My brother and I have both replaced the starter in our 603's at around 200,000 miles -- they lock up solid.

I've only seen one bad starter on a gasser Benz, and that was a 190e with about the same milage. Buggered ring gear, too, very unusual. Probably just bad contacts in that one, as it sometimes spun and sometimes was quite inert.

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!