Have you ever moistened your finger and run it around the lip of a crystal wine glass? You'll know the sound that my starter makes when cranking the fintail.

I cant imagine what this is. The only thing I can think of is that I switched oil to Castro 10w 40 with startup protection a couple weeks ago. One thing I have noticed about that oil (besides smoother startups) is foaminess on the dipstick.
Any connection?

Thanks

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63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6

Oh no! , well, I think I can help...
Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Well, I guess I wont worry about the noise. The oil foamage might be another matter. . .

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63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6

THERE IS SO MUCH INFO ON THIS THREAD

You guys should include the info for everyones benefit.

joshol, now on a more serious note... Could the foamage be coolant in the oil? I have never personally witnessed coolant in oil with my eyes, but I've heard it's not uncommon for these old finnies to need headgaskets.
Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Coolant in the oil would cause the oil to look milky. I'll have to check oil bulletin boards for reviews of this type. ptoro01, this isn't a joke, the car makes an unusual noise when cranking, I've never heard anything like that before in my life. So, if you've got something to add, then don't hold back. Now I know that this probably isn't a big deal and don't really care if you poke fun. I know it sounds silly.

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63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6

Sometimes the gears are dirty or worn and squeal, but it's most likely a dry bushing in the nose of the starter.

The overrunning clutch on the old ones sometimes screams, too, when the engine starts and before you let go of the key.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Hello,
The starter has some internal corrosion, if you fell like having a go at it, pull it out(poor choice of words)and spray silicone lube onto the drive(gear)end and let it sit for a while.
Then test it out of the car with jump leads, ground to housing, positive to *bolt* terminal and use a jumper from that to the switch(solenoid)terminal, placing a booted foot on the starter itself to prevent it from jumping around too much. The electrical grade grease inside is probably hardened to a concrete consistency and causing the armature shaft to bind OR the gear bendix is sticking at the end of the helix thread and gear is hanging onto the flywheel a little longer than it should.
Is the car manual or automatic ? A broken flexplate will also make some unusual noise when cranking, but BMWs are well known for flex plate failures, cannot recall ever seeing a broken one on a fluid coupling MB.
Have a good week.

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Nachi11744

While you're under there checking the starter, it might be a good idea to check the bolts holding the fluid coupling to the flexplate and make sure none of them have loosened.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Many thanks for the tips. Sounds like I should mothball the fintail for a little while and get some needed maintenance done ie: subframe mounts, shocks, slave cylinder, valve adjustment, fuel sending unit and above mentioned projects. Just have to get the diesel up and running again.
I bought the little crowfoot wrench from samstag.

Those other fintails I drove the other day shamed me at how badly I've let this one remain. They rode like they were on a cloud.

__________________
63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6