Just had exactly the same problem on my '09, needs a starter. Well more accurately the solenoid that pushes and pulls the starter teeth onto the flywheel is underperforming, and when cold it doesn't get off the flywheel fast enough to keep from barking the starter motor against the faster spinning flywheel.
I bought a Bosch Reman for about $260 with a 5 year warranty, went in with a moderate amount of persuasion. The oil filter, dipstick, oil pressure sensor have to come out to do it. You being from Chicago might have to fight to get the dipstick holder out without breaking it.
I used to have a Bosch starter. Rock solid even well below freezing. Solenoid broke. My current starter is whatever generic garbage they put in, and it doesn’t catch the first time I start it in sub-20F weather.
When I had to put a starter in my 3rd gen, I went with a Denso reman. You can usually find them on Amazon. Denso is the company who originally made the starter (and many other electrical parts) for Toyota, and their reman parts are usually of good quality, in my experience.
With a bit of searching, you can find more information about this starter swap. I would get the newer starter. There are so many benefits of the newer starter vs putting in the old and heavy starter that the factory used. Use SR0407X [Bosch number]/09A 911 023BX. You also can use the SR0424X/020 911 023FX but it's not as powerful. The SR0407X starter is for the diesel and has about 2hp to crank over your engine. This is way more power than you will ever need. That starter also is smaller and uses a planetary gear system so it will spin the engine at a faster RPM.
BOSCH SR4151X
The car cranks like brand new with the new Bosch starter.
I would use SR0407x Bosch starter. No bushing to worry about, more powerful, lighter, and uses less amps to crank over your engine. There is nothing negative about that starter.
Make sure the starter is a Bosch oem. I recently did mine
In our shop, my dad favors a high torque auto stick Bosch reman starter but I’m at home and can’t remember the exact part number. We use it on many standard and super beetles, ghias as well. It’s great for varying terrain.
We got the battery tested - it's fine. Tried tapping the starter, but still no joy.
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