OZBENZ

I am having an issue when starting my 1981 300d, i wait for glow light to go out turn key and just get a single "click" this might happen 3/4 times and then she fires up, but on other occasions she starts straight away.
Has anyone else experienced this? any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

This sounds like a starter motor solenoid issue.
Either it has dirty contacts or is jamming, preventing the contacts closing.
The repeated attempts indicate that sometimes it is not jamming, or sometimes it makes good contact.
Some people recommend using a hammer to tap the solenoid to free a jamming solenoid armature.

Cheers Tony I appreciate your help.

Don't use a hammer, use the stem. Otherwise use a broomstick. You could dent the solenoid with a hammer, rendering it useless...

If you take the starter motor off, you can usually fix the solenoid by cleaning the inside (piston and bore) and putting a light lubricant on (my dad used molycote and that did not work on cold mornings)
Make sure the contacts are clean too.

Bart

Getting the starter motor off is a bit tricky....

Several long extensions on the 1/2inch socket set, as well as a uni joint adapter will be useful (plus a 10mm allen key head for the 1/2inch socket)

How did you go with this Jess ?

I had this problem recently and just replaced the starter motor itself, i still have the old starter motor here.

I am going to open it up and service the solenoid and more happy to take video and pictures.

but won't be able to do it until june 25th as i still have uni assignments and exams for the next 5 weeks.