Its a lot harder to be a Dieselhead out here! (These are my feelings only.) The local culture is a little different.
First, there aren't a lot of junkyards out here in the limited real estate. Even NYC (Queens) was a bargain hunters paradise. At my home in NJ, there were at least 6 within easy reach.
Second, the local economy doesn't support it. They only have Schucks, Napas and a few Autozones, and not much else. They dont cater to specialty cars like the W123. There aren't a lot of hardware and tool stores and machine shops out here and unlike other areas, there are only a few stores per square mile. Its not high density shopping, so you have to go quite a ways to get to Sears or the mall.
Third, the area is "greener" and the houses are closely spaced, almost like townhouses. Try lighting off your compressor in the middle of the night out here. You will get in a lot of trouble. I can hear my neighbor in his backyard building his shed and it sounds like he is right next to me in my bedroom.
Well these are my feelings only. Sometimes things are a matter of Attitude also. I may be a little fatigued and the newness of being here is wearing off...

That area is loaded with tree huggers too, if I remember correctly. Just go biodiesel with one of your projects and they'll love you for it no matter how much noise you make.

I agree, though, big east-coast cities with large (or at least formerly large) industrial bases seem to be better places for good bone yards. Zoning issues make it hard to run a scrap yard in newly developed areas, as you pointed out. These days fewer people are do-it-yourselfers anyway, it seems. Good luck.

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Gil

2004 ML350
1984 300CD; Ivory (sold)

You see any 116 SD's at those boneyards in Queens?

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1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

In NJ I bet its 90 degrees and sunny hot. Its 62 and chilly wet here

ah Washington state.. soo depressing

You have it sweet compared to up here. Just try even seeing another Benz up here......

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79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

Hey, stop dumping on Washington. Seattle gets less rain than Boston or Providence. There is also a city on the Olympic Peninsula, Sequim , which only receives 16" of rainfall a year. They are in the rain shadow of the Olympic mountain range.

http://www.google.com/maps?q=Sequim,+WA,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title

Chris

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

It is odd how many old diesels are on the roads here, yet how very few of them end up in local junkyards. Normally there are 3 w123 240D's with manual trans in under one block walk from my apartment, yet I've only seen two w123's in the years in the past year. Lots and lots of 190D's and E's though.
I do notice that I have to drive quite a ways to get the car parts I need in Seattle. Its just a function of land values and the way this city is built I think.

Where are you exactly? There are a couple German auto parts stores around Ravenna/ Lake City and a few more on Aurora. Most of the new parts I get are mail ordered. There are a few machine shops in Ballard. I know there are several Mercedes specific full-service junkyards, and I think that is why we rarely see the cars we want in the pull-your-own variety.

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1971 280 SEL
1981 Volvo 242Tic | 1980 Bertone Coupe

We may get less rain in terms of inches, but we get a lot more dark, drizzly, damp days than other parts of the country...

In any case; if you're in the greater Seattle area you should visit Abe at MBMW at 81st and Aurora right next to Greenlake, he's great. Also, in South Seattle there's a place called Benz Friendz who have enough old Mercedes hulks you could literally rebuild a fleet of the things with all the parts.

can't be that bad. there is one mercedes only junk yard where i've ordered stuff and had it shipped here to Mass. they are excellent:
http://www.auroraaw.com/
they seem to be on 9217 Aurora Avenue North

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1974 240D, 125K mi, B100 now, SOLD
1980 300TD, 115K mi, 4-speed stick, roll-up windows, greasecar with two tank conversion (daily driver)
1985 300D, 220K miles, greasecar with two tank conversion, SOLD
1993 300D 2.5turbo, 158K miles, green/tan, B20-B50

Way overpriced!

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

just gimme back THE SUN

no more clouds and overcast sky

Summer will start any day now and last until the end of September. Just be patient and remember, there is no bad weather just the wrong equipment and the wrong attitude.

Chris

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

You should have went to Southern CA insted, from what people complain about it seems to rain, all the time up their.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I need a Nap. Wake me up when the sun comes up. This sure cuts down on my budget anyway. Wake me up in two hours...incredulous as it seems I did my bearings and rebuilt my brakes at 1 in the morning at my apartment before i moved into this house-get this it was raining cats and dogs and it didnt faze me a bit...