2 Wks ago, I was driving into the golf course parking lot, got out of the car and noticed something not smelling right!! Open the hood and Oil was leaking!!!!!! Turned car back on and noticed it sipping out like a small fountain from on top of the oil filter housing, some of it going into the alternator. Anyway long story short, I get it to my tech, and problem gets fixed, the gasket where the oil filter housing bolts to the block was causing the leak. Needless to say alternator died!!! Anyway the alternator
was a European one, The car first got to the U.S in 1994, and who knows if it had been replaced in Europe. Life of these alternators is not bad eh!!! I think it may have been the original, and was still good had the oil not gone into it!!! Oh and another SUPER thing!! I finally had the timing chain done (maintenance) and found out that the car had a double row and all this time I thought it had a single chain!!!! I haveto put in another good word for the guys at Royal European Motors, in Miami, I have been treated to well there!!!!

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**A few Hondas etc... etc... Not Worth Mentioning**
83 Euro W126 380 sel Money Pit (Sold)
91 W124 300e 2.6. (Sold) 3.0 Motor is Much better!!
93 BMW E34 Touring Wagon (Sold) Sweet Car!!
91 300e (Just 200k with Ease.)Best car ever ???(Sold)
90 420sel (Black with Tan Interior) Best car ever!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing the info about the altenater...

10 years or better is astounding, and to think it may have lasted longer had the oil gremlins not got to it...

Again thanks, this is the type of info not available in books/manuals/ or cd roms...