Panzer,

Original V-reg was Bosch and there is a Bosch replacement available. Its more expensive than the non Bosch one available from Fastlane.

I just soldered the new brushes into the original Bosch regulator. Easy to do once I figured out how.

If anyone is interested how to replace the brushes with the braided wire, I'll explain.

P E H

everyone needs to carry a spare brush assembly in there glove box..
very important....

blueranger,

Yes, I agree everyone should carry a spare V-regulator and I do carry a spare regulator. However, sometimes its the ALT itself that goes bad and replacing the V-regulator won't help.

P E H

Probably a good idea, but I've never bothered to carry a spare v-reg because I can get home without it (in daylight, at least). I once had my alternator fail in the middle of Iowa, and ended up driving about 600 miles without shutting it off. As long as the brake lights work you can pretty much drive forever without an alternator.

thats true in a diesel you can keep driving.... my first experience with these were with volvos and i missed a christmas because of the v regulator....so from that point i started carrying one of these and i have changed many in the dark and in the rain....but it only becomes important in a diesel if you cut the car off....or its dark...

yes, everynow and then you will actually lose an alternator... although i have not lost one since 1984.... if you do loose an alternator do not replace it with an american alternator, Its better to have a 200k bosch alternator than a brand new american replacement.... the reason its better to have the bosch is because you want to be able to change the brush assembly in the future.. once you buy the american then your stuck replacing alternators from then on.

also on many of these bosch alternators they will have two belts, they are called a matched pair... I dont remember if the last time i replaced them if its this way on a mercedes... I think on the volvo you buy the matched pair and i think you just buy 2 belts for the mercedes....(its much better to get a matched pair)

This is a good idea. Carrying around one that may be old, but has not failed entirely is also possible. Probably possible to pick up one from Junkyard cheap. Alternatively, carrying around an old but functional alternator is another possibility. Again, one can probably pick 'em up in a junkyard and get 'em tested at Autozone or Checker. Of course, this is most relevant if you are going into the boonies (?Mexico) where spares might be hard to acquire. You can only carry so much in the way of spare parts. At some point, something will go wrong that cannot be easily fixed with stuff you are carrying!

__________________
Der Panzermann und Fraulein Fahrvergnuegen

1991 420SEL 201K "The Big Blue One"
1985 300DT 205K chassis/285K engine nee California emissions "Goldbug"
1983 300TDT 255K "The Womble"
1983 300 DT 214K "Sea Sprite"-Rear-ended a truck
1983 300SD 285K "The Donor" Gave his life so that others can live
1980 500SL Euro 105K "Der Panzer"