Is this a good Ebay alternator for W123?
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-ALTERNATOR-300D-450SL-74-85-120AMP-Diesel-/170574879052?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27b70e194c

Mercedes Bosch Alternator Diesel

This alternator is 120 amp, comes with Bosch regluator

, fan and you can use your own pulley

Body is bigger than the original one but fits exactly same place, you need to upgrade plug , it comes with instruction and new terminal


What do they mean "you can use your own pulley? Doesn't it come with it's own double pulley? Anyone used this seller's alternators? Any problems?
My alternator may be on it's last leg. Battery light is flickering and charge voltage fluctuating between 12.9 to 13.4 volts. I am going to check the regulator tomorrow and put another one (with new brushes) in. If that doesn't fix it, I may buy this Ebay alternator if I don't hear anything bad about it..

standard al129 alternator. not a bad price. yes it fits, yes wiring is needed, and your pulley from your alternator will bolt in place fine.
how well it was reubilt is the question. he has large feedback numbers, and not a terrible rating... 98ish %...
you can get one from most parts yards, from the saab 9000

Dont you have to really dig to get at the saab one tho?

Looks like an overclocked 80amp to me. The photo clearly shows a double pulley. Ask them.

It is not, they came with double belts factory. And this one is physically larger.



I have the same unit (from the same seller) on my SD, works great.

Do you know if it's Saab 120 A rebuilt for the Mercedes? How many miles do you have on yours?

Not sure, but the case is physically larger so I would venture to guess it is the 119X model or whatever.

I guess I put it on over a year ago, maybe 18 months? :confused: Not many miles, mostly around town driving. Around 5000 miles I guess.

Put one on my '83 745i BMW from the same place.

Just bought the Ebay alternator! I put in another voltage regulator with almost new brushes (that I put in) and the battery light is still flickering. I think what's causing the flicker is the armature is worn down and not making good contact. I can feel a pretty deep grove in there. Hope it holds up till the new alternator arrives.

I also got that alternator off ebay. No problems in the last 250miles (ok so i haven't driven it very far ;) )
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/...964a33e4_z.jpg

one thing that was a bit tricky was the belt size. once i got belts that work, I had to really work them onto the pulleys, and there is not much adjustment. but in the end I think it was worth it.

Good to hear no problems! Did you tighten the loose nuts?

I jiggled the 3 terminal connector and no more flickering battery light and the charging voltage is back to normal. The problem was probably the funky connector all along. My new alternator is on it's way. I will keep the old alternator as a spare after cleaning it up.

How did you have a three terminal connector on an OE 120A alternator, which should have had lugs. If it has the three posts, IMO it is overclocked...

lol yeah the pic is from when i was test fitting it. Its about 1/2 wider then the stock alternator, and the bracket comes close to the heater hose that is just above it. but it does not touch, so its good to go.

you may be right, the alternator body also looks like the lower amp model, as you can see in the pic the higher amp model has no colored stripe in the middle... this might mean it doesn't have the fitment issues of the higher amp model.

The 3 terminals are on my old alternator. I did say that the new alternator is on it's way, that means I don't have it yet, and I don't know what the wiring arangements are with the new alternator, though the Ebay ad did say "you need to upgrade plug".

Aaah, misread. Thanks!