So I've had this odd event a few times when starting my 115. When I pull out the starter knob (after letting the gps heat up) I get that grrrr sound as if the engine has already been started. Any ideas what my cause this?

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1987 300TD; 166,000 mi/267151 Km - had to make room for the dog
1973 220D; mileage ??????
1978 300D; 178,000

In the starter solenoid all waxy-like. Or a bad battery. Maybe both.

Jay.

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On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

It sounds like the bendix is not engaging completely making the starter grind on the flywheel.

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1998 E320 150,000
1980 300SD 240,000
1965 190D 79,000

Check all battery terminals and associated grounds would be my first move and then the battery.

Does it happen only when its cold? If so, the greasy, sticky bendix seems like tne best hypothesis to me.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Thanks for all the suggestions. When the rain lets up, I'll check out the solenoid and battery terminals. It's only happened 3 times so I'm not sure if it's a only a cold start issue. BTW: when you suggest grease, do you mean that a build up of grease is blocking the solenoid from fully engaging?

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1987 300TD; 166,000 mi/267151 Km - had to make room for the dog
1973 220D; mileage ??????
1978 300D; 178,000

True. Most likely thing to grind. Battery not the likely culprit. Plan on pulling the starter.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Pull the starter and examine the teeth on it.

I have had similar on two Rover SD1 v8's,the teeth get worn and start to fold over so it is then difficult for them to engage on the flywheel.

My cure at the time was to use a hand grinder and dress the worn part away.

The starter will still engage and work correctly as you will only need take a couple of millimetres off to get the teeth back to shape.

The ggrrrr sound is the starter teeth spinning on the flywheel because the part of the tip that has flattened out finds it hard to engage with the flywheel,so about 1 start out of ten it will growl.

It is an easy fix and the starter will then go on for thousands of miles.

The Teeth on the Ring Gear can also get messed up and can prevent the Starter Gear from even reaching the Ring Gear Teeth. The metal can burr outwards making the Gear thicker in the burred area.
I have taken a File to the teeeth on a Chevy ounce and the Volvo twice and fixed the no starter engagement problem.
However, on a Mercedes there is not much room to get at the Teeth.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel