W116 Oddity At Wrecking Yard

[shadetree77]

I think I have a buyer for the heater assembly, anyway. I wouldn't have to ship it, either, since I'd just be dropping it off in Flagstaff with some other parts.

let me know if the deal falls through; i might buy it. i've heard you can cheaply send larger items via Greyhound. I'm still hoping to find a euro W116  though

[Squiggle Dog]

I think I have a buyer for the heater assembly, anyway. I wouldn't have to ship it, either, since I'd just be dropping it off in Flagstaff with some other parts.

let me know if the deal falls through; i might buy it. i've heard you can cheaply send larger items via Greyhound. I'm still hoping to find a euro W116  though

It sounds like I better pull it, since it will have a buyer one way or another.

[Squiggle Dog]

Here are more pictures of the car. It's hard to see, but there is hail damage on the hood and roof.


It looks good from a distance until you realize that a 450SEL shouldn't have short doors or a carbureted inline 6 engine!


The body filler where the rear half is welded on is falling off.


They welded behind the rear seat and caulked over the welds. The welds are the only rust on the entire car!


At least the seat belt mounting area wasn't messed with.

[Squiggle Dog]

It's not the best fill job!


The backside of where the rear section was welded:


More arc welds. The left side rocker panel seems a little long. I do have to applaud the creativity and determination someone had to save the car after what must have been a rear-end collision. It's unfortunate the car made it here anyway.


Here's the "450SEL" engine!


It even has a turbocharger! Just kidding; I guess that's a trap oxidizer or something to do with emissions. Note there is no coolant reservoir or welded bracket to attach one.

[Squiggle Dog]

I noticed several spliced wires were covered in clear tape and resting on metal surfaces. That can't be safe!


I've noticed parts of the interior, especially the perforated vinyl, have more of a texture to them than the later cars. This is the same color interior (bamboo) as my 1980, but the coloring seems a little different.


I pulled the column shift steering column parts and lower rear seat half for someone. Tomorrow, I plan to get the rest of the seat skins, and may attempt to remove the entire manual heat system (what a chore).

[Squiggle Dog]

I was back at the yards again, today. It was nearly 80F and I had my shirt off and got a tan. I've seen some interesting cars in the yards. This time I saw a Maserati!


A W123 with lots of wasted parts:


This one got hit hard!


This is what the W116 hodgepodge looked like at the end of the day:


I removed the entire manual heater assembly, with as much of the wiring harness that I think is necessary. It's a really difficult job, and sometimes I wonder if it's worth the effort, but it's such a shame to think of it going to waste.

[shadetree77]

don't overburden yourself trying to pull the climate control! i found a good working servo and amp at my local yard today that i'm gonna replace my leaking one with. i wanna do the manual retrofit at some time in the future and i'm still hoping to find a euro W116. I remember seeing one a few years back at the jy, but at that time i only had my W126 and didn't pull anything off it (it had euro heads and tails!). kicking myself now...

[shadetree77]

well dang, looks like you posted that as i was writing...how long did it take you to pull that?

[Squiggle Dog]

well dang, looks like you posted that as i was writing...how long did it take you to pull that?

It took maybe 4 hours, but that was rushing it and having removed about 5 of these before. The center console and dashboard have to come out, then all the wiring harness gets removed (at the fuse box connections), the windshield wiper arms and cowl cover has to come off to remove the hose clamps... It's easily a 2-day project the first time and lots of scrapes can be expected to your hands from all the pokey edges, wires, and zip ties.

[brettj]

Hi,

Did you happen to take the cowl trim at the base of the wipers or the windshield, rear window and side window chrome trim? Looks like there are still lots of good body parts in that car. Was anything left after you took what you wanted?

[Squiggle Dog]

Hi,

Did you happen to take the cowl trim at the base of the wipers or the windshield, rear window and side window chrome trim? Looks like there are still lots of good body parts in that car. Was anything left after you took what you wanted?

The cowl trim is still there. It was a little bent and was installed with screws, though I don't think the screws damaged it in any way. The front windshield chrome was slightly bent, but didn't seem to be too scratched. The rear windshield trim was missing the lower half, but the upper half was nice. The side door/window trim is mostly great, except the passenger side parts have a few dents--most notably the A-pillar trim which looks like it is crazed from being bent and straightened.

The exterior door handles are still there. I think every body panel is dented or covered with filler. As usual, the driver side interior door release was broken. The two rear tan door panels are in good condition. The driver side front was still there and decent; only one small crack on top and a couple down low. The front and rear bumpers and overriders are bent. Other than drivetrain parts and the wiper motor... probably not much left.

[brettj]

Thanks, Sounds like the leftovers are toast!

[littlefin]

Hi Squiggle!

Ever see any fintails in the pick'n'pulls where you are now?
I'm still on the look-out for bumper (fender) sections if you ever see any   

Phil

[Squiggle Dog]

Hi Squiggle!

Ever see any fintails in the pick'n'pulls where you are now?
I'm still on the look-out for bumper (fender) sections if you ever see any   

Phil

There is only one yard in town that has fintails (they have at least five). Unfortunately, this is a yard with crazy prices! Their sign reads "$100 minimum charge for pulling parts" and they don't let anyone back into the yard. You have to tell them at the desk what you're looking for, and they will send a guy out to remove the part. They MIGHT let me go back for about 5 minutes to browse, but they sound like even that is a big inconvenience.

I found out about them because they had a W126 on craigslist with a Nardi steering wheel. When I called about it, they wanted something like $300. When I went to the business in person, the price changed to about $600! Bunch of jokers.

Actually, there is a yard here called "Mercedes Only Auto Wrecking", but it's another joke. The seller claims to have fintails, but says he is not selling any of it. Most of their parts are junk and they want ridiculous prices for it.

Maybe one of these days a fintail will show up in the reasonably-priced yards, though.