560SL - Replacing the Starter
 

1986 560sl
Needs a new starter.

Please suggest where I may learn how to do this.

My primary question:
Can the starter be replaced while I slithering on the garage floor? (No lift available.)

There seems to be a top and bottom bolt on the starter. The Top one may be a challenge.

I've also heard that the engine needs lifted, so you might as well replace the engine mounts.

Is anything here true?

Can I remove and replace the starter with the car on the ground?

Thanks for the assistance.

The starter can be removed using ramps, but removing the top bolt is very difficult for two main reasons: (1) it requires a lot of torque, and (2) you can only get to it by snaking several long extensions and a swivel with an Allen socket on it through the transmission tunnel.

The first time tried that I couldn’t budge that bolt. So I took it to my dealer and had them loosen it a bit for me for $50. If the dealer won’t do it, you can probably find a local mechanic who will do it for even less.

In either case, if you can finish the job at home, it’ll save you a few hundred.

Steve

The Generator and Starter Exchange on Mulberry Street in Trenton, NJ has served me very well for a long time. They will rebuild in-house or exchange and I think they would do the install.