Had a noisy starter for a couple of years going by the service history, and found a new one on ebay for £60 odd quid delivered.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320634407857&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI

I know you can clean them up, but i was thinking of just putting in a new one, for a bit more longevity and getting rid of the taxi noise when starting up every morning (secondary air pump is fine).

I found a very good DIY already posted elsewhere buy here's the link anyway.

http://www.montreal-vdubbing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43

My question really is whether anyone has any experience with these units, as i don't want to put one in that only lasts just beyond the 12 month warranty. Sometimes parts like this are as good as those Skoda would sell themselves, but other times there is a significant quality difference. I just don't know what camp this would fall in?

Edited 27 December, 201015 yr by Shroud

Mine was very noisy on start up since the day I bought it. Finally one day at work it went. Thankfully my dad owns a cafe at a breakers yard so we managed to source a secondhand diesel one that is apperently meant to be heavy duty. It works fine and starts up smooth. Rather cheap, £30 I believe I paid for it and they fitted it too, which is always good .

I've just bought one of the above off ebay, it is a reconned unit but there is no exchange so no sending old unit back

Mines been on a month and not had a problem with it,

My old one was noisy when starting, i did remove it and clean it out and it was okay for a couple of weeks then started doing it again so i opted for a new one

I'm going to give it a go. At £64 it is nearly as cheap as many used ones, so not the end of the world if it only lasts a couple of years.

Thanks everyone who commented.