Time to replace my starter - my indie MB tech tells me that they are banking on people selling their cars first before using that "lifetime waranty" and that these starters have a life of 2-3 years. Can anyone dispute this through experience? All comments based on fact/experience welcome!

Sounds right. On my suburban 1984 diesel I had to replace my lifetime starter very soon after i bought it cant remember but less than 2 yrs . And i dont drive it much. I think its bad again draining my battery.

__________________
What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

New Bosch starters are so expensive!

You get what you pay for. A starter from Malaysia is not rebuilt, its "repainted". A starter re manufactured in Germany is fully tested with numerous new parts.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I have four or five good used starters. I have saved them from every car parted out but so far have never needed one.

You might consider a used one.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

These Mean Green starters are about the best I have come across. They are $$$ though.

Home Page

2-3 years is a bit optimistic. A high percentage are dead right out of the box. Don't waste your time on chain store overhauled parts.

__________________
When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

The above is a good point. Replacing a dead Starter is enough work that it is best to have them Test your rebuilt one before you leave the auparts place.

I was looking at a place that sold Starter Parts and they were selling brand X Starter Solenoids for as low as $12. You can guess that the cheap ones go on rebuilt starters.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I'd go used &/or have mine rebuilt. Anytime I do cave & buy chain store garbage, I have it bench tested before leaving the store. This goes for anything electric. Most mechanical things can't be tested.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I've noticed that the local AutoZone tests supposedly "new" starters before handing them over to customers. I suppose they, too, have been burned by remanufacturers and try to catch the bad starters and alternators before they go out the door.

__________________
1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

I didn't get mine from O'Reilley's but from autozone, and it was for the '87 Caddy. After 3 years it's still working although the solenoid quit, so I had to replace the solenoid 2 weeks ago... I guess keep the receipt if you are getting one, for warranty purposes... they're usually pretty good upholding their warranties from my experience.

__________________
[/SIGPIC]~cirrusman

1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD - Wife calls him "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
[SIGPIC]




1983 Toyota Tercel (Tommy, The little Toyota that could)
1965 Ford F100 (Grandma Ford)
2005 Toyota Sienna (Elsa, Wife's ride)


Gone:
1988 Toyota Pickup
2004 Subaru Outback

1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1986 Volvo 740 GL Station Wagon - Piece of junk.
1981 Volvo 242 DL 2 Door - Hated to see it go. R.I.P.
1987 Pontiac Fiero GT

Mexican and many other so called re manufactured alternators and starters are a real crap shoot. One reason is there are two grades of replacement parts on the market for alternator and starter repair.

It is pretty obvious the chain store label suppliers use the known much poorer quality ones. Greed and wanting abnormal margins will get you many times by suppliers. Using them drove a lot of north american rebuilders out of business. A remaining good rebuilder or shop does not use cheap known inferior parts. Many of the failed ones either commited the same errors or could no longer get enough business to stay.

Instead of buying from thse chepo auto parts stores, why not find a Alternator/Generator Starter rebuilder in your local area?

There is one in San Jose off Hwy17/Camden ave that I have used and they have been around for a long time. had good luck with them, the starter on my Datsun Diesel is one of theirs, and been using it for the past 6 yrs or longer. had them do an alternator one time.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

x2.

I had to use some O'rielly's stuff in a pinch on my Suburban as well, third time was the charm for the starter to work, and even then it lasted 6-7 months if I remember. Good thing for my was they had a few in stock, being a 350 Chevy and all. I had OK luck with some Napa stuff (brake calipers for said Suburban) in the past, but I'll never buy O'rielly's again.

The fact that a starter "runs" does not mean that all is well. I just dealt with a chain store rebuilt starter a couple of weeks ago. (Not my vehicle.) The drive gear did not extend properly and chewed up the flywheel ring gear. The chain parts store was happy to replace the starter, but they deny any liability for "consequential damage." The real kicker is that a new starter for that vehicle (a Ford) worked as it should and cost only $12 more than the South of the Border "overhauled" unit. It also had a lifetime warranty, as opposed to one year on the rebiuld.

__________________
When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.