Greetings!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
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2003 S500 AMG Kit
Greetings!
I am a new owner of a 2003 S500 4 Matic. I live in Nassau County Long Island, NY and was wondering if anyone can recommend a good MB repair shop near East Meadow. I was told by MB Roadside that my alternator is dead. I am contemplating changing it myself by following the directions found here:\
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...place-diy.html
However, I wanted to get a quote in order to see the actual labor costs I would be saving.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...place-diy.html
However, I wanted to get a quote in order to see the actual labor costs I would be saving.
Last edited by Dolfman; Jul 22, 2013 at 06:57 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 96
From: Just north of Detroit,Michigan
2012 E350 4Matic P2
Great instructions from cmitch on the other forum. I have never done this repair myself but I can add the instructions from the WIS which gives the torque values. Also, the factory time allotted for this repair is 2.0 hours which includes R&I of the pulley. If you should decide to only exchange the voltage regulator as cmitch did then that is .2 hrs added to the 1.8 hrs to R&I the Alternator. Either way, still just 2.0 hrs.
If you have more time than money then by all means go for the repair yourself. The list price for the alternator is $1140 so dealer price will be close that so you could be looking at a $14-$1500 bill from the dealer. You can do the job yourself for the price of parts. AutohausAZ has the price of the voltage regulator at $46 and the rebuilt Bosch alternator at $293 exchange.
Just as an aside. Most decent repair shops should be able to handle this simple repair and taking your car to the dealer is not necessary. The dealers are very limited on what they can do as far substituting any parts outside of their factory parts system due to warranty concerns. Frankly, the parts department usually drives the dealerships cash flow.
If you have more time than money then by all means go for the repair yourself. The list price for the alternator is $1140 so dealer price will be close that so you could be looking at a $14-$1500 bill from the dealer. You can do the job yourself for the price of parts. AutohausAZ has the price of the voltage regulator at $46 and the rebuilt Bosch alternator at $293 exchange.
Just as an aside. Most decent repair shops should be able to handle this simple repair and taking your car to the dealer is not necessary. The dealers are very limited on what they can do as far substituting any parts outside of their factory parts system due to warranty concerns. Frankly, the parts department usually drives the dealerships cash flow.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
It is often worthwhile to remove the alternator (remembering that there is a heavy wire connected directly to the battery with no fuse or protection!) and take it to an auto electric repair shop. This is not a general garage, auto parts store, MB specialists, etc., but a shop that repairs/rebuilds alternators, starter, generators, motors, etc. They can replace voltage regulators, brushes, etc. You are assured that the alternator fits and is the correct one for your car, since it is the original. It will be a lot cheaper than a new or even rebuilt one.
