I too have noticed the rapid decline of Diesel cars in my local yards. Gone are the days of having to choose which 300D to pull a part from. It looks like I should keep my stash of 123 parts around for a while. I may be able to retire on them one day!

__________________

All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

I agree with the rapid decline of W123 and W126 in the yards.
I see more w126 than w123, but more are gassers.

Since I moved to the boonies of Nevada, don`t see all that many in the yards here. The Carson City PNP keeps them longer than any yard I know of. sometimes 6 months or longer, not a lot of MB`s out here in the Boonies.

In the S.F. Bay Area, San Jose, and the yard on the Monterey Bay, I see more MB`s, but maybe just a higher concentration in the area.
But the availability is dropping off.

Some times the San Jose yard north gets cars in so quickly, they are not in the yards longer than two week....and some times crush them w/o being set in the rows.

I did a row 52 search of 500 miles from my location on the 300`s. here is what is listed.

Mercedes-Benz 300 | ROW52

And a 240D search only shows 3.

Mercedes-Benz 240D | ROW52


I constantly check on CL for 240D and 300D. Came across a few 240`s that were T Boned, and around 300 to $800. I just missed a 82 4-spd for $750.
If you have the room, pick them up and part them out. Save everything.

To most people, these are just another old car to junk. I plan on keeping mine for ever, though my for ever isn`t that far down the road like it use to be.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

i haven't seen a w116 in ages. have had great luck finding om617 cars but not so much lately. i guess they are fading away. now w124's are really flooding along with some w210's. gassers of course.

__________________
83 300CD- sanden, dual p/f condensers, 160a alternator, ect
91 300TD- 722.6, #22 head, 3.5L IP, w140 manifolds, ect

I rarely even see W124's in the yard by me. Its all W210's and W140's now.

I have also noticed fewer 616 and 617 equipped cars in junkyards around here, but have noted as well there are fewer on Craigslist as well. Like others, I am seeing few 123 bodies, and fewer 116. I had formed the opinion that we are in the twilight of cheap easily available parts for the older cars. In the past 2 years locally I have seen one undamaged 617 turbo engine and 3 or 4 616 locally.

Around here, these cars can last for just a couple of weeks, to a couple of months at the longest. I have yet to see anything last 6 months. I have gone so far as to leave my name and number at some of the junkyards when they get one in.

I have pondered just what minor obscure part will sideline one of my cars due to it's unavailability in the future. Like Charmalu, I would like to be driving my cars as long as I am able or allowed, and am trying to plan accordingly in gathering spare parts. Fortunately, my wife is supportive of this.

I am open to suggestions of what parts I should be stock piling. Seems regardless of what I get, I end up needing what I didn't get as well. I'm getting to the point of considering picking up cheap parts cars and stripping them myself, when I can beat the junk yards to them! This whole thing is past being just a cheap daily driver or hobby, it is becoming a way of life. Do we have a secret hand shake yet?

I had considered picking up a cheap 87 td, but passed as all the cars in the family are 616 or 617, and I was hesitant to pick up a car that was not in the same commonality of parts. I'm trying to standardize like Eddie Harriman did with the Common Standard designs of 100+ years ago to limit the different number of parts I need to get and hold.

Good thread and good comments!

W.

You guys need to hit up Charlie, he has all
The spare parts hoarded...

I have a rusty coupe that I plan to dismantle and keep many parts from. I have a line on a 240 that I can get cheap with a blown motor and a second car I can get the manual trans from (for free). The 240 will be taken apart and sold for parts once I get the manual trans out of it. In the end I will have a spare manual trans. I have room in my basement to store some parts so I'm going to keep a lot of stuff and sell the turbo specific parts and interior. I'm fixing my N/A to keep and drive. I have offered the good running engine with great compression and I had no bites so I figured I would just keep it and put it on my engine stand (that I bought just for this purpose). I doubt I'll ever convert the N/A to turbo but it will certainly be a 4 speed before long. I will pickle the turbo engine and put it in the corner of the garage. I see that being harder to find soon. 169k and great compression isn't as common as they once were.

I see these parts getting harder to find. While that stuff will be taking up space in my garage, sooner or later I know it will sell. I think Kent Bergsma or someone will see the potential profit and start stockpiling more 123 parts soon. Since I'm a bachelor (I don't need her permission) and I have the room in the basement, I may see if I can find one to part out here and there.

I think the coupe parts will be the hardest to find with the wagons close behind. I'm glad there's only a handful of coupe specific parts. Good thing I found the parts car or I might not have bought the one I plan to repair.

Walter.

There is this 82 240D for $495 in Canby, think that might be close to you unless you are is Wa.

82 Mercedes 240 D

Then another 82 240D in Eugene for $650, guy says it needs a new 4-spd Trans. might just be
Shifter Bushings or maybe the Shifter.

Classic 1982 240D Mercedes

I was in Portland for a week, and checking CL all week didn`t see this car.
Coming back home we came through Eugene. Next day I see this new listing. Dang, I could have stopped and checked it out.

These both look to have good bodies, I wouldn`t part out these, But it they were totaled, then another story. One day even good bodies will be harder to find.



Found this one closer to me, another 82 240D.

Mercedes 240D ( jumped timing ) nice paint and interior 4 speed manual - $500

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I am sure Charlie has me beat, but I might be a close second

__________________

All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

Bet you are getting ahead of or may have passed me, since I haven`t
hardly gone the past year because of this move.

Aaaaaand, there is not much to choose from here in Nevada.

Next closest yard would be probably Sacramento about 2 1/2 hrs from here.


Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Hay Hay there now, you be quiet and don`t let the cat out of the bag.

Where you been? Haven`t seen you in a while.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Guys I have been checking CL from the Bay Area to Seattle, Wa. and the Reno area for 240D and 300D w123.

Found a few between $300 to $1000. One I might call on a 83 240D 4-spd that was run out of oil. Then a 300 parts car with 6" wide Light Alloy wheels.
Sell those and would pay for the rest of the junk.
Then an 82 240D that threw the timing Chain for $500.

If the bodies are good, the mechanicals can be fixed.


Here is a 83 Euro 300D for $750. Looks pretty good, too bad it is so far away.
1983Mercedes 300D

I you have the place to store these low price cars, you can have all the parts you will need.

Hey, my Wife said I can have all I drag home.


Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Even W124/W201's are getting rare around here....There's a few enthusiast nice W126's around and a few W123's.....no junkers. Most MB's around here are W202 or newer. Rust eats any car that ventures out in winter. I saw a perfect condition W115 the other day, looked awesome.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I'm sure it's not the complete end of the line for seeing 616/617s in the yard, but we're definitely catching up with the rest of the country as far as availability is concerned. 107s are all but extinct from the yards now, but once about a year ago there were 5 there with 4 of them within six cars of each other. I'll definitely be more agressive in snagging good parts moving forward, maybe even grabbing some for sale on eBay.

The yards can no longer be considered an as-needed-parts-store for old MBs

__________________
Current Stable

• 380SL (diesel)
• Corvette C5
• Manx
• Baja Bug
• F350 Powerstroke
• Auburn Boattail Speedster replica

I rarely see any 123s on the road now. a 126 occasionally. I get lots of looks in my 240D these days including from young people.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.