Need some help from the California branch - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

strelnik · #1 01-18-2017, 03:47 PM

I am going to visit a friend in a small town in southern California called Cabazon.

It is not far from San Bernardino but I was warned that that city is not a great place to travel through.

I'm not going as a tourist, I am delivering some items to him.

In the meantime, I want to find a few W123 and W126 cars that I can pull parts from.

I plan on going in March, so there's time.

Any pointers on parts yards in that area? Good or bad?

Once there, I don't want to waste time since my time will be limited.

Specifically I am looking for body and interior parts for 240D and 300D models, like 1977-84

Thanks in advance for your help, you can reply or send a PM.

Grzpdlr · #2 01-18-2017, 05:50 PM

Cabazon is not a bad or dangerous place, it is , however, in the dessert on the way to Palm Springs. You best bet is the half dozen Pic-A- Part type yards around Los Angeles. A warning though, not too many W123's left, even here. Five years ago you could find 4 or 5 per yard, now often none. Mostly 90's models now and few diesels. If you let me know what you are looking for maybe I can do some scouring around. When exactly are you coming and do you need a car while you're here?

BWhitmore · #3 01-18-2017, 05:56 PM

Cabazon is very near the Morongo Casino (Band of Morongo Indian tribe). Nice area and near Palm Springs. Look for the giant concrete dinasours at Cabazon. Your best bet for 123 or 126 cars is the SAN Francisco/ SAN Jose area. There is a 300TD wagon at PicknPull, SAN Jose South and a 123 sedan at the PicknPull in Moss Landing. Samson Auto Wrecking on Alameda St in Los Angeles may have a 123 or 126.

dkr · #4 01-18-2017, 06:53 PM

I would PM rollguy. He has a ton of this stuff at his place and it's already off the car.

Dkr.

my123ca · #5 01-18-2017, 08:29 PM

pickapartauto.com Just type in your zip and it will tell you the nearest yard. You can search for the car that you want so you wont waste time in a yard that doesnt have what you are looking for. You can even sign up to alert you if your favorite car is in a specific yard.

sixto · #6 01-18-2017, 09:50 PM

row52.com

Sixto
83 300SD
98 E320 wagon

Shortsguy1 · #7 01-19-2017, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

It is not far from San Bernardino but I was warned that that city is not a great place to travel through.

I just wanted to expand on this slightly. First of all Cabazon and SB are not exactly neighbors, so conditions in SB should have no impact on your visit to Cabazon. Traveling through SB is no issue at all, as you can do all that via freeway. Some parts of SB are lovely and other parts are economically challenged. It is a somewhat dilapidated city which unfortunately does have areas where crime rates are higher than average. I grew up near there and still visit SB on occasion when down visiting family. During the day, in public places like the stores I visit, I have never had any issue whatsoever. There are many other communities in southern california that are just as challenged as San Bernardino, so just use care and common sense wherever your travels take you. Salvage yards are rarely located in the "good part of town." Good luck.

ROLLGUY · #8 01-19-2017, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkr

I would PM rollguy. He has a ton of this stuff at his place and it's already off the car.

Dkr.

That is a great idea! Seriously, I do have a lot of parts and cars to pick from. They are mostly all RUST FREE CA cars, so bring a large vehicle and lots of $

. Yes it is true that there are very few if any 123's in the local yards. I am actually thinking of retiring and renting/selling my home one day, so my 123 stash may need to be liquidated. I am holding out as long as I can though. Even though that is in my future, I add a car now and then. I just got a '78 300D the other day, drove it home in 40 degree weather without a hood or windshield! P.M. me when the time gets near, and maybe we can go wreck'n yard'n together. Though they may or may not have any 123's, I know where the good ones are......Rich

ROLLGUY · #9 01-19-2017, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortsguy1

I just wanted to expand on this slightly. First of all Cabazon and SB are not exactly neighbors, so conditions in SB should have no impact on your visit to Cabazon. Traveling through SB is no issue at all, as you can do all that via freeway. Some parts of SB are lovely and other parts are economically challenged. It is a somewhat dilapidated city which unfortunately does have areas where crime rates are higher than average. I grew up near there and still visit SB on occasion when down visiting family. During the day, in public places like the stores I visit, I have never had any issue whatsoever. There are many other communities in southern california that are just as challenged as San Bernardino, so just use care and common sense wherever your travels take you. Salvage yards are rarely located in the "good part of town." Good luck.

Agreed. There is a Pick-A-Part right in the middle of the shady part of town, and I have had no problem being in that area. That yard is the messiest yard I have been to, and have not had great luck finding that "gem" of a part there. I doubt you will feel the slightest bit threatened while visiting this or any other area in So. Cal.......Rich

strelnik · #10 01-19-2017, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grzpdlr

Cabazon is not a bad or dangerous place, it is , however, in the dessert on the way to Palm Springs. You best bet is the half dozen Pic-A- Part type yards around Los Angeles. A warning though, not too many W123's left, even here. Five years ago you could find 4 or 5 per yard, now often none. Mostly 90's models now and few diesels. If you let me know what you are looking for maybe I can do some scouring around. When exactly are you coming and do you need a car while you're here?

I need a set of hood hinges as well as a lot of other stuff.

Am going out to Cali in march with the box truck

strelnik · #11 01-19-2017, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

That is a great idea! Seriously, I do have a lot of parts and cars to pick from. They are mostly all RUST FREE CA cars, so bring a large vehicle and lots of $

. Yes it is true that there are very few if any 123's in the local yards. I am actually thinking of retiring and renting/selling my home one day, so my 123 stash may need to be liquidated. I am holding out as long as I can though. Even though that is in my future, I add a car now and then. I just got a '78 300D the other day, drove it home in 40 degree weather without a hood or windshield! P.M. me when the time gets near, and maybe we can go wreck'n yard'n together. Though they may or may not have any 123's, I know where the good ones are......Rich

Well if you can wait until march, you might see me if you are in SoCal.

BillGrissom · #12 01-19-2017, 02:53 PM

Passing thru San Bernardino will be OK as long as you don't drive so slow the natives spears can hit you. Just ribbing. Crime statistics for downtown areas are exaggerated since the daytime population is 10 times the residents and they normalize to the later. I lived decades in inner city Houston, Atlanta, etc, as well as small cities. The only time my bike was almost stolen was at Radford College in rural VA (cut half thru chain-lock). I did have a car stolen in front of my house in Atlanta, but it was rural rednecks because the tag showed up 7 yrs later on a stolen Jetta in rural Cobb County.

But, most salvage yards are in poorer areas of towns, and draw a wide spectrum of customers, from engineers (me) to desperate immigrants. I don't run from deviants, but rather watch for them. They are like rats that only sneak out at night. Last time at a local PickNPull I saw a kid jumping the fence and running back and forth. The newspaper even reported neighbors there complained of people throwing parts over the fence into their yards to recover. I reported it at the counter, though big companies don't like employees challenging thieves.

As in SoCal, the yards here have few 1982-85 M-B lately, compared w/ many 90's gas M-B. Might just be statistical, since a year ago there were many. Ecology seems to be the main yards in SoCal. I 2nd that RollGuy is a stand-up guy, with many parts, and he is just over the 5000 ft hill from S.B.

BWhitmore · #13 01-19-2017, 07:13 PM

Ecology Auto Parts was taken over by another company. The yard in Fontana (a short way from SAN Bernardino) used to have a lot of 123 and 126 cars but no more. Rich (ROLLGUY) is in Hesperia.

ROLLGUY · #14 01-19-2017, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWhitmore

Ecology Auto Parts was taken over by another company. The yard in Fontana (a short way from SAN Bernardino) used to have a lot of 123 and 126 cars but no more. Rich (ROLLGUY) is in Hesperia.

Yes, that is my favorite yard. It is foreign only, so no Fords or Chevys to wade through. They do have an occasional Saturn, which I don't understand......Rich

panZZer · #15 01-19-2017, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

I am going to visit a friend in a small town in southern California called Cabazon.

It is not far from San Bernardino but I was warned that that city is not a great place to travel through.

I'm not going as a tourist, I am delivering some items to him.

In the meantime, I want to find a few W123 and W126 cars that I can pull parts from.

I plan on going in March, so there's time.

Any pointers on parts yards in that area? Good or bad?

Once there, I don't want to waste time since my time will be limited.

Specifically I am looking for body and interior parts for 240D and 300D models, like 1977-84

Thanks in advance for your help, you can reply or send a PM.

sun valley -- riverside area is closest with yards,

there is one in 29 palms up a couple of pass's on hwy 62, might be some forsaken 123's there left by marines.