warrenty. As for the Johnson pump I installed that yesterday, it took about two hours and was pretty easy. Now my car is running amazinnggg
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
