Hello!
I have a 240d that Im befuddled with. Heres the scoop:
I was letting my 18 year old brother drive the car (its a manual) to get some experience with it. He drove about 2 miles and stalled 4 times. He pulled into his friends driveway and stalled one last time.
After that last stall the car would not start. When I turn the ignition I can hear the starter motor spinning, but its not engaging the flywheel to turn the engine over. I thought maybe it was the solenoid on the starter that was shot and not extending the motor to the flywheel, so I replaced the starter. I'm still hearing the same noise, and its still not engaging the flywheel and the engine isnt even trying to turn over. I don't hear grinding to indicate the sprockets on the flywheel are shot.
Is there some sort of electrical problem that would not keep the starter from engaging? or is it more likely something physically wrong with the clutch/flywheel? It seems obvioulsy it was likely the repeated stalling/starting that wore something out!
Any advice? I love this car to death and cant stand to see it disabled!
thanks,
-carl

As you are aware you just might have two starters with the same basic defect. Pull the starter and check the teeth on the flywheel. If they seem pretty good rotate the flywheel with a screwdriver or get a friend to turn with the front crank bolt. If good teeth are present you really usually can blame the starter.