How I pulled replaced steps removed my starter ('95 E320 W124)
 

Wanted to pass the steps I used to replace the starter on my '95 E320 sedan, as I didn't see this posted anywhere else. It was VERY SIMPLE. Please, anyone feel free to add anything. This was the way I went about it.

(and please use this at your own risk)
1) got the car high enough off the ground with my floor jack, and put two jackstands under the front, lower control arms (as I as going to need full access to the center of the undercarriage). Pull negative batt cable.
2) pull the plastic 'skid' plate underneath
3) sliding under the car, right behind the front LH tire, this is where you'll do most of your work. You'll see the starter right underneath the oil filter housing. Two bolts attach it to the transmission bellhousing, and two electrical connections attach to the front face of the starter solenoid (that sits on top of the starter.)
4) I removed one bolt from the oil pan. It's the one that has the metal 'wire' loom that two black lines (I think vacuum) sit right underneath the starter. Just pulled the bolt, slid the loom to the front of the engine - to open the space for the starter to slide out next to the oil pan.
5) Pulled the two electrical connections to the starter. The large cable that attaches to the nose of the starter solenoid, I used a screwdriver to pry off the rubber 'sheath' that exposes the nut. I used a 3/8" ratchet on both of these fastners. I think you might have better luck if you slide further under the car, toward the front, and use your left hand. A shop light shining down from above helped.
6) used a 3/4" ratchet to pull the two starter bolts. One with a standard depth socket. The top bolt, with a deepwell socket. Not much room for extensions. (on assembly, I used an air rachet to snug the bolts back down - saved a lot of time).

---- pretty much, that was it. Very, very simple. Pulling it, probably took 60 minutes. Replacing it, 30. Good luck. I hope this helped someone out.

Starter bolts
 

Does anyone know what size bolts are on the starter?

Also disconnect the battery first as the main cable is always hot on the starter.

The bolts on the Bell Housing are 17mm heads.
The nut the holds the battery cable is a 13mm head.
The little one for the solonoid, I believe is a 10mm wrench.

Little late but I just saw the question. :mad:

It's been a few years since this article, nevertheless, I would like to caution others to use SAE sized sockets and wrenches, unless the author refers to the ratchet drive size. This wasn't clear to me but is the only logical conclusion I came to.

Here is an add on, Mercedes uses Metric sized bolts and nuts.

The two bolts that hold the starter motor are 17mm
The Battery cable has a 13mm nut
and the solenoid wire is a 10mm nut.

If you unscrew the starter motor first, there may be enough slack in the electrical cable to tilt the Starter downwards. This would give you easier access to the connections.

All dimensions, in my quote, are the wrench/socket sizes to use.
I suggest to a decent Metric tool set for this pain in the neck job.

Thank you for the short tutorial, though!

congratulations.... i have put a couple of hundred thousand miles on some 124's... the only two jobs i have had someone else do is a starter.... and the front flex disc.

without a lift i found them too hard at my age.