Salvage yard jackpot!!!!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hdexpert · #1 03-23-2006, 03:37 PM

One of my favorite things to do on my day off is to visit the local salvage yards and look for bargains. Yesterday I went snooping at a local haunt and discovered an 88 300e that had just arrived. Low and behold, all the Zebrano dash wood was PERFECT! I ran up front to ask the price........$45 for all!!! Wow, a bargain to say the least! A little further back in the yard was an 82 300SD with all mechanicals in tact. I removed an extra nice oil cooler and took it to the counter expecting a hefty price.....another $45!!!! Stuff like that always makes my day!!!!

Diesel Giant · #2 03-23-2006, 03:39 PM

That sounds like a nice pull. When the MB come into the junk yard down here, in less than 2 days or so, they get stripped.

I was fortunate enough to get a nice black dash out of an 83 300 d to replace one that was butchered.

sailor15015 · #3 03-23-2006, 03:40 PM

I know what you mean. The first junkyard I ever went crawling through had about 30 w123's. A lot were picked over but you could get lots of things if you looked hard enough. The prices were right, too.

Diesel Giant · #4 03-23-2006, 03:41 PM

30?!?!

Oh my that was a nice site to see.

Zerohour3k · #5 03-23-2006, 04:11 PM

I've only found one junkyard in my area with W123's (then again, I thankfully dont need to look, often). Unfortunately, I refuse to go to the guy anymore, since he is typical "Junk yard owner arsehole". Imagine the typical junkyard owner stereotype. Dirty, fat, and a really bad atitude.. and you have this guy. Not to mention, he tries to ream his customers for all they're worth, for even the stupidest of parts. Pulled a blower motor from an old 240D once.. he wanted 90 bucks for it. When trying to haggle, the guy had the nerve to say "What, are you a jew or something?". I'm not, but that's besides the point.

Last time I was there, he tried to get 1,800 for a 1980's pontiac transmission from some poor sap. Told me he was scrapping all the mercedes in his lot because the parts "wont sell" (Gee, I wonder why). Told me to get whatever I wanted (which I assumed meant free, the way he said it). I pull a bunch of stuff, and he tries to charge me 300 bucks.. after *telling me* that he's *throwing them out*. I really don't understand how these types of people stay in business.

So if anybody knows of a GOOD junkyard in NJ that's chock-full of W123's.. tell me.. because I sure as heck won't be going back to "Unique Auto and Truck". The guy had like 25 W123's, too. Shame they're all getting sent off to be turned into scrap.. some of them had really good parts on them (a few with pristine engines).

Mistel · #6 03-23-2006, 04:16 PM

Nice find! I was redoing the interior of my Mitsubishi truck and I wanted new seats. The guy at the counter said 25$ a seat. I looked through every car they had and found a recent Saab with leather seats the right color. Very little wear and with a little leather tab on them from the upolsterter, like a nice leather jacket. Took a while to get them out, and I wasn't sure they would still give them to me for 25$, they were so nice. They did, glad I asked first though. I hooked power up to them, everything worked. Now I have 8 way power seats with 3 memory positions in my 1983 truck!

Peter

sailor15015 · #7 03-23-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Giant

30?!?!

Oh my that was a nice site to see.

It was. There was one coupe, one wagon, one W116 SD, and the rest were coupes. There were also a few newer models, like a couple of W124s. I've probably seen as many in that yard as I have on the road, more actually because I've never seen a coupe or a wagon that was rolling.

R Leo · #8 03-23-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerohour3k

I've only found one junkyard in my area with W123's (then again, I thankfully dont need to look, often). Unfortunately, I refuse to go to the guy anymore, since he is typical "Junk yard owner arsehole". (

Absolutely. The two local yards handling MBZ managed to PO me so badly I started buying my own parts cars (see sig).

After I got the SDL I needed a left rear door panel. I found one (wrong color but I figure I could dye it) at a yard in north Austin. I asked up-front "How much?" $75 was the answer. I had them pull it and by the time it got to the counter the price was now $175. It remained on the counter as I walked out the door, never to return.

You can shear a sheep many times but eat them only once.

Stevo · #9 03-23-2006, 05:03 PM

Heres a junk yard I've been 86ed from. I walk from the parking lot through the office and the owner is really reaming

the "junk yard worker' for something, I beat it through and out into the yard to some old W123s out back. Not much left and all I find is a yellow fog light all "sand blasted" but not broken and a little piece of trim thats beat up but useable. I get back to office and the greasy worker is sitting on an old car seat in the corner looking like hes just been given the sack. I ask the greasy owner what he wants for these items and he says $20.00. I smile and ask him if he would like me to take them back to car from whenst they came cuz that was too much. He starts yelling

and throws the fog light down on the cement floor with a crash and bends the trim piece up like a pretzel. I calculate the distence to my car, while wondering if the sacked employee will get in on this and a vission of getting free passage to Japan in a crushed car flashes through my mind. The X employee stays put (hes a big dude) Anyway the guy tells me never to come back and I agree that wont ever be a problem.

hdexpert · #10 03-23-2006, 05:06 PM

I am very lucky that the guy I buy my used parts from is also a Harley rider and is looking for a bike soon! He knows I am the GM of a local Harley shop and can help him out with a bike. Think that has anything to do with the low prices

hdexpert · #11 03-23-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

Heres a junk yard I've been 86ed from. I walk from the parking lot through the office and the owner is really reaming

the "junk yard worker' for something, I beat it through and out into the yard to some old W123s out back. Not much left and all I find is a yellow fog light all "sand blasted" but not broken and a little piece of trim thats beat up but useable. I get back to office and the greasy worker is sitting on an old car seat in the corner looking like hes just been given the sack. I ask the greasy owner what he wants for these items and he says $20.00. I smile and ask him if he would like me to take them back to car from whenst they came cuz that was too much. He starts yelling

and throws the fog light down on the cement floor with a crash and bends the trim piece up like a pretzel. I calculate the distence to my car, while wondering if the sacked employee will get in on this and a vission of getting free passage to Japan in a crushed car flashes through my mind. The X employee stays put (hes a big dude) Anyway the guy tells me never to come back and I agree that wont ever be a problem.

Stevo, it amazes me that people in any form of retail can act like that and stay in business! But, and I am not defending these aholes, I must say that in the salvage business you typically deal with some of the lowest life forms out there! After a while that line of work would probably harden even the kindest of people! Even with this being said, when I retire I want to open an MB only yard as a hobbie!!!

Diesel Giant · #12 03-23-2006, 05:38 PM

The local pick and pull has all the prices posted. I go an get stuff and usually get lots of fuses and other bits. I always empty my pockets on the counter and they NEVER charge me for the other little stuff. Sometimes when I go and get some small stuff, they just smile and say no charge.

Best salvage yards I ever did see.

Hit Man X · #13 03-24-2006, 12:37 AM

Get to know high volume places, I am in well with a few so know when new rides are coming in and what to expect.

greasybenz · #14 03-24-2006, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor15015

It was. There was one coupe, one wagon, one W116 SD, and the rest were coupes. There were also a few newer models, like a couple of W124s. I've probably seen as many in that yard as I have on the road, more actually because I've never seen a coupe or a wagon that was rolling.

No wonder W123 coupes are scarce they are all at that junkyard!

Hit Man X · #15 03-24-2006, 01:21 AM

I see quite a few W123s in the yards, only a few coupes... but I've only seen a few on the streets.