I'd echo Steve's comments about upgrading to the 80A. His advice paid off for me.

My 70A stock alternator finally failed after many regulator replacements and years of service and I decided to get the newer 80A unit. BIG difference. The one thing I noticed right off the bat was no more flickering dash lights at idle. I could even turn the AC on at idle and the lights wouldn't dim - something that always happened before.

It's a simple conversion. The alternator itself bolts right into place, same belt, etc. Rather than buy the upgraded wiring harness, I just soldered on some connections myself (the 80A Bosch unit I bought had bolt-on connections).

Simple job, big pay-off.

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon