Heres a post I've had in my file. I dont know where or who it came from but it might be worth checking out. Apparently there was a glitch in the "one size does fit all" idea, at least at one time. I've never seen another post concerning this so who knows.

"MB sells the replacement starter # 003 151 07 01 88 for all years 616 and 617 motors. That number replaces a number of different previous numbers.
Bosch still sells the replacements under 2 numbers SR 61x and SR 67x. The first fits the early years and the last the newer years as per your description. I have used the SR 67x for years for all motors thinking I was using the higher output starter.
Recently we had a 80 model 240D that over two years we put a SR 67x starter on it every six months almost to the day. The problem on each was the starter stayed engaged and the person drove it till it destroyed itself. We got with Bosch as we are a Bosch Service Center and they said at first that the staters were interchangeable. On further research an engineering document was found that indicated that certain of the cores used for SR 61xs would need a machine operation in the mountng area to be interchanged. We replaced the starter ring gear the last time and used the SR 61x and I think its been over six months.
The MB numbers replaces all, so from them one size does fit all."

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"