Starter brands to buy/avoid? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Yumeko-chan · #1 03-03-2012, 02:00 PM

Long story short my starter blew and I need a new one. I know Bosch is the best, but also expensive. What other brands are good, and which ones should I avoid?

engatwork · #2 03-03-2012, 02:17 PM

Install what you can afford. Don't expect the cheap ones to last as long as the original and you won't be disappointed.

junqueyardjim · #3 03-03-2012, 02:24 PM

Surely you don't want to buy a new one. I see "Fastlane" here on the Forum sells a rebuilt "Bosch" for a little over $100.00 but you must return your core, (old one). I would suspect all you can buy is a Bosch new from the stealer for who knows how much. Maybe a rebuilt there also. I would think all of them are Bosch. Not to bad a price and I suspect that is what I would do.

Diesel911 · #4 03-03-2012, 05:51 PM

The consensus seems to be a Starter rebuilt by Bosch is best; you gamble with the rest.

There was a recent thread on where to buy Starter Brushes. I mention this because I did an internet search and found a parts place that sold Starter Parts.
They were selling Solenoids (not real Bosch ones) for as low as $7.49. So you can guess that a non-Bocsh Remanufacturer is buying those cheapie Solenoids and putting them on their rebuilts with the hope they will last past the warranty.
A real Bosch Solenoid is in the $90-$149 range.

Fleet Alternator Starter - Search

Also having to remove and install a Starter is enough work that if you get a rebuilt Starter from a local Parts Seller that you should as them to bench test the Rebuilt Starter. At least that way you know it rotates.

layback40 · #5 03-03-2012, 07:39 PM

If you a real short on cash you may find one at a junk yard.
i would go for the fastlane one. They have a reputation to keep up on here. Have not known them to sell junk.

charmalu · #6 03-04-2012, 01:07 AM

I think a starter you pull at a PNP is around $35. and most likely a Bosch.

It may work good and for a long time. but if it doesn`t, you remove it go back for store credit and get to pull another one.

Charlie

ChiefRider · #7 03-04-2012, 08:06 AM

My personal favorite on starters is to have an oem (not a rebuilt) one from a junk yard on hand. Replace the solenoid, and search the internet for instructions to replace brushes and clean the commutator of the starter motor. IMO that will give you the best starter for the money. Factory new if available would be stupid money, and the commercial rebuilts typically won't last as long as one you do yourself. If you don't feel capable of doing your own, look for a local rebuilder or motor shop. Sadly, these are going the way of the dinosaur but you might be lucky.

jcciem · #8 03-04-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefRider

My personal favorite on starters is to have an oem (not a rebuilt) one from a junk yard on hand. Replace the solenoid, and search the internet for instructions to replace brushes and clean the commutator of the starter motor. IMO that will give you the best starter for the money. Factory new if available would be stupid money, and the commercial rebuilts typically won't last as long as one you do yourself. If you don't feel capable of doing your own, look for a local rebuilder or motor shop. Sadly, these are going the way of the dinosaur but you might be lucky.

Where I live, Schenectady N.Y., starter/alternator rebuilding shops are alive, well and plentiful. Seven of them for a city with 66,000 people. An Advance Auto Parts rebuild is usually around $99 with a 50,000 mile warranty.

charmalu · #9 03-04-2012, 09:33 AM

Here is a source of starter brushes.

Starter Brushes

Here is a starter rebuild thread.

PeachPartsWiki: Starter Motor Rebuild

Charlie

ROLLGUY · #10 03-04-2012, 05:29 PM

As stated, I would agree that finding a good used one (with guarantee) at a wrecking yard would be the best IMO. Stay away from chain store rebuilds. They use Chinese parts, and you WILL be taking advantage of the lifetime warranty. Chances of getting a good one at your local wrecking yard are probably better than getting a good reman from the chain auto stores (and for less$).

jcciem · #11 03-04-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

As stated, I would agree that finding a good used one (with guarantee) at a wrecking yard would be the best IMO. Stay away from chain store rebuilds. They use Chinese parts, and you WILL be taking advantage of the lifetime warranty. Chances of getting a good one at your local wrecking yard are probably better than getting a good reman from the chain auto stores (and for less$).

"A good used one from the local wrecking yard" Having worked at a local wrecking yard, when you put power to it and the solenoid engages and the starter spins it's a good one. If it fails the next day I'll give you another one that passed the same test. How exactly do you know the one from the wrecking yard isn't a rebuilt from the local chain store with Chinese parts? We made no such distinctions when putting the starters on the rack. They were tagged with year,make, and model , thats it, nothing else.

ChiefRider · #12 03-04-2012, 06:27 PM

You are right of course, it's the luck of the draw. But it is a cheaper alternative and there is a fairly good chance it will be a non-rebuilt unit, whereas buying a rebuilt= no chance.

And it's not just the chinese parts, it's also the handling that commercial rebuilts go through, tossed into drums, etc.

ROLLGUY · #13 03-04-2012, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefRider

You are right of course, it's the luck of the draw. But it is a cheaper alternative and there is a fairly good chance it will be a non-rebuilt unit, whereas buying a rebuilt= no chance.

And it's not just the chinese parts, it's also the handling that commercial rebuilts go through, tossed into drums, etc.

Especially around here, we have access to at least 7 yards (within an hour drive), and many have more than one car to choose from. Then there is my local Ecology that is "import only". They usually have at least 6 or 7 Diesel 'Benzs to pull parts from.

Simpler=Better · #14 03-05-2012, 01:08 PM

I rebuilt mine in a couple hours (most of the time was spent cleaning it). If you can solder, it's fairly easy

Renntag · #15 03-05-2012, 01:43 PM

Still trying to wrap my head around how a starter "Blows up". :eek

I have had chain store rebuilt units that went the long haul and I have had them die in 6 months. I have rebuilt them myself as well. Flip a coin or just decide what best fits what you are comfortable with.

I believe that if you have decent bearings/bushings in a used unit, cleaning it up may provide decent service life for a short dollar.

Can you provide a picture of your "Blown up" starter? Love to see it.