Any luck at junkyards?

[usdmej]

You drive a car that is so commonplace you can find parts for it at a junkyard and you're looking for parts at the local pick a part?

ftfy

[bigjae46]

im in Houston area….that’s a pretty stern warning…can you elaborate a bit more? Any recommendations on where to go (even if it’s just regular e46’s)

A guy bought a rebuilt diff, and I made a trade for a couple of parts - a ZF320, a PS pump, and an E46 M3 diff. The PS pump wasn't even off an E46. WTF. The ZF320 5 speed was a Getrag 250 - didn't know there was a difference. And the diff was charred inside like it was on fire at some point. I've dealt with him 3 times. His own car looks like a train wreck. I had to pickup him up to go to his storage to get parts because he didn't have a car...I was desperate for a brake booster (he had an MK20, I needed an MK60...didn't know the difference). And he always tries to trade. He had 2 E46 M3s and both were falling apart. He's a dumpster fire.

Jay Zusa or something...the only one I'll buy from but he is flaky in responding.

90% of the FB and CL ads for parts either than a ridiculous amount because its an M3 or the part is in terrible shape. Someone was selling an E92 M3 hood for $600...the only problem was it flew open while driving and smashed the hump in the hood in. Only $600 for that!

I travel to Chicago a lot, that's where I look for parts.

[Obioban]

I used to like it for the same reasons, and also have been able to get some ‘simply cant get them (separately) from BMW’ kind of parts that way.

But I haven’t gone there in a while due to some degenerate behavior I experienced the last time.

- Someone stealing my M12 impact gun which was lying on the engine while I was underneath removing some stuff around the transmission.

- A group of teenagers barely old enough to drive purposely trying kick a dent in every single door on the lot.

Just makes me sad, but nothing strange considering the current state of the world in regards to morals…

That is sad-- especially as junk yards are THE most efficient way to end old cars that I can think of. Any part of any further use/value gets harvested/reused.

[bmwfnatic]

I love going to the scrap yard, and have had all sorts of projects result:
-got a full set of immaculate zhp trim for my M3 wagon
-got the manual sedan (extra belt mount point) sliders I’m using with my cobra Nogaros
-factory e46 seat heater pads (which you can’t buy separately) for my Nogaros
-retrofitted the factory backlit door handles from the e38 to my e39
-got a full manual swap for my e39 530i (trans, diff, driveshaft, accessories) for <$300!
-extra headlight housings for my e39 M5, which I used for my projector lens swap so I didn’t have to take it offline
-I’ve pulled all sorts of electrical connectors I couldn’t hope to find on realoem

If you’re the kind of person that likes working on cars, just walking the lot and looking at how they’re built and how crash energy is dissipated is fun. It’s probably the closest I get to window shopping 🤣

Just wandering around inspires projects I otherwise wouldn’t have thought of.

I used to like it for the same reasons, and also have been able to get some ‘simply cant get them (separately) from BMW’ kind of parts that way.

But I haven’t gone there in a while due to some degenerate behavior I experienced the last time.

- Someone stealing my M12 impact gun which was lying on the engine while I was underneath removing some stuff around the transmission.

- A group of teenagers barely old enough to drive purposely trying kick a dent in every single door on the lot.

Just makes me sad, but nothing strange considering the current state of the world in regards to morals…

[Obioban]

Sure there is; literally time, patience, and energy all of which are far more valuable than a few bucks. That is, unless you don't value those things then I suppose it's worth it.

There are also forum classifieds and ebay so I can't imagine the need for anyone to ever visit a junkyard. In fact, this thread is proof positive that there is no need because clearly people are surviving without doing so.

I love going to the scrap yard, and have had all sorts of projects result:
-got a full set of immaculate zhp trim for my M3 wagon
-got the manual sedan (extra belt mount point) sliders I’m using with my cobra Nogaros
-factory e46 seat heater pads (which you can’t buy separately) for my Nogaros
-retrofitted the factory backlit door handles from the e38 to my e39
-got a full manual swap for my e39 530i (trans, diff, driveshaft, accessories) for <$300!
-extra headlight housings for my e39 M5, which I used for my projector lens swap so I didn’t have to take it offline
-I’ve pulled all sorts of electrical connectors I couldn’t hope to find on realoem

If you’re the kind of person that likes working on cars, just walking the lot and looking at how they’re built and how crash energy is dissipated is fun. It’s probably the closest I get to window shopping 🤣

Just wandering around inspires projects I otherwise wouldn’t have thought of.

[bavarian3]

There are e46's non M's at my local pick n pull, but the prices are a ripoff

[Thoglan]

That's bad karma bro lol

I've gone a few times with my friend who has an older E class Mercedes, I have never found something useful for my own cars but it's always a fun day.

One thing that actually is kind of helpful about junkyards is you can practice taking stuff off on another car, and if you accidentally break something, it's not a big deal. Not saying you should TRY to break the cars for no reason. But yea.

I try to be reasonable with it haha, sensors and stuff sure, but extra clips/connectors/bolts etc I just stuff in my pockets. My local yards sometimes overcharge on dumb shit so it's my way of getting some value back lol.

[Nate047]

anything small enough to fit in your pockets is basically free

That's bad karma bro lol

I've gone a few times with my friend who has an older E class Mercedes, I have never found something useful for my own cars but it's always a fun day.

One thing that actually is kind of helpful about junkyards is you can practice taking stuff off on another car, and if you accidentally break something, it's not a big deal. Not saying you should TRY to break the cars for no reason. But yea.

[jet_dogg]

Maybe you're just old I actually enjoy picking through the cars and getting the good bits, I can think of so many parts on my car that would have cost 10x what they did if I had got them from anywhere else. Seat rails, door trims, exhaust for my 330ti compact build, sway bars, anything small enough to fit in your pockets is basically free. Not to mention the environmental benefit of reusing stuff otherwise destined for the tip if you're into that.
Different for you guys in the states but ebay is usually pointless for me once you factor in shipping.

I can respect that.

Yeah bro it's different here, lots of vultures 😂

[Thoglan]

Sure there is; literally time, patience, and energy all of which are far more valuable than a few bucks. That is, unless you don't value those things then I suppose it's worth it.

There are also forum classifieds and ebay so I can't imagine the need for anyone to ever visit a junkyard. In fact, this thread is proof positive that there is no need because clearly people are surviving without doing so.

Maybe you're just old I actually enjoy picking through the cars and getting the good bits, I can think of so many parts on my car that would have cost 10x what they did if I had got them from anywhere else. Seat rails, door trims, exhaust for my 330ti compact build, sway bars, anything small enough to fit in your pockets is basically free. Not to mention the environmental benefit of reusing stuff otherwise destined for the tip if you're into that.
Different for you guys in the states but ebay is usually pointless for me once you factor in shipping.

[jet_dogg]

There is literally nothing to gain by thinking you're above parts from a scrapyard. There are so many generic parts across all of the E46 range that there is no reason to not get used for a fraction of the price. I've probably saved thousands over the years.

Sure there is; literally time, patience, and energy all of which are far more valuable than a few bucks. That is, unless you don't value those things then I suppose it's worth it.

There are also forum classifieds and ebay so I can't imagine the need for anyone to ever visit a junkyard. In fact, this thread is proof positive that there is no need because clearly people are surviving without doing so.

[Thoglan]

You drive an m3 and you're looking for parts at the local pick a part?

Smh...

There is literally nothing to gain by thinking you're above parts from a scrapyard. There are so many generic parts across all of the E46 range that there is no reason to not get used for a fraction of the price. I've probably saved thousands over the years.

[jet_dogg]

You drive an m3 and you're looking for parts at the local pick a part?

Smh...

[Mackshackm3]

In houston there are a bunch of dismantlers that scoop them up. Be very wary of what you buy. Extreme caution is advised.

im in Houston area….that’s a pretty stern warning…can you elaborate a bit more? Any recommendations on where to go (even if it’s just regular e46’s)

[timpnw]

I've had alerts set up for a couple of years now for the Pick n Pulls here in the PNW. Not one M3. If you have ever been to a PnP, you got to get there before the buzzards do.