Time to replace my starter - my indie MB tech tells me that they are banking on people selling their cars first before using that "lifetime waranty" and that these starters have a life of 2-3 years. Can anyone dispute this through experience? All comments based on fact/experience welcome!

Sounds right. On my suburban 1984 diesel I had to replace my lifetime starter very soon after i bought it cant remember but less than 2 yrs . And i dont drive it much. I think its bad again draining my battery.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

New Bosch starters are so expensive!

I am now going to local rebuilders.

I have found Napa rebuilds are also good.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

So, I have a back up starter, what do rebuilders charge typically? I might just go the Bosch reman way after all . . . thanks, all good input!

You get what you pay for. A starter from Malaysia is not rebuilt, its "repainted". A starter re manufactured in Germany is fully tested with numerous new parts.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I have four or five good used starters. I have saved them from every car parted out but so far have never needed one.

You might consider a used one.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

These Mean Green starters are about the best I have come across. They are $$$ though.

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2-3 years is a bit optimistic. A high percentage are dead right out of the box. Don't waste your time on chain store overhauled parts.

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

The above is a good point. Replacing a dead Starter is enough work that it is best to have them Test your rebuilt one before you leave the auparts place.

I was looking at a place that sold Starter Parts and they were selling brand X Starter Solenoids for as low as $12. You can guess that the cheap ones go on rebuilt starters.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The last two starters I replaced both tested as good. I hate to think people are taking their starters in, having them test good, and assuming that's good enough and looking elsewhere for their vehicle's problem when it really is the starter that's bad after all.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

x2.

I had to use some O'rielly's stuff in a pinch on my Suburban as well, third time was the charm for the starter to work, and even then it lasted 6-7 months if I remember. Good thing for my was they had a few in stock, being a 350 Chevy and all. I had OK luck with some Napa stuff (brake calipers for said Suburban) in the past, but I'll never buy O'rielly's again.

I'd go used &/or have mine rebuilt. Anytime I do cave & buy chain store garbage, I have it bench tested before leaving the store. This goes for anything electric. Most mechanical things can't be tested.

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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.

This above!

Why people fail to have their reman parts tested prior to install is beyond me.

I was in a pinch when the starter in my SD died. Replaced in 4-5 years back with one from Autozone and it is fine still.

My F150 has an Oreilly starter, I have had two in about 12 years of ownership. The alternator on it is a 130A 3G (conversion from the comical 65A) is an Autozone reman I found in the junkyard.



McParts stores in my area have different levels of reman quality from what appears to be nothing more than a cleaning and new voltage regulator to pretty much an entire new unit.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I've noticed that the local AutoZone tests supposedly "new" starters before handing them over to customers. I suppose they, too, have been burned by remanufacturers and try to catch the bad starters and alternators before they go out the door.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.