Starter Motor - used, new ebay, rebuilt or new genuine LOL

[AusPhil]

Hey guys, getting 'run on' from my starter motor.

I've been quoted:

$1100 inc labour to get it rebuilt

I can replace it myself, not a difficult job, so other options supply only:

$75-$100 for a used genuine (around 136,000k on them, with 3 mths warranty)
$175 or so for new ebay special (are any particular aftermarket brands any good??)
$1900 supply only for new from Subaru dealer haha. Yeah, nah, as they say!

I'm thinking for the price of the used genuine from ebay I could replace it multiple times for the cost of having it rebuilt cost if I had to.

Thoughts? Thanks!

[Yowie]

That rebuild cost seems excessive by a few orders of magnitude.

A reconditioned starter motor for my SH Forester cost me $200 including GST from Greenslopes Auto Electrics (Qld) in 2022.

[Stifull]

Often it is the contacts in the solenoid on the side of the starter that is the problem. They can be fixed at home depending on the type. You need to get the cover off and that can be easy or very difficult depending on whether it is crimped shut all the way round, partially round or simply bolted on . If you can get the cover off it will probably be the terminals are worn. If this is the case sometimes you can simply turn the terminals over to get a nice clean surface again.. I had 2 fail in 2 days .. Both strangely enough while my wife was driving.. First was in the family fuel miser Hyundai GETZ 6 lphk of 91 octane.. half the price of the rexs to get around.. and then while it was in being replaced with an ebay special she took my Club Spec rex and it died latter that same day... I got a new one with 3 year warranty for $220 from Subievo and fitted it myself.. Easy job once IC is off.

[bigBADbenny]

Corgiwerx, Peter Buckingham here or on FB does reco starter motors, not sure if they can do 3.6R tho.
If you’re in Melbourne I have a reco exchange unit by Corgiwerx for lgt/STi 6mt, their standard fees including core return applies to my spare.