thanks for the tip - I may just do that. I bet the shop would take back my VR if I bought an alt from them.

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1979 Thistle Green 300D 272,xxx miles
1984 Orient Red 300 D 4 spd Euro Import - 189,xxx miles
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Lofat Productions
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This isn't an OE Benz unit tho' is it... ?

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Hi, the old regulator shown in your pictures is typically for mercedes so you probably have the wrong replacement regulator and maybe not. The clue besides the suppliers cross refference to your old part (have him double check it by part numbers over phone) is the spacing between the mounting holes. Most important as an earlier post mentioned it looks like you have a loose brush wire. That indicates replacement of the regulator will most likely get you back in buisiness. Fairly common regulator.

One thing to keep in mind is things change, what the VR might have looked like 20 years ago may not be what the replacement ones look like today.

btw, I've got one to do as well on my 617. Alt doesn't start charging untill after engine is revved. Never had the battery go dead either, its a 850Amp EN VRLA battery and the radio is far from stock as well, still doesn't drain it

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

thanks for the replies - i suspect that it is the wrong one... i too thought that it might be just cosmetic, but the new one has a funky metal clip which makes me think i got the wrong part.

anyone know off hand the part number for the correct VR?

if not, I am sure i can find it.

Cheers,

Scott

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1979 Thistle Green 300D 272,xxx miles
1984 Orient Red 300 D 4 spd Euro Import - 189,xxx miles
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Lofat Productions
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The cracked black box is the noise supressor for the radio. Will not affect charging. Reman alt does not come with one. Keep it and put some silicone on the crack.

I had alternator problems too. I had my original bosch "rebuilt" and bench tested at a local alternator shop. But he did not put in a Bosch brush pack/regulator. It lasted 10 months.

I talked to my Mercedes mechanic and he said that is typical. That unless you use a Bosch regulator/brush pack, he sees cars coming in frequently with these not working within 10months to one year.

Your's looks like a very clean alternator. Any play in the shaft bearings?
I bought a factory remanufactured alt. Bosch that said on the box - remaned in Germany for $75. The brush pack was $30. I figured for the difference and the one year warranty, it was worth not being left on the roadside. Bosch also gives you a year of free roadside assistance with the reman alt.

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1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

sometimes its hard to getb the feel of putting that VR in. Try putting the old one in, then the new one, then the old one, then the new one. You'll get a feel for it, and see if the new one fits. If you can get the old one in easily but can't with the new one, get another. If you can't get either in, its your technique, try again. Don't feel bad if you have trouble, I did. Second, check your grounds, especially the large cable mounted from the frame to the engine where the starter mounts. If this is loose, I bet I know why the car has a new battery and starter.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

The broken brush wire will deffinately cause chrging problems.

Hear are the MB part #s for regulators that would fit your factory alt.
002 154 4106
002 154 5106
002 154 7206
An aftermarket transpo # IB354 or IB372A should fit bosch alts.

The trick to getting the vr in is to make sure the brushes slide into the slots in the regulator smoothly, this is what you are fighting when you put it into the alt. If the stator rings(copper ring) have grooves worninto them then it also makes things a little hader.

If you go for a higher amp unit look for a 70 amp. Anything larger will have a stud to connect the charge wire on the back of the alternator, instead of the double large spade terminals. Not a big deal but you will have to run a new wire to the battery.

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82 Rabbit diesel (first d), 84 Jetta turbo d (300k when sold), 83 240d (305k when sold), 84 F250 6.9d w/Banks turbo(parts truck), 86 F250 6 cyl.gasser(waiting for 6.9d), 84 300d ( 347k Sold 8/04), Y2k New Bettle TDI (185k miles), 95 740IL (wifes), 87 300TD (206k Sold 7/05), 05 Passat TDI Wagon

All -

Thanks again for all the help and advice.

To close the loop -

I ordered another voltage regulator - this time from **************.com - requested three day ups - it came in two (I'll also add that the people at **************.com are some of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of talking too). Anyway - the new one was just like the old one so getting it in wasn't too tough. They also included a sheet with some tips that made a world of difference.

Popped it in - broke out the fully charged portable charger (mighty mite or something) and tried like hell to get it to crank. I learned that those $50.00 portable chargers suck!

Pulled the truck around and after about 15 minutes of letting it charge up I managed to get the Benz to crank and start.

Let it run for about 45 minutes and finally worked up enough nerve to turn it off and try to start it.

Let the plugs cycle and vroom - there it went.

So - assuming I didn't wreck my battery - I am cool. It was in fact the VR that caused the problem and it seems to be fixed.

I have an extra voltage regulator (not used) that I may try to return it tomorrow - but seeing as that it is an electrical part the local shop may not want to take it back.

Thanks again for all the help I am happy to have my ride back and thrilled that I was able to avoid taking it to the shop.

Cheers,
Scott

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1979 Thistle Green 300D 272,xxx miles
1984 Orient Red 300 D 4 spd Euro Import - 189,xxx miles
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lofat Productions
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Excellent news. Good thing parts are so easy to replace eh?

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

for sure. and another cool thing is that I have spent a lot of time under our cars in the last few days and I am amazed how much sense everything makes. Even to some one wit little to no mechanical aptitude like me.

I was from the school that American cars were the easiest to work on - and - who knows - maybe they are, but these Mercedes Diesels are just (or seem to be anyway) logical.

of course having this board and the manuals from **************.com tie it all together.

Thanks again all

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1979 Thistle Green 300D 272,xxx miles
1984 Orient Red 300 D 4 spd Euro Import - 189,xxx miles
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lofat Productions
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You may increase your possibilities of return on the regulator. Tell them apparently they sold you the wrong one as it did not fit. Become a little creative if they still refuse a cash refund. Ask them if you can take the value on other merchandise. Even a few cans of oil etc. are better than a regulator you will never use.