Last week pulled the starter from my sons 7 and replaced it. Finally had time to take a part the old one and figure out what was wrong. When I opened her up I was amazed that this starter still work. Bendix had a 1/4" of play and the epoxy on the motor was broken and the gears in the motor were trashed. The only thing that was salvageable was the solenoid. This starter was amazing all of the damage and it still turned over the motor. Did I say amazing. A salute to German engineering.
look at these pics. It worked till we took it apart, then the pices fell apart
http://twrite.org/shogunnew/fixes/startermotor.html
That was from a 08/1988 E32 750, that was plastic, later ones have metal inside.
Now it is running again, took the innards from a Mercedes Benz starter, same from Bosch.
Usually the Bosch starters are identical for many cars, just the number of teeth of the pinion drive, this one has 9
http://infinitier.ddo.jp/e32/images/etc/starter1.jpg
http://infinitier.ddo.jp/e32/images/etc/starter2.jpg
http://www.pictureupload.de/original...anlasser_1.jpg
http://www.pictureupload.de/original...anlasser_2.jpg
http://www.woodauto.com has single parts
here the details of all parts with prices
http://www.woodauto.com/Unit.aspx?Ma...Ref=0001218027