Internal Voltage Regulator
 

Greetings,
For fun and excitement, I've been reading the threads which have to do with voltage regulators. My 95 e300d is approaching 195k and I'm always trying to stay one step ahead of the game replacing regular wear items before they fail, i.e. pads, rotors, belts, pulley, fan clutch, leaky trans cooler pipes, ignition tumbler, etc.
My limited understanding is that my 95 e300d alternator has an internal voltage regulator. How does an internal voltage regulator differ from an external one which can be replaced? I am assuming that the whole alternator gets replaced when it fails to charge. Thanks.

External you can change with out removing the Alt. Internal you can change, but you have to find the correct replacement, and remove and disassemble the alt.

Older GM alts (70's to 80's) were easy to rebuild, and the had intenal regulators as well.

connerm,

116 cars had a Bosch alternator with an internal v-reg. The v-reg could be removed by removing 2 screws without removing or distrubing the alternator. The brushes are located in the v-reg and are also easily replaced.

Possibly other MB cars are the same.

P E H

i replaced the 70amp alternator on my 91 300d with a 143amp and i think the regulator on either one could be replaced without removing the alt.Seems to me it would depend on your dexterity level,simple job but not in a convenient location. My $.02 Don