$468 for a REBUILT alternator?! WITH EXCHANGE?!

[aNtHrAx323]

Ok, tell me why my local Mercedes dealership wants $468 for a rebuilt alternator, even when I provide my dying alternator for credit? I see them available for $210 on this site's parts area, so I'm trying to figure out if this guy was an idiot and didn't understand my statement that I just wanted the part, not installation. Anyone have any insight?

Oh, and btw... It's a 1988 300E with 171,000 miles. Apparently it's about time for a new alternator.

[Hatterasguy]

Well because they are a dealer, and you don't buy stuff like that from a dealer.

[MTI]

I take it you go grocery shopping at your local airport?

[lee polowczuk]

have you checked your voltage regulator to make sure the contacts aren't worn down too much?

20 dollar fix. although at your mileage, I guess it should be time for an alternator

[Strife]

If you don't get a shop discount, sometimes it isn't even worth buying parts at a dealer and installing it yourself. Body shops traditionally I think get like a 40% discount on parts from retail. When I was a kid, we had a very friendly parts guy at a Chevy dealer, who had set up a bogus shop that we bought our stuff through, a very good customer, always paid cash...

[haasman]

Look up in the Yellow Pages under Auto Electric for a business that rebuilds starters, electric motors and alternators. Ask them for an estimate. Typically 1/4 the cost of MBZ exchanges.

Haasman

[Wes Bender]

There are some occasional exceptions (usually the small odd bits), but most dealer prices are quite a bit higher than what you would pay here or Perf Prod or other retailers.

[Jim H]

Originally Posted by aNtHrAx323

Ok, tell me why my local Mercedes dealership wants $468 for a rebuilt alternator, even when I provide my dying alternator for credit? I see them available for $210 on this site's parts area, so I'm trying to figure out if this guy was an idiot and didn't understand my statement that I just wanted the part, not installation. Anyone have any insight?

Um, $210 for parts, $250 for labor (2.5 hrs, $100/hr) would explain it.

Best Regards,
Jim

[ILUVMILS]

My Parts Dept. tells me that there are two alternators available for your car, depending on the engine number. One lists for $219, the other for $390. Make sure you're not being quoted the worst case scenario.

[aNtHrAx323]

For clarification my model uses the 70-amp alternator, which is what they quoted me the price for... Without installation. However, I found another Mercedes parts shop whose owner is actually the father of a kid I went to high school with, so he gave me a badass deal on a Bosch-rebuilt 70-amp alternator (packaged and everything, looks brand new): $195. Hell yes.

Now, the new problem... I'm trying to figure out a way to release the belt tensioner. I called my uncle and he said I have to remove the engine fan first, but unfortunately, that apparently requires special tools. Has anyone ever removed the fan without using the Mercedes tools? How would you recommend going about changing out the alternator? I'll take any advice I can get... I might need to start a new thread for this one.