Junk Yard Car Striping

[willw]

Hello all,

After waiting for months a '85 300SD showed up in my local junk yard.
I needed interior trim and a new window winder for my car, so I pulled
them. After I left the yard I started wondering if I should have pulled
even more parts off the car. I didn't exactly need anything, but sooner
or latter something is bound to break on my car and I know I'd be
upset knowing that I should have got it when the getting was good.

So being new to the the junk yard culture I was wondering if it is bad form
to strip the heck out of a car, or if you should leave what you don't need
for the next poor guy looking for parts?

If it is OK to pick the heck out of the car, what parts would you suggest
to grab as a general stock of spares?

Thanks

[vstech]

it's quite expensive to pull massive quantities of parts from yard cars... it's much less expensive to find a vehicle for sale and store the entire thing for parts.
or find some idiot like me that's done just that... multiple times, and get them from me.

[daw_two]

Well, yes, it's okay to strip a car clean if you have the room because some junkyards crush the car after 30 (45, 60, whatever) days. And yes, it's okay to take more than you need......

BUT

The best way you can be of service to the forum members is look at the Parts section and if you see a WTB ad with something you know is in the junkyard or on your shelf, offer to sell it to them.

You will make friends around the countryside and across the oceans....

[Zacharias]

It isn't necessary to strip the thing entirely, but if you are so inclined and have the time, it IS a good way to learn how to take your own car apart (you don't have to actually buy everything you remove**).

However, in terms of actually buying the parts, if it isn't one of these PnPs that charge just a few bucks for everything, that is if it's a yard that just offers some self-serve, as vstech said it probably won't be overly cost effective.

Based on my memories of irritating stuff I went to the yard for, for my old SD, I would suggest you consider pulling the following, if they can be had for cheap:

- preglow relay
- windshield washer pump
- air cleaner bracket
- inside door handles
- power window switches
- power sunroof switch
- driver's door pull, if correct colour
- driver's power seat control panel, if yours is tired

Harder to remove, but if they are cheap:
- driver's or both front window regulator(s)
- auxiliary water pump (if it looks relatively new)
- monovalve assembly

**: not to be rude, but if you do pull stuff off for the pure learning experience, it goes without saying that it should be done carefully so the next person who DOES need it, can have it. I've seen too many things butchered at PnPs 'cause someone wanted one small thing but was too lazy to remove it properly.

[Bob338]

I started 'rebuilding' mine 2 years ago without much knowledge of either my car or what might be necessary. In my first visits to PnP's I noticed some guys going down the aisles pulling a stake side wagon and taking all the relays and other small parts off all the Benz they came across. I got ahead of them and did the same putting miscellaneous relays and other parts in a bucket. For the price, it was worth it. However, I ended up with many relays not compatible with mine and I've ended up selling many of them to those in need, on this and other forums. I'm still behind on the $$$ but I've been able to replace parts on mine at quite a savings. I have the room so storage isn't a problem. One day I'll post all I have after checking their application. I've sent stuff to Malaysia, Puerto Rico and Europe!

[eatont9999]

It is fine to take all the parts you can pay for. It is not fine to destroy parts because you are lazy or ignorant of how to remove them. I have seen nice cars literally raped by some moron with a pry bar who is too lazy to remove a few screws to get to the part. If you take a part, take the whole thing. If you need a speedometer, take the whole cluster. Don't rip it apart and leave pieces everywhere. When you are done working on the car, close the doors, hood and trunk so the interior does not get wet and ruined. DO NOT remove the oil cap, PS cap, or brake booster cap just to look in and leave the cap off. I see this all the time and if someone needs that part, they have to deal with a possibly contaminated unit. I see rusty valve trains all the time because someone had to take the cap off. If you need the cap, put some duct tape over the hole so the guy who needs the engine will not have to worry.

Also, help others remove parts properly if you come across someone in need.

[willw]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the tips :-)

I guess I've been doing OK at the PnP yard, I've always been careful to
remove the parts cleanly and not just rip things to shreds. Unfortunately
I have seen that behavior in the Mercedes I've run across in the yard.
Someone went through all the models stripping the speedo's out of the
clusters and leaving them willy-nilly in other cars. Since I need to fix
my odometer this was discouraging.

So maybe I should go back and grab some of the suggested small items. :-)

At the risk of maybe loosing some parts, I'm out of Austin, Tx. And the
yard is the WrenchAPart on Hyw71, if anyone in the area needs parts
for a '85 300SD

On the other hand, if you're in my area and know of a 81-85 300sd
going for parts let me know.

Will W

[TheDon]

My junkyard is awesome, I'm a frequent customer and their prices are very low for many things that others charge out the nose for. Plus half of the small stuff I buy they just let me have. I've gone home with at least 6 first aid kits now.

[300D-91]

Originally Posted by eatont9999

It is fine to take all the parts you can pay for. It is not fine to destroy parts because you are lazy or ignorant of how to remove them.

My feelings exactly. Many times the part on my shopping list has been destroyed by a idiot. Personally removing something the right way ensures I know the right way to install it after getting home.

[Travis_k]

Its fine to buy stuff you need or might need, it is slightly annoying how hard it is to find a w126 window switch anymore though (someone takes pretty much all of them in some of the yards). The things that will make people very unhappy are destroying good parts, especially glass, because not only that someone may need it, but it really makes a mess. Also, if you pull any good parts that you aren't taking, dont leave them on the ground. The yards i go to pick up everything laying on the ground and put it in the scrap/trash several times a week.

[eatont9999]

Originally Posted by 300D-91

My feelings exactly. Many times the part on my shopping list has been destroyed by a idiot. Personally removing something the right way ensures I know the right way to install it after getting home.

If anyone is in the DFW area yards and you see a bunch of parts sitting on the seat of a MB that are usually hard or not obvious to pull, you can thank me. There are parts that are very simple to pull if you know how but almost impossible if you don't know. If I have extra time, I will go ahead and pull them and leave them on the seat or somewhere safe. Dash clusters are one of the parts I do the most. Some people cannot comprehend a cluster that is press-fit, so they rip up the dash and break the cluster in the process. Pretty soon I will be leaving sticky notes on how to pull each part. LOL

[eatont9999]

I prefer dealing with small yards or individuals parting out cars. I prefer to suggest a price or negotiate a price for a lot of parts than go by a price list. The smaller yards like it when you pull your own parts. I usually tell them that I have pulled XYZ parts and they are in x condition that I am not taking, so I saved them time if a customer wants them. I prefer to be on a first name basis with the owner rather than a credit card number on a cash register. I also will negotiate buying parts for other forums members and let the yard owner know that I am helping him out by being a proxy for another buyer.