This is actually not true. One supplier I use uncovered the sordid truth that the 70amp alternator only puts out 55 amps or so at full tilt and barely keeps up with latent demand at idle. He documented this by testing several Bosch rebuilt units. He called Bosch on this and Bosch acknowledged that he was correct. Apparently the alternators are mislabeled/overrated. According to the 1991 technical data manual, on the test bench the 70 amp alternator is rated at 26 amps at 1500 rpm, both the 80 amp and 100 amp alternators are rated at 36 amps at 1500 rpm and the 110 and 120 amp alternators are rated at 60 amps at 1800 rpm. My 300TE had the factory installed 80 amp alternator with a 75 watt RMS X 4 secondary amp, 100 watt H-4 headlights, HVAC constantly turned on (Florida heat you understand) and I never had a problem with dead batteries or shortened battery life. Ps2cho, I would install whatever alternator fits your budget that you can find at a junk yard (no core) provided the alternator is at least the 80amp unit used in the later model 124 vehicles. Mark