I drove 200 miles to the Pick N Pull in Phoenix (I had a confrence for my job on Sat!) and called and they said they had a few 80 - 85 300D's, so I paid my $2 and looked in the rows they said they were in . . . total of 8 Mercedes covering all years . . . made me mad when I saw a 91 in GREAT shape that had "JUNKER" writen on it!

Never found the 123's . . . they had them listed wrong! An 85 300D turned out to be a 190D! the 83 300D ended up being a SD, and the 80 300D turned out to be a SD also, but I snagged the dome light out of it, for a buck + tax & the entry fee . . . most were very well woked over, and . . . well . . . just junk!

__________________
82 240D Manual 277K and still rolling!
02 Volvo S60 AWD For Sale

Engine parts wise wouldn't they be similar? I don't see why they wouldn't.

I've been on the hunt of those dome lights.

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

The days of finding junkyard W123s are probably about over. The beaters are pretty much all gone. How many other 25 year old cars do you find in junkyards?

The SD's motor is about the same as a D's, but I was wanting headlight doors, dash trim, glow relay for my 240 . . . SD don't match up . . .

Not many other old cars, but I figured that there would be a few, I had my hopes up when they told me over the phone that they had three! The girl at the counter had to ask me what the dome light was!

__________________
82 240D Manual 277K and still rolling!
02 Volvo S60 AWD For Sale

You just have to know which junkyards to go to.

__________________

BINGO.................

__________________
81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

But unfortunately there are areas in the US where the w123 supply is virtually non-existent. This is were I feel fortunate to be living in the mecca of w123 land and aways see w123s in my local yard.


Unfortunately I see a lot of perfect rust free examples that you rust belt folks would kill for.



.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

It would be worth it to come to Central California on vacation and bring onbe back, if you can buy the whole car.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

There is definitely a better selection in the bigger places like the greater Los Angeles/San Diego areas and the greater San Francisco area.

Here is one that Nate is trying to get someone to save.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/272442-83-300cd-pomona-ca.html#post2416152


We also get some good stuff sometimes that leaves you scratching your head.




.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

I generally agree in comparison to other parts of the country, but have noticed that fewer and fewer w123's are in the yards whenever I go. If they're there, they're picked over fairly well or just junk. Finding good interior pieces in the correct color, texture and style, chassis type, is getting harder too.

But I wouldn't go as far as to say that the days of the salvage yard w123 are gone. The w123's I typically see are earlier models pre 1980. I'd guess there are twice the amount of the eariler vs. 83+ model year w123's at the yards at any given time.

So maybe its just a lull and lots of 1982-1985 w123's are still on the road and being nicely maintained...

I've never seen a w123 wagon in three years at a yard in San Diego.

__________________
1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

go South, young man, go South. The distance is less to drive home and the cars are cheaper.

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Well, there's about 8 of them on my street in Brooklyn.
Oh, you mean parts cars... I haven't had any luck whatsoever looking at junkyards in the northeast. Almost makes me want to drive a '90s Lumina or mid-80s Buick. Wait, I take that back.
When I was in LA, you could throw a rock in the air near a junkyard and hit a W123.

__________________

Haha, yeah I went to the yard with my brother looking for some things for his 1990 Ford Escort. They must have had 15 of 'em, I was so jealous. I did find two W123 300D's there also, though, and they had a bunch of other MBs.

__________________
1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

I agree there are fewer w123s in the yards. But they are there and it's a challenge to get there first.



Wagons come around here once a year it seems, they are definitely rare. Same with CDs. Last year my favorite local yard had two NA wagons at same time. Not sure when that will happen again.




.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

My local yard has its first 123 diesel right now (at least in the last couple years). There was a 124 diesel there last year. There have been a handful of gassers that I ravaged for parts (same color interior as mine but MUCH nicer condition). I have an entire interior waiting to go into the SD when I have time. Dash, seats, door paenls, carpet, visors, what else is there in the interior??

I rarely see other diesel benz's driving/parked around here. Maybe 10-15/year. I saw a VERY nice 300D just yesterday parked in the discount grocery store lot. I wanted to park next to it but there was no space. I waited a bit for the owner to come out but eventually went inside and it was gone when I got back out. Most of the diesels I see around here are wagons (probably since most are imported from the south and that seems to be the style people drive long distances for). I see a few SDs, 240Ds, and everyonce inawhile something else.

__________________
2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD