weird alternator wiring routing on 1980 300TD
 

so i keep reading that my alternator wiring should go to a junction box on the fender area. mine does not :-(

it goes from the alternator, snakes up the fender and goes through the firewall with a bunch of other stuff. and from pulling the kick panel, i can't see where it goes from there.....since i'm wanting to do the AL129X alternator swap right now, and my current alternator (pun!) is dead, i REALLY need to figure out why my sub harness is different than i'm told it should be, and how to route my new beefier wires....help!


photos:


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KwtmW5ADclE/TI...908_234718.jpg


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KwtmW5ADclE/TI...908_234731.jpg


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_KwtmW5ADclE/TI...908_234749.jpg


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KwtmW5ADclE/TI...908_234802.jpg

i will also add that i have two theories about what is up - the car is a euro / gray market, or pre-81 alternator subharnesses are different than 81+. if someone thinks this is a possible euro car and is able to check the vin, please let me know.

My bet is it's a 240TD euro that got a 300 motor and trunk badge stuck in it.
my 78D, and my 79TD have the junction block, and my 80 wagon has it, and my 85euro TD has it. your TD has factory a/c, so that pretty much eliminates it from being a 300TD euro... so either it was a transplant motor into a euro td, or it's been hacked by a PO and the wiring came from a 240...

is there a way to find out if its a euro import? i tried calling classic center but they didnt pick up, and i dont feel like driving over there right now (20 min away).

update: went over to mercedes classic center. very cool place! got data sheet and talked to them, my car is definitely a US car, but they have no idea why the harness is the way it is. they said i should talk to the guy at www.riwire.com and he might be able to tell me whats up.