In Search of Diesel Parts and Other Treasures - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mark DiSilvestro · #1 01-27-2008, 10:59 PM

Well lately, the Virginia Beach 'Pick n Pull' has become one of my favorite stops when I'm down here, especially since the local 'Grand Junquetion' surplus store closed a few years ago.
Wish there was a Pick n Pull in the DC area. Pick n Pull of Virginia Beach is open 7 days, while most DC area yards, are only open 5 days, plus half-day Saturday.
Some price comparisons. Engine computer - DC area $150 - $200. Pick n Pull $25. Decent W123 front seat - DC area $50 - $75. Pick n Pull $14. The downsides of the Pick n Pull include a small foreign-car section, and they only keep a vehicle 30 days before it gets crushed!

This trip I went looking for an engine computer for a friend's '87 BMW 528e, and to see if there was anything availible for my pair of 240Ds. Two fellow W123 owners had the same idea, as there was a rusty white Euro 280E and a pristine silver '85 300D parked near me. (Pretty certain the 300D was an '85 since the tags read '85 W123') Didn't get to meet as both were gone when I came back to my car.

Unfortunately, the only two '80s BMW computers had already been scavenged, and there were no W123s this time, but I did snag a four-band (L M K U) Becker Europa cassette radio out of a Euro W126 280SE, for $9. If it works, it's going in one of my diesels. It sure would be nice to have shortwave in one of my cars again.

As for the rest of the afternoon, I scavenged a spare fuel pump, some window regulators with motors, and some other miscellaneous items for my '98 Nissan Altima. That Pick n Pull car will be gone by my next trip down here, so I better grab some cheap spares when I can.

Happy Motoring, Mark

frankjnjr · #2 01-27-2008, 11:25 PM

there are three pick and pulls in and around baltimore. 1. eardman avenue, baltimore city 2. curtis bay, baltimore city just south of the key bridge 3. jessup, maryland midway between d.c and balto. all yards are called crazy rays, all open seven days a week and indeed the prices are unbeatable. ie. engine, no accessories $175 door, front or rear $50 cylinder head, no cam $40 headlight, $22 instrument cluster, $22 radiator, $35 rear end, $65 seat, front or rear $30 steering gear box, $25 steering rack, $25 transmission, $80 wheel, aluminum $30 window regulator $10 etc.

Mark DiSilvestro · #3 01-28-2008, 12:43 AM

Unfortunately, I live near Fort Belvoir VA. Kind of the wrong side of the beltway, but I do get up to MD about once a month. Maybe I'll check out 'Crazy Rays' in Jessup next time.

Happy Motoring, Mark

toomany MBZ · #4 01-28-2008, 05:04 AM

There's one in Richmond.
http://chesterfieldautoparts.com/

JackG · #5 01-28-2008, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

, but I did snag a four-band (L M K U) Becker Europa cassette radio out of a Euro W126 280SE, for $9. If it works, it's going in one of my diesels. It sure would be nice to have shortwave in one of my cars again.

even if it doesn't work, I would be interested in it should you decide to sell it

ImBroke · #6 01-28-2008, 05:50 AM

Mark, the 85 W123 was mine. Thanks for the compliment.

Wish I would have known you were there. I saw the rusty white one, and was going to leave a message, but didn't have any paper with me. Last week they had a Petrol Blue 83 300D that I got some parts from. I was hoping to grab a few more things, but it was already gone. I was looking at at the fender and door from the 380 SEL, but there is a little rust on the fender, so I passed. I would have gladly taken the Euro headlights with vac adjusters, but someone before me had the same idea.

t walgamuth · #7 01-28-2008, 05:59 AM

There are no pick and pulls around here and have not been any for over 20 years.

Tom W

Mark DiSilvestro · #8 01-28-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

Mark, the 85 W123 was mine. Thanks for the compliment.

Wish I would have known you were there. I saw the rusty white one, and was going to leave a message, but didn't have any paper with me. Last week they had a Petrol Blue 83 300D that I got some parts from. I was hoping to grab a few more things, but it was already gone. I was looking at at the fender and door from the 380 SEL, but there is a little rust on the fender, so I passed. I would have gladly taken the Euro headlights with vac adjusters, but someone before me had the same idea.

You probably wouldn't have noticed my car anyway as I was driving the Nissan. Unless there were two dark-colored Euro 126 sedans there, I believe that W126 was the one where I found the Becker on the front seat. That car had a 380 badge on the trunk, but was actually a 280SE (or SEL), with a 2.8L M110 twin-cam six. I looked for the factory ID sticker but found a VA DMV assigned VIN number riveted on the doorjamb.
As for the radio, it's plastic faceplate was missing and I already have a couple of Becker Europa AM-FM cassette radios, so I was going to pass on this one until I noticed the L M K U buttons. A short frantic search revealed the undamaged faceplate under the seat.

Happy Motoring, Mark

ImBroke · #9 01-28-2008, 04:59 PM

Oh, I didn't get that far, just read the trunk badge. I saw the radio sitting there, but didn't pay it any attention. Love the Euro interior, too bad it was in as bad of shape as it was. That 88 300E has some great seats, but they are power, and of course I don't have a jump box.

lietuviai · #10 01-28-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

As for the radio, it's plastic faceplate was missing and I already have a couple of Becker Europa AM-FM cassette radios, so I was going to pass on this one until I noticed the L M K U buttons. A short frantic search revealed the undamaged faceplate under the seat.

Happy Motoring, Mark

I bet someone was coming back for that radio. I've often hid related parts of things I needed but didn't have time or tools to remove the entire assembly at that visit. I always hid the parts in a different car though.

OldPokey · #11 01-28-2008, 05:15 PM

There's a Crazy Ray's in Mt. Airy. They just crushed a 300D I spotted on a quick jaunt to find Subaru parts.

Mark DiSilvestro · #12 01-28-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lietuviai

I bet someone was coming back for that radio. I've often hid related parts of things I needed but didn't have time or tools to remove the entire assembly at that visit. I always hid the parts in a different car though.

On that style Becker, the plastic facplate has to come off to release the retainer brackets that secure the radio in the console. The faceplate wasn't very well hidden. I should have looked for the retainers and knobs too, but those I can scavenge from one of my AM/FM Beckers. The LMKU faceplate would've been very hard to duplicate.

Unfortunately, hiding parts in another car can backfire.
A few years ago, someone from Colorado on the Vintage Forum, was kind enough to try and get some chrome parts for my '60 Fintail 220Sb. He pulled some tailfin trim, door handles and other bits from a Fintail in a local salvage-yard, then stashed them in a nearby late-'80s BMW. Don't recall exactly why he didn't just take the stuff, except I think we wanted to work out the price and shipping details first. When he finally went back a few days later, the BMW had been crushed! I was eventually able to come up with some good tailfin chrome on eBay, but no decent door handles.

Happy Motoring, Mark

JimFreeh · #13 01-28-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBroke

Mark, the 85 W123 was mine. Thanks for the compliment.

Wish I would have known you were there. I saw the rusty white one, and was going to leave a message, but didn't have any paper with me. Last week they had a Petrol Blue 83 300D that I got some parts from. I was hoping to grab a few more things, but it was already gone. I was looking at at the fender and door from the 380 SEL, but there is a little rust on the fender, so I passed. I would have gladly taken the Euro headlights with vac adjusters, but someone before me had the same idea.

Looking for a W126 fender, I've got some in Chesapeake....

Jim