1994 E420 No crank - New Starter

[pesuazo]

Could tell something funny when cranking the car, sometimes it would click and at the second try it would crank. One day it would not do anything. Thankfully in my driveway, so I think Ok, starter went bad finally.

New starter, very good battery, fuses all Ok.

Turn the key, nada, absolutely nothing and all the lights stay nice and bright.

Try to start from under the car (jump starter), it cranks.

NSS is fairly new (less than a year), nothing on D or N.

I assume, may be something bad with the starter solenoid. Go to store and get another starter. Same issue.

2 bad ones in a row?, possible but unlikely. Before I go and try to get a third one, any suggestions?

I am absolutely stumped on this one.