Mercedes-Benz GL550 starter replacement

Remove top and bottom bolts (11mm universal / Torx socket on 12"+ wobbler extension) holding starter
Remove the heat shield from the starter body - just the ear bolt. (Lesson learned - see below)
Remove starter through a) push / pull towards forward of the truck until gear clears its insertion in the crankcase. At first, it may seem as if there's no forward clearance to clear crankcase. This is the hardest part, but It will come out with a little patience.
Reach around and make sure wires are not binding and it will come fully forward. Begin lowering and allowing the starter body to rotate slightly allowing the solenoid to clear obstructions. Think corkscrew motion about inch counter-clockwise facing the front of the truck, lowering the wire side about the same amount. You can feel the clearances as you do this as long as you are not trying to pry bar it.
Once gears are clear from the crankcase, drop gear side down and start working down and back. At this point, I turned it sideways and rested on the control arm so I could access wires.
Remove both wires from the starter. Drop starter out full towards the rear of the truck - voila - done.
Reference: mbworld.org/fo...