Hello All!

So to update everyone who followed my post last week, the car is actually a 1985 300d with 250k miles, a European import. It has cloth seats, manual windows, manual sunroof, and a 4 speed stick shift! The interior is in rough shape, and there is rust on the exterior. In fact, from the trunk, I can see daylight through the rear wheel wells. So it needs some work to say the least, but that's okay because I got it for a great price. I bought it from my friend today, however, it's still in his driveway and here's why:

We had to jump start it because the battery was dead. It took a long time to jump start and once we got it going we drove it around and it had an extremely rough idle...ridiculously rough. So rough that the entire hood was shaking and when I was sitting in the drivers seat I could feel the intense vibration and noise. However, a little bit of gas and it smoothes out completely. Any thoughts on why this would be? It's long overdue for a value adjustment, but I think there might be more going on than that.

After we got it started and drove around for a bit we also realized none of the lights, radio, turn signals, are working. We turned off the car and it wouldn't start again. When the car was connected to my truck with jumper cables all the lights worked. So we know the battery is dead but we think the alternator may be dead as well since none of of the lights were working while the car was running. Does this sound right?

I know I need to get a new battery, and now I'm thinking I will need to put in a new alternator.

The car has been sitting all winter (I'm in Vermont) but had a new battery installed last fall.

Does anyone have a link to a good DIY alternator installation? Is this a difficult installation?

Would I want to replace it was a 65amp, or a 115amp? I saw the prices for the 65amp alternators on the FastLane shop.

Any thoughts here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Ya Mar

(P.S. - will post pics as soon as it's in my driveway. it was too dark to drive it home without lights)

300d is already an underpowered car even in turbo form--i'd stick with the original amp alternator. you don't need a high output alternator draining power from an already underpowered car.

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The Bosch AL-129-X alternator used in the Saab will fit into the w123. it is just a little larger in size than the 65 amp stock alternator.

I changed mine to the 115 amp last summer. I replaced the harness from the alt to the junction box on the inner fender by the battery to a larger wire. actually changed both wires to a larger wire. soldered on new ends. also added a wire from the junction box to the plus side of the battery.

My 85 300D gutless pos turbo (as the previous poster refered to them) does just fine. the alternator does not slow them down.

"Alternator" 115 Amp Bosch AL129X works in 123s!

you can do a further search on al-129-x alternator and find more to read.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

as a fellow owner of an 82 300dt "gutless pos turbo" (terminology I never used myself), i'm pretty sure i'm not biased against the car, but against anything that makes it slower

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Any alternator, be it 65A or 115A will not be a drag on the engine. Unless it is powering a 3000W boom box blasting rap music while driving. If there is no load or just a radio then it would not slow down the engine.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

right but why else would you want to get a higher amperage alternator if not to blast radio by ll cool j?

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I was just reading between the lines

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

If you say so that Dude is way tooooo cool.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works