Cost for a new alternator?
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Joined: Jun 2005
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2002 E430 4MATIC
Cost for a new alternator?
What do you think is an appropriate cost for an alternator and installation on a 02 E430 4MATIC?
Was driving down the road today and the battery indicator came up then the ABS light and so on until the car went dead. So besides the two hour wait for the tow truck, I had to take it to a local MB dealer because they were the closest and at $3/mile I could not afford to tow it an hour away. Anyway, it was the alternator and the cost for a rebuilt was $640 and installation came to couple of dollars short of $1,000.
Does $1,000 sound resonable to install a rebuilt alternator? Wow! I just think that is alot.
Am I off base here?
Was driving down the road today and the battery indicator came up then the ABS light and so on until the car went dead. So besides the two hour wait for the tow truck, I had to take it to a local MB dealer because they were the closest and at $3/mile I could not afford to tow it an hour away. Anyway, it was the alternator and the cost for a rebuilt was $640 and installation came to couple of dollars short of $1,000.
Does $1,000 sound resonable to install a rebuilt alternator? Wow! I just think that is alot.
Am I off base here?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
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From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
If it is really the alternator, that sounds about right for a new alternator.
However, it is often the voltage regulator with the blushes. It is a cheaper part and easier to replace. The blushes do wear after 100 000 typical miles.
Did you hear strange noise?
However, it is often the voltage regulator with the blushes. It is a cheaper part and easier to replace. The blushes do wear after 100 000 typical miles.
Did you hear strange noise?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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2002 E430 4MATIC
I didn't hear a strange noise and I only have 64K miles on the car.
Just sounds like a lot of money.
This is the first benz I ever owned and it just seems like the something is always up with it. The cost of ownership is very high.
Just sounds like a lot of money.
This is the first benz I ever owned and it just seems like the something is always up with it. The cost of ownership is very high.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
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From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
If you use the dealer for all maint and repairs, it is going to be very expensive.
I would get a second opinion by taking it to an Indy that knows MB's.
How old is your battery?
I would get a second opinion by taking it to an Indy that knows MB's.
How old is your battery?
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Rosamond, CA
1999 E300 TurboDiesel
He's right about the voltage regulator. If you have access to the underside of the car, you shouldn't even have to remove the alternator to change it.
To answer your question though, That's about what it cost me to have my alternator changed at the dealership. No more. I do my own repairs from now on. Unless it's alignment or something I cant use a wrench and screwdriver on.
To answer your question though, That's about what it cost me to have my alternator changed at the dealership. No more. I do my own repairs from now on. Unless it's alignment or something I cant use a wrench and screwdriver on.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 809
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From: Dallas, TX
2008 E63 wagon (1 of 62)
As for the cost of your repair, that sounds about right for parts and labor.
I have a good condition spare one for a 98 E320 that I need to find a new home for.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
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From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
not to be a d*ck or anything, but they are called bRushes, not blushes, and yes they do wear out over time.
As for the cost of your repair, that sounds about right for parts and labor.
I have a good condition spare one for a 98 E320 that I need to find a new home for.
As for the cost of your repair, that sounds about right for parts and labor.
I have a good condition spare one for a 98 E320 that I need to find a new home for.
Thanks,
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What do you think is an appropriate cost for an alternator and installation on a 02 E430 4MATIC?
Was driving down the road today and the battery indicator came up then the ABS light and so on until the car went dead. So besides the two hour wait for the tow truck, I had to take it to a local MB dealer because they were the closest and at $3/mile I could not afford to tow it an hour away. Anyway, it was the alternator and the cost for a rebuilt was $640 and installation came to couple of dollars short of $1,000.
Does $1,000 sound resonable to install a rebuilt alternator? Wow! I just think that is alot.
Am I off base here?
Was driving down the road today and the battery indicator came up then the ABS light and so on until the car went dead. So besides the two hour wait for the tow truck, I had to take it to a local MB dealer because they were the closest and at $3/mile I could not afford to tow it an hour away. Anyway, it was the alternator and the cost for a rebuilt was $640 and installation came to couple of dollars short of $1,000.
Does $1,000 sound resonable to install a rebuilt alternator? Wow! I just think that is alot.
Am I off base here?
Go to mercedesshopdotcom to get the alternator about $500, then have a decent mechanic to install it for you (about 2 hour job) and it should be simple straight job.
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Thread Starter
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2002 E430 4MATIC
I'll try not to make this sound like a whine, but the list of things that have gone wrong with this car is long. And the cost of ownership is very high! Problem is that I absolutely love the car. If I could find something that had some what the same qualities such as class, ride, sportyness, and creature features but was more reliable, I would buy it in a heart beat. Right now I don't know of anything.
I never bought the car because it was a "Mercedes". I bought it because it had everything I wanted.
And I personally think that with 65K miles on the car, I should have to have to pay $1,000 to change out an alternator. It probably doesn’t cost more then $250 to $300 to change out an alternator on a domestic.
I never bought the car because it was a "Mercedes". I bought it because it had everything I wanted.
And I personally think that with 65K miles on the car, I should have to have to pay $1,000 to change out an alternator. It probably doesn’t cost more then $250 to $300 to change out an alternator on a domestic.
Thread Starter
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2002 E430 4MATIC
I sure can, I was an hour and half from home on my way to a business meeting. Not the time to get dirty and I had no idea it was going to cost so much.
I think I beat this to death. I learned a valuable lesson!
I think I beat this to death. I learned a valuable lesson!
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 111
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From: Rosamond, CA
1999 E300 TurboDiesel
I learned the same lesson, same situation. Sometimes it pays to have a beater car handy so that you have time for the repairs.
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I'll try not to make this sound like a whine, but the list of things that have gone wrong with this car is long. And the cost of ownership is very high! Problem is that I absolutely love the car. If I could find something that had some what the same qualities such as class, ride, sportyness, and creature features but was more reliable, I would buy it in a heart beat. Right now I don't know of anything.
I never bought the car because it was a "Mercedes". I bought it because it had everything I wanted.
And I personally think that with 65K miles on the car, I should have to have to pay $1,000 to change out an alternator. It probably doesn’t cost more then $250 to $300 to change out an alternator on a domestic.
I never bought the car because it was a "Mercedes". I bought it because it had everything I wanted.
And I personally think that with 65K miles on the car, I should have to have to pay $1,000 to change out an alternator. It probably doesn’t cost more then $250 to $300 to change out an alternator on a domestic.
Sorry to hear you have many problems with the car. I was not very happy earlier when I got mine. The alternator replacement was expensive, as I also had to replace both rear window regulators, some light bulbs etc.. and was worry repairing would empty my wallet.
What I finally decided is that every year I would set aside $1000.00 for maintenance - that's the price for a little luxury (and somewhat prestige) and be happy. The idea ease my mind a bit as $1000/year is not so much - if any thing less that $1000/year is a bonus to me.
Anyway, almost 4 years later, all I had to do was just regular maintenance, oil change, ATF change, PS fill up, brake bleeding etc.. and the car is running like a champ. I am about $2500 ahead.
Hopefully when you get all the problems out of the way, you can enjoy it as the W210 is a wonderful car.
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From: Mesa Arizona
1997 E320
Alternator
I just replaced my alternator. Same issues, driving down the road and it almost died, wouldn't shift up or down, ETS dash errors, ABS dash errors. I "drove" it to a local Checker and had them check the battery, it showed
8.2v under load, and 9.5cold so they tried to sell me a new battery. I took it home and charged it overnight and it seemed to be fine for three days then everything started again only worse. So I called AutoZone based on this forum and got a Bosch for around $200 and a "Star Socket" for $5, did the repair in about 4 hours (had to go back to AutoZone to have them swap pulleys as I don't have any air tools yet). Then I took in the core and got $75 back, so the repair cost me less than $150 and one afternoon. First time ever opening the hood on a Benz. I did call my local MB dealer and was told that to drive in and get an "initial" diag would be around $200, if it was the alt. and they replaced it my bill would only be around $900 and that was after I dropped a poo brick through the phone. My lesson learned was NEVER go to the dealer unless it's covered.
8.2v under load, and 9.5cold so they tried to sell me a new battery. I took it home and charged it overnight and it seemed to be fine for three days then everything started again only worse. So I called AutoZone based on this forum and got a Bosch for around $200 and a "Star Socket" for $5, did the repair in about 4 hours (had to go back to AutoZone to have them swap pulleys as I don't have any air tools yet). Then I took in the core and got $75 back, so the repair cost me less than $150 and one afternoon. First time ever opening the hood on a Benz. I did call my local MB dealer and was told that to drive in and get an "initial" diag would be around $200, if it was the alt. and they replaced it my bill would only be around $900 and that was after I dropped a poo brick through the phone. My lesson learned was NEVER go to the dealer unless it's covered.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 270
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From: Western Michigan
2003 E320 4Matic Wagon & 1997 E320
As I said earlier, if you have a charging system problem. Buy a voltage regulator and change it. It is cheap, easy to replace, and the most probable cause.
My W210's are not up to the miles yet. The voltage regulators on my W124's are like clock work. After 100k - 120k miles, the brushes (usually one of them) are shot. It costs about $35 and a couple screws holding it in place.
If the battery is ruled out, there are three main causes of charging system failures. If you measure the voltage on the battery with car idling, it should be around 14 volts. If not, there is a problem in the charging system.
1. Worn voltage regulator (brushes).
2. Cable discontinuity.
3. Alternator internal problem.
1 and 2 are cheap and easy to check/replace. Only if these two are ruled out, a new or rebuilt alternator is needed. Most alternators can last over 150k miles (does not mean one cannot fail below that mileage).
My W210's are not up to the miles yet. The voltage regulators on my W124's are like clock work. After 100k - 120k miles, the brushes (usually one of them) are shot. It costs about $35 and a couple screws holding it in place.
If the battery is ruled out, there are three main causes of charging system failures. If you measure the voltage on the battery with car idling, it should be around 14 volts. If not, there is a problem in the charging system.
1. Worn voltage regulator (brushes).
2. Cable discontinuity.
3. Alternator internal problem.
1 and 2 are cheap and easy to check/replace. Only if these two are ruled out, a new or rebuilt alternator is needed. Most alternators can last over 150k miles (does not mean one cannot fail below that mileage).
