Coming back to the alternator - maybe I should just leave well enough alone. For the time being, I'll just check the voltage of the battery: if it's at 13.5V-14.9V with the engine running, that means the alternator is doing its job (not too little nor too much charge, which means the voltage regulator is still okay). Your friend's RM700 alternator - sounds like a 120 Ampere here(?) I've also been thinking about the replacement, when the time does come. I don't think a potong unit would be a good idea. It will depend a lot on luck because we don't know its exact condition. It might just last for a few months. Or a few years if lucky.
Reconditioned/Rebuilt: I've read that there are different grades. The highest is "fully rebuilt" where the critical components have been replaced, and only the casing (repainted and looks shiny like new) and maybe screws are the original. Then "partly rebuilt"... "serviced". We don't really know which is which and have to take the seller's word for it. Maybe it's better to just bite the bullet and buy a new one where everything is really new. It might be more expensive but this is a critical component in the car. I've heard that a new unit should last 5-7 years. So maybe it will turn out to be cheaper over the longer term than buying recond ones.
Not sure how many ampere battery but is a original Proton Waja one. My friend changed to a recon unit which lasted only a year plus, so now trying the original unit. Problem is even though it cost so much, seems it does not have any warranty, means if it konk in 6 months, RM700 in burnt. Actually paying RM700 I don't mind if it comes with at least a year warranty, but to gamble with it looks like not worth....
As for me, I have tried half cut shop ones and probably no luck as one failed in one week only and the second unit about one to two months. That is why I went for recon unit. So far lasted about 2 years. Price of recon also more by RM50 to 70 only....