🚗 Classic Fault — Mercedes-Benz W115 (1968–1976)
Starter motor brushes worn — slow cranking
💰 Estimated Repair Cost
$30 – $120 USD
Parts and labour estimate
🔧 Tools Required
Multimeter, socket set
📋 Overview
Starter motor brushes wear on high-mileage engines causing slow cranking that worsens over time. Cold weather makes this much worse.
🩺 Symptoms
- Slow cranking
- starter gets gradually worse
- clicks without cranking when cold
🔍 Possible Causes
- Worn starter brushes
- corroded connections
- weak battery
🛠️ Diagnosis Steps
Test battery voltage — must be above 12.4V. Check voltage at starter during cranking — should be above 10V.
✅ Most Confirmed Fix
Rebuild starter with new brush kit or replace with reconditioned unit.
80% of users confirm this fix worked (22 reports)
🏷️ Parts Needed
Starter motor brush kit; reconditioned starter
🔗 Other Mercedes-Benz W115 Faults
Own a Mercedes-Benz W115?
Share your experience with this fault — or report a different issue. Your knowledge helps other classic car owners worldwide.