The alternator on my 2010 TDV8 just packed up, no warning at all. The wife was on the school run (about 7km), she pulled over to adjust the drivers seat (I'm to blame for the memory setting was lost) and stopped the car. At that point the car lost total power. I get the phone call, grab a few tools and the jump starter.
The battery had run down to about 9v, even the clock had stopped. There was a burning smell from some where in the engine bay. I could not jump start it so I had to remove the battery and take it home to recharge it. She stayed there for 4 hours as the car could not be locked.

Once charged I took it straight to the dealers. A day later they rang to say it was definately the alternator and it would be $2,300 (UKP 1,250) to replace it.

It seams a bit odd that the alternator goes at 39,000km (24,000 miles).

More likely is that the battery was failing and that has caused the alternator to fail. My old TDV8 had that problem - someone had put the wrong battery in and it caused the alternator to die at 55k miles. New alternator and the correct battery and the alternator is still going strong at 190k miles (I still see the guy I sold the vehicle to at 175k so I know it's still going).

You might just have been unlucky with the battery, especially if you do lots of short journeys. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

1250 uk equivalent is ridiculous. Find a good indy. My 2012 sdv6 had its replaced by me for under half that with a new battery as well.

The battery is just over 2 years old. Once recharged it operated properly.
The price for the alternator (factory original is AU$1550). AU$2,300 does not seem outrageous fitted.

The cost of the battery alone is AU$700 aftermarket.

So you paid less than UKP 300 for the alternator fitted? They must work for nothing.

You seem to have misinterpreted what I said. I said you paying the equivalent of 1250 uk fitted was ridiculous. It is/would be in the UK. I keep my bills and found mine, 680 fitted (£, UK) by my local indy.