keeping tabs on parts recyclers...

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:58 pm

Does anyone have a reliable way to search JY/salvage yard parts inventories? I try to go to a few salvage yard websites but I'm not sure if I'm "doing it right," picking the right yards, trusting that inentories are accurate and updated etc... I'm always looking for E30 parts and would like to have some easy way to search all local JY inventories without having to do multiple site searches, and I have limited connections in the salvage yard world...not to mention limited time to travel/call the yards on a regular basis.

Is it possible to have a standing "Call me if an E30 comes in!" request?

Thanks!

BretLuter · **Posted:** Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:47 am

Inventories are NEVER going to be accurate, especially for E30's.

If you're looking for large parts, about the only thing I know of is www.car-part.com. It's fairly accurate, though it's only as good as the junkyard employee who is in charge of updating it.

I watch the local insurance salvage auctions and I have seen very few E30's go through there in the past couple of years. Used to be at least 1 or 2 a week, but now it's more like 1 or 2 every 3-4 months.

The u-pull-it yards are not very good with their inventories, some (like LKQ) don't even have a list of what CARS they have on the yard at any given time, much less specific parts. www.pullapart.com has a pretty decent car inventory list, they have yards in Charlotte and I think Greensboro or Winston-Salem.

As much of a PITA as they can be, the BMW forums are a good source for used parts. www.r3vlimited is very E30 focused and www.bimmerforums.com or www.E30tech.com have a pretty active E30 membership

Just curious, but what sort of parts are you trying to find??

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Aug 24, 2010 7:36 am

Thanks Bret,

Basically in a slow-build state for a spares package...spare Getrag 260, spare front control arms, spare (known working) DME, spare fenders, spare this, spare that.

I have bought a fair number of parts off E30tech.com and bimmerforums, but I don't like having the added shipping expense...

{poke poke} you know anyone that could help {poke poke}

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Tue Aug 24, 2010 8:34 am

Everytime I've been to the LKQ in Garner, they always have a few E30's, but usually automatics. You could probably get the body panels and control arms there though.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Aug 24, 2010 8:52 am

I thought Bret's 'BMW Farm' was an E30 junkyard?

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Tue Aug 24, 2010 11:18 am

also if if you can pm with a list and years and models, i know you said e30 but our computer breaks alot of stuff up in engine size and everything and i can see what we have.

Jeremy

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:42 pm

BretLuter wrote:

Inventories are NEVER going to be accurate, especially for E30's.

If you're looking for large parts, about the only thing I know of is www.car-part.com. It's fairly accurate, though it's only as good as the junkyard employee who is in charge of updating it.

I watch the local insurance salvage auctions and I have seen very few E30's go through there in the past couple of years. Used to be at least 1 or 2 a week, but now it's more like 1 or 2 every 3-4 months.

The u-pull-it yards are not very good with their inventories, some (like LKQ) don't even have a list of what CARS they have on the yard at any given time, much less specific parts. www.pullapart.com has a pretty decent car inventory list, they have yards in Charlotte and I think Greensboro or Winston-Salem.

As much of a PITA as they can be, the BMW forums are a good source for used parts. www.r3vlimited is very E30 focused and www.bimmerforums.com or www.E30tech.com have a pretty active E30 membership

Just curious, but what sort of parts are you trying to find??

If you ever see a rear deck lid for a Mercedes ML320 let me know. Small towing incident, x 2.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Aug 24, 2010 7:00 pm

used control arms? for emergency use only i hope.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Tue Aug 24, 2010 8:41 pm

clinehall wrote:

BretLuter wrote:

Inventories are NEVER going to be accurate, especially for E30's.

If you're looking for large parts, about the only thing I know of is www.car-part.com. It's fairly accurate, though it's only as good as the junkyard employee who is in charge of updating it.

I watch the local insurance salvage auctions and I have seen very few E30's go through there in the past couple of years. Used to be at least 1 or 2 a week, but now it's more like 1 or 2 every 3-4 months.

The u-pull-it yards are not very good with their inventories, some (like LKQ) don't even have a list of what CARS they have on the yard at any given time, much less specific parts. www.pullapart.com has a pretty decent car inventory list, they have yards in Charlotte and I think Greensboro or Winston-Salem.

As much of a PITA as they can be, the BMW forums are a good source for used parts. www.r3vlimited is very E30 focused and www.bimmerforums.com or www.E30tech.com have a pretty active E30 membership

Just curious, but what sort of parts are you trying to find??

If you ever see a rear deck lid for a Mercedes ML320 let me know. Small towing incident, x 2.

Cline,

funny you should mention this, but they had an ML at LKQ back a few months ago when the first of the Cash for Clunkers cars started rolling in. I remember seeing a guy and his wife out there that looked a bit out of place. The wife was nervously standing around while the husband was picking parts out of the interior of the car. It was pretty well picked over by the time I saw it, and I doubt they'll get another- but I'll keep it in mind.

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:31 am

I was at LKQ in Durham this morning. 3 2-door E30's on the lot. Most of them with at least one front fender in good shape.

They actually had a few other cars you don't see there often. First and Second Gen MR2. They had a 88 CRX Si with what looked to be a fairly complete interior.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:14 am

Can you let me know if there is a 2000+ 5.3L GM truck?

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 4:52 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Can you let me know if there is a 2000+ 5.3L GM truck?

I only walked through the imports and the Fords. Mike walked the GM section though, he might remember.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 5:03 pm

Do you know if you saw a NB Miata that looked like it may have some motor parts left?

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 6:06 pm

Stephen Westerfield wrote:

I was at LKQ in Durham this morning. 3 2-door E30's on the lot. Most of them with at least one front fender in good shape.

They actually had a few other cars you don't see there often. First and Second Gen MR2. They had a 88 CRX Si with what looked to be a fairly complete interior.

Damn, I wish I would have known you were going.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Sat Sep 11, 2010 6:14 pm

Ryan, what are you looking for?

THSCC Forums

keeping tabs on parts recyclers...

Who is online