Kieran28

My aging 2003 W210 is in need of a new alternator. Thing is, this is the second in 18months... and that one was only 2 years old. So, I've burned through 2 alternators in about 3.5 years or so, and about 50,000 miles. Am I just unlucky or is there an underlying problem? The Battery was replaced with the alternator both times. What could be making the alt. run so hard that it wears out so quickly? More information: I've put about 5000 miles, maybe less, in the last year on this car. We hardly use it any more, keep it more as a spare. So I'm not too inclined to spend $800 on another alternator (and no I'm not willing to do it myself) if it's just going to burn through the next one again in a year or two.
Any suggestions or tips? Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks!
KC

fabbrisd1

On "shopping" for your next alternator - I might suggest fcpeuro.com since they have a "Lifetime Replacement Warranty" - depending on the alternator model a reman can be $170-$300.

You might consider check/replace belt tensioner and belt system - and check water pump for signs of premature failure

Plutoe

Save yourself some money, have it correctly remaned locally!!

kajtek1

What was wrong with replaced alternators?
Alternators are 1 million miles items on MB and the only thing that wears at 100-200k miles are brushes aka Voltage Regulator.