The entire exhaust system and down pipe is behind the cross member and is not visible with the car on the ground, anyone who'd ever actually worked on one or even looked would know this .

I have a lot of curbside repair experience as I was a Field Mechanic for a long time, I have also seen heads popped like rotten tomatoes so ignoring my safety warnings is up to you .

Try shortening the warmup time, as soon as it'll pull away smoothly, do so as excessive idling isn't good for the engine or the rest of the driveline .

Not running the heater fan will increase the charge rate marginally ~ the original alternator is only 35 amperes or so , using anything other than a BOSCH branded voltage regulator guarantees lower charging rate, BT, DT, tested it to death and I know this .

I hope you're doing O.K. out there, January isn't done yet and February is next ~ BRrrrrrrrrr........

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better