2002 C270 CDI - failure of PlusLine starter motor (£240 + VAT) - is it suitable?

drivencrazy

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W203/2003/2.7L
2002 C270 CDI
Problem: premature failure of new, aftermarket, replacement starter motor

Garage #1 fitted a new starter motor (£240 + fitting + VAT):
brand on label on starter= "PlusLine" (www.plusline-parts.com) (a company in the Netherlands).
part numbers on label:
0.001.223.005+
550.516.102.010

Page 17 (bottom RHC) of the PlusLine pdf catalogue lists this part but says only "Mercedes 2.3kw / 12V".

This starter failed after 5 - 8 start / stop cycles.
Took car to Garage #2, an independent MB specialist.
The starter would not turn with power directly connected to it.
The starter was removed, tested on the bench (solenoid clicked a couple of time but then stopped clicking) and would still not turn.
There was no damage to the teeth of the starter.
Specialist had never heard of this brand and commented that it was heavier than the Bosch that they had ordered.
Star diagnostics, EIS, keys, fuse, relay, earth, etc., were checked.
Starter was replaced with a Bosch unit.
Car has so far done 15 start/stop cycles OK.
When the starter turns, it sounds like the original MB starter - I recognised the sound right away - just like old times.

In fact, the starter that failed was the third one that Garage #1 had fitted and had failed (starter 2 was a warranty replacement for starter 1) (I never knew the make/part number of the first two).

www.partsouq (C270 CDI Standard, North America, Japan 203.016) states:
A 005 151 29.01 12V;Bosch

Questions:
1) Has anyone heard of PlusLine starters?
2) I have researched this extensively on the internet but cannot find anything on the internet to suggest that the PlusLine starter was unsuitable.
Can anyone advise on this? (If it is unsuitable, I will obtain it from Garage #2 and then ask Garage #1 to return it for a full £240 +VAT credit).

All help appreciated as there is £240 +VAT at stake and I would need to collect the failed starter from Garage #2 on Monday morning asap.

Thank you.
 

DSK

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Never heard of them myself.

As I opened the thread my default resolution ones was going to be buy Bosch!

On the basis the plus line one doesn’t work and the Bosch one does, proves the plus line is in some way faulty. You should have it refunded.


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Buy cheap, buy twice. Never heard of them, but sounds like a cheap make. Why didn’t you take it back to garage 1?
 
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drivencrazy

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It appeared to me that Garage #1 was incapable of rectifying the problem and I was 'at my wits' end'.
They have usually been OK but the technicians have changed recently.
 

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Never trust a secondhand or cheap part. That’s why we stick to genuine mb parts. When they fail it doubles the time taken to diagnose because the train of thought is “it’s new, it can’t be faulty”, so you test everything, even parts the rarely fail, only to come back to the newly fitted parts which have failed.
 
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drivencrazy

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Thanks for the replies above.
Based on my recent experience, my advice to MB owners is:
1) Use an MB indie specialist.
2)
a) If an MB indie specialist is not available, tell the garage to use genuine MB parts or, if not available, Bosch.
b) Before paying the invoice, ask the garage to write the manufacturer's name and part number on the invoice. Do not accept a vague reference to "starter motor", "alternator", etc.
 


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