Ok, so why shouldn't I buy the eBay high torque starter?, They now ship with the shim... Options

[RoadGlue]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PORSCHE-911-MINI-S...0-/320876346678

"Units now come supplied with alignment shim. Not required on most applications, but if alignment issue between pinion gear and flywheel comes up, then this will eliminate your issue."

I remember this being an issue sometime back. It's half the price of the units PP carry. Sell me one way or the other please! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

My starter has been getting worse. Today it fused stuck! Had to put the car in gear, get a rolling start and pop the clutch to get the starter to break free. This has been a long time coming. I've been nursing old starters along for a 15 years. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[SLITS]

Two manufacturers that I know of ....

IMI - the one you're looking at. Ex-Isom Brothers product. Uses the Nippondenso gear reduction stater with a new nose to fit Porsche (and other cars too). Riverside, CA.

ProLine - Parker, AZ. Uses the Hitachi gear reduction starter with a new nose. Makes them for most cars. About $40 more expensive than IMI. I know the owner and trust his stuff as I believe it is better quality (no shims needed).

I have an IMI on my current six.

I used a Proline on the first six conversion I did.

I had a Bosch SR68X tear up a flywheel.

There ya go ... all the info I have.

And as far as your "lifetime warranty" ... they cheapen the rebuild to provide that "lifetime warranty". The margin that the major FLAPS allow the rebuilder is getting less and less ... Yes, the mass merchandizers dictate the price to the rebuilder .. really stupid, but .... so they have to make a profit to stay in business somehow (most haven't). Public demands cheap ... Public gets cheap.

Shops can't afford the labor involved in replacement of cheap shit as their profit is eaten up with the first replacement.

Off my soapbox now.