Title pretty much says it. Got a warning light on the Mercedes, battery/alternator "get thee to a workshop". A VOM is showing only about 12.6 volts on the terminals when running.

I hate paying to have car work done, and could probably do it myself if I had all the correct torx type sockets. But damn, having looked at the procedures I found online, it looks like it could be quite a bitch. So, should I dive in, and try it....OR.....

Bite the bullet and pay. If I do, does anyone have a Mercedes guy they would recommend in the Oakland, CA area?

Not a Mercedes guy per se, but my goto mechanic for the daily driver Jetta is Joe Fink from Finks Automotive in Alameda.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finks-Automo...196816440456650

The last honest mechanic in the bay area ...

Thanks Andy! Will call him for sure.