It's time for a new starter motor and I can buy a Bosch for $170 or an Autolite for $91 so does anyone have any experience with Autolite (Kragen's house brand)?

__________________
1983 300SD
200000miles

go with the bosch the autolite stuff sucks.

__________________
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...titled-1-3.jpg
1981 300d

Roger that

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Rebuilts out of california.Two vendors there have perfect feedback. Hard to do when rebuilding starters and alternators. Cheap shipping and no core required. Around 90 some odd dollars if I remember delivered.
They rebuild them rather than the mexican or asian rebuilders. Thats really rolling dice at this point. Suspect companies like autolite buy the foreign output up.

One of the guys lists in mercedes parts on ebay. Sometimes the two of them do. Never a bad word about those two firms yet. I have been keeping an eye on them for at least a couple of years now.
I also know some members on site have used them. Again well satisfied to the best of my knowledge. Probably the types of companies that once you buy from them you always will as long as they exist.

BUY THE MORE EXPENSIVE ONE!! thats the best knowledge i can give you. Cheapo parts dont last long! the autozone starter i put in sticks after i let go of the switch and causes a slight grind, which i know is eating away at the flywheel. The cheap clutch master cylinder i put in lasted only 8 months. It;'s just better to put nicer parts into a nice car, that way you dont have to worrie about the issue agian for a while. it sucks to have to do a job twice.

__________________
1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

I bought a Kragen starter for my 240D once. About a thousand miles later I was putting another one in. Get the good stuff and save yourself some trouble.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Who are those guys?

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Try to find a local starter/alternator/electric motor shop. They used to be in every town, but are not so plentiful anymore. Anyway, after you find the right shop, talk to the owner and let him know that you want to have your starter rebuilt fully, and he should be able to hook you up. New bearing/bushings, solenoid if necessary, windings if necessary, etc. I always prefer having my own rebuilt starters and alternators as opposed to some off the shelf piece that you don't know the history of.

SteveM.

__________________
'93 190E/D 2.5 Turbodiesel 5-speed (daily driver)
'87 190D 2.5 Turbo rustbucket - parts car
'84 Dodge Rampage diesel - Land Speed Record Holder
'13 Ram 2500 Diesel
'05 Toyota 4Runner

Mean Green.