I was in the USA for work, las vegas to be specific. I had a little time the afternoon I arrived, so I did what most people would do while in Las Vegas, skipped the casinos and went to a self service junkyard.
I had spotted they had a 560SEL and I had only been there two weeks. In Australia, all W126 models had SLS, but in the USA, it was ONLY on the 560 models. I hoped it would still have the SLS struts, plus other useful things (e.g. EZL).
It was really hot, 108F in the old units america still uses (42C), but I managed to get the struts out, plus the becker plugs for the radio styria sold me and a few other useful spares that I could get into a bag for my flight home.
They also had some other old benzes there. There was a 350SDL, a 420SEL (with a bad engine fire) and two W123 diesels. The 300D had suffered a HARD impact to the side and really showed how strong the passenger cell is in these old benzes.
I had only basic tools I had bought nearby, so the job was a bit slower than it should have been (e.g. no 17mm ring spanner), and I had to use an imperial socket instead of a metric in one instance.
I also managed to find the data card for the 560SEL behind the back seat. the Nevada sun had done a number on the paint so i had assumed it was 040 black, not midnight blue.
Its a shame I didn't have more time and the ability to carry more stuff as there were more great parts there at very reasonable prices. No Mercedes tax like some of the wreckers here in Australia.
more here:
www.classicjalopy.com
I had spotted they had a 560SEL and I had only been there two weeks. In Australia, all W126 models had SLS, but in the USA, it was ONLY on the 560 models. I hoped it would still have the SLS struts, plus other useful things (e.g. EZL).
It was really hot, 108F in the old units america still uses (42C), but I managed to get the struts out, plus the becker plugs for the radio styria sold me and a few other useful spares that I could get into a bag for my flight home.
They also had some other old benzes there. There was a 350SDL, a 420SEL (with a bad engine fire) and two W123 diesels. The 300D had suffered a HARD impact to the side and really showed how strong the passenger cell is in these old benzes.
I had only basic tools I had bought nearby, so the job was a bit slower than it should have been (e.g. no 17mm ring spanner), and I had to use an imperial socket instead of a metric in one instance.
I also managed to find the data card for the 560SEL behind the back seat. the Nevada sun had done a number on the paint so i had assumed it was 040 black, not midnight blue.
Its a shame I didn't have more time and the ability to carry more stuff as there were more great parts there at very reasonable prices. No Mercedes tax like some of the wreckers here in Australia.
more here:
USA Junkyard visit 2022 « Classic Jalopy
Another visit to USA junkyards, this time in Las Vegas where I managed to find a set of SLS struts on a 1988 560SEL.
