"I can't imagine MB doing anything "dumb"- there seems to be a reasoned approach to everything "----Dave

I think that also.... and would apply the same thought to the starter... How many millions of MB's.....and how many billions of ' starts' have been done with the original starter ?
I paid $100 plus tax for my Bosch rebuilt starter...and it made all the difference... like night and day....and cost $200 less than that Greenmean..
The MB starters also have huge brushes ( pieces of carbon used to rub against the armature )... I just doubt that the overall quality of those gear reduction starters would be as good as a new MB starter....