Don't buy a McParts rebuilt starter - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bgkast · #1 06-04-2009, 12:53 AM

I just got a nice turbo wagon because of one. Apparently the seller (not a DIY guy) had the starter in the car replaced with one of the non-Bosch rebuilt starters. After a bit the car started having intermittent starting issues and eventually would not start at all. He had the starter replaced again and eventually the same problem occurred. After some "mechanic" rigged up a push button starter (complete with bare wires twisted together for the connections) he finally through up his hands and sold me the car for $800. I towed it home, pulled the starter and what do you know, stuck solenoid. The starter looks like it just came out of the box.

Time for a Bosch rebuilt starter to go in.

Squiggle Dog · #2 06-04-2009, 01:24 AM

I went through maybe 3 CSK starters in about 6 month's time until I finally got a refund then put in an old, dirty Bosch rebuild.

pawoSD · #3 06-04-2009, 02:10 AM

Went through two of them on my brother's 300D until he finally coughed it up and paid for a German Rebuild....its been fine since.

mobetta · #4 06-04-2009, 10:14 AM

this past December I put in a $120 rebuild from a local auto-electric shop for a buddy. no problems so far. he was tempted to go with the $95 autozoo special- but I told him he could install(and re-install) it himself. no chinese remans around here.

kerry · #5 06-04-2009, 11:07 AM

I put a McParts rebuilt ($100) in my former 77 300d and it worked fine for 5 yrs and was still going fine when I sold it.

Brian Carlton · #6 06-04-2009, 11:48 AM

Any and all stories concerning the durability of replacement starters must be taken with skepticism.

Anyone who posts regarding a starter will typically show some data with a maximum of five years usage. With a properly tuned engine, this is not sufficient.

When a rebuilt starter, Bosch or otherwise, lasts 10 years...........now I'm interested in listening.

I put a rebuilt Bosch in the SD.............but, it's just my own bias that Bosch is superior..........not a shred of data to support the conclusion.

Skid Row Joe · #7 06-04-2009, 01:01 PM

Yup, that's a fact.

Hit Man X · #8 06-04-2009, 07:09 PM

Mine is from AutoZone, been on there for years. Works fine.

Shawn T. W. · #9 06-04-2009, 08:28 PM

Maybe the question should be asked "How long has your Bosch starter lasted?"

Obviously some of the "Mcparts" as they have been refered to have had very short service lives, anybody got a simular story about a Bosch? (probably not)

bgkast · #10 06-05-2009, 06:18 PM

I pulled the solenoid off the bad mcparts starter, cleaned it, lubed it with graphite and put it back together...it still would not work right. I had an old Bosch rebuilt starter with bad brushes sitting around so I pulled the solenoid off of it and put it on the mcparts starter and it works great. I wrapped some heat-shield fabric around the solenoid to help keep the heat from the exhaust off of it, maybe that was part of the problem.

pawoSD · #11 06-05-2009, 08:23 PM

The Bosch real-deal rebuilds last forever.....my car has one that was put on prior to me even buying the car, over 6+ years ago....still going strong.