I thought I would add something else that happened recently to the equation.

About a month ago one of my hi-beams popped when I engaged them. The next night at the same time the other one popped. I got a blue flash and then no hi-beams.

Low beams work fine but when I turn on the brights I have NO lights.

Would this be a voltage regulator problem?
Especially when you consider that my battery is cooking off?

Could the regulator be occasionally failing even though I could not get it to go above 14 when I tested it?

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1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.

Sounds like overcharging. causing your fuses to pop. (Or your headlights to pop)

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

When I bought the alternator a year ago at Autozone the first one didn't charge at all.

Now this one had a different voltage regulator on it and worked for about a year before it apparently has ruined the battery.

I had a back-up regulator in the glove box so I put it on this morning, when the battery was dead again but with water still in it....

I measured the output and it was less than the other one. It never got above 13.5.

I'll drive it a bit today and see what happens.

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1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.

13.5 is within the allowable/correct charging voltage range.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

It also seems to work much better. It was bought specifically for the car.

I think that the alternator I got was for several different vehicles.

I also seem to notice that my lights are brighter????

The battery also is holding a charge so far. I will see in a minute if it held one over night.

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1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.