Thanks dude99 and CTTurbo001 for speaking the final word on this. I was super concerned about finding a new starter for my car. I had initially seen them (and no shortage), but now I couldn't find them anymore. I just realized I made the mistake of looking for 1985 300TD, which appear to all be sold out. My car is a 1985 model, but built in August 1984 (in the beginning I thought it was an 84, but some parts looked 85, ended up confirming with VIN that its a "85 model". One tell tale: my SLS fluid container is on the drivers side of the engine bay, just like any other 1985).

Long story short, I started looking for 1984 starters again, et voila, lots to chose from. I'll buy a reman ACDelco (Bosch core so it says), compare it to my original one and if it checks out, I'll use it. (I can report back if helpful to anyone).

(BTW: problem with my starter is that it needs some "love taps" to start. I could probably do a basic refurb myself and keep using it, but I'm not sure how reliable it will be, or get it rebuilt and put it on my spares shelf for latter years)

I have a new rebuilt one for sale. They are adapted for trap oxidizer space. I never got to use it, no longer avsilable

If it takes a clonk on the starter, sounds like the solenoid is bad.

I bought an ACDelco reman Bosch starter from rckoto for our E320. I was going to install myself, but decided to have a local shop do it (they are an ACDelco shop).

They installed it, but when they went to start the car, the starter was dead. They removed it and tested it on the bench and found that, yes, it was dead. Might not have taken much to get it to work, but Rck guaranteed it and paid for return shipping, so back it went.

I took the original starter to a local auto-electric shop and they rebuilt it overnight and my shop installed it next morning. That was in 2020 - Been good since then.

I contacted ACDelco, and they were completely unsympathetic and quite rude. Said they did not support their products unless purchased from an ACDelco shop. I no longer buy anything that says ACDelco on it!

I would recommend having original starters and alternators rebuilt locally whenever you can.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

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