C_DirtyTwo

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?

c32used

Sorry...but there has to be a way cheaper place to get a OEM spec alternator...that price is freakn way bloated.

ScottW911

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.

Gramma_Benz

See here:
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

Someone1111

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.

Bulldogger

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....

ScottW911

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.

kindafast

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.

jturkel

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.

kindafast

I know for sure that boohooramblers is doing tests to see if the Johnson Pumps have any effect on the IC leaks.

TemjinX2

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

JonMBZ

He is paying 120 to get his car back I am assuming only for diagnosis. What dealer did you take it to DT ?

TemjinX2

always search the forum when you have problems before you pay the stealership. In this case, your saving $800 by doing the way i suggested.

JonMBZ

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

TemjinX2

you sure thats not for the c55? i know the c55 regulator is replaceable.

JonMBZ

Yea I grabbed a vin from fleabay and it shows it applies. You can check for yourself


http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/

ScottW911

If it works for you, great. This issue has been hashed over several times, with folks claiming to have found the cheaper way out. If you review the links from Gramma Benz, you should find that the regulator will end up to not be a separately replaceable part.

Been there, done that.

JonMBZ

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.

eclipsed

Pics sometimes are mis printed. That piece is definately not replaceable in our alternators.

C_DirtyTwo

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

MarcusF

It's water under the bridge, but others may benefit from this: alternators can be rebuilt. The same is true for starters. I've personally had it done too many times to count. Look in the phone book under auto electrical services. You bring in an alternator, come back in a few hours with something less than $100, and your alternator, the same one you originally walked in with, will be ready. Don't let the fact that it’s a Valeo or Bosch unit concern you. The alternator for my Porsche was a Valeo.