Self Serve Wreckers - Greater Melbourne 2024

[Citroënbender]

Planning another parts “odyssey”. I’ll be chasing E46 coupé interior trim, Pug 307/407 parts, B-series Falcon bits.

I know of:

• The Three Jolly’s
• Imlachs
• Harvey Wreckers
• Two Pick-a-Parts

Commentary on the various yards invited; everything from staff attitude to stock quality, price firmness, carpark security, etc. As a non-Melbournian I lack insider knowledge.

Regional suggestions within 200km also welcome.

[Franco Cozzo]

Theres about a zillion wreckers on Fordson Road Campbellfield - flat out shitboxes line the streets, reminds me of home

Not sure if self serve, but Campbellfield has LOTS of auto wreckers, there's probably 10+ within a 3km radius of each other.

[Citroënbender]

Only self-serve I know of around there is Pick-a-Part. I realise others might let you in if you either have the inside word or pass the attitude test.

Although… Given the presentation of Povo Ute, I’d almost worry they’d put the slipper tines under it “by mistake”!

Planning to come from Broadford, visit the more north/central ones first, then towards Frankston, and across to Corio. That way I can revisit with the least (although still a lot!) of back-and-forth travel.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Only self-serve I know of around there is Pick-a-Part. I realise others might let you in if you either have the inside word or pass the attitude test.

أو يجيد اللغة العربية

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

أو يجيد اللغة العربية

UN2000 Blue Line FTW

[fordomatic]

Pickapart strip most good bits now and sell on eBay. Then put the shell on the lot.

[Bill M]

Pickapart Kilsyth is good. I regularly go there usually for Falcon.
Imlachs is good as well.

[T3rminator]

I use Jolly, cos you can search online to see if someone has already taken the parts before wasting your time. (assuming it's accurately recorded, but give you an idea).

You can also see what car has arrived and when, and decide whether it's worth taking a punt spending your afternoon there.

[Syndrome]

Good time for this thread. I need a center console arm rest lid for a 2007 Ford Focus as one of the plastic hinges has snapped.

[foxtrot3]

Hi. Jollys in dandy is the pick of the crop for neat and clean on a concrete slab, pick out the car(s) on a touch screen and print out a location but you may need to walk from one end of the earth to the other to check multiple cars. Pick a part Kilsyth has the best layout with all the same brands in rows (on hard pack dirt). Jollys ringwood and pinch a part cambelfield are baby brothers to the other yards (both on hard pack). Prices are fixed but you can often get the little extras thrown in for zero cost. As mentioned there are lots of little yards in the back blocks in camblefield, just charge the phone and hit google before you leave sydney. Cheers MD

[Citroënbender]

I’m finding the Imlachs website a bit kludgy on my phone, is this something others have experienced?

Harvey Wreckers seem interesting, will be good to know if they are worthwhile.

Going to be a fair bit of driving…

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I’m finding the Imlachs website a bit kludgy on my phone, is this something others have experienced?

Harvey Wreckers seem interesting, will be good to know if they are worthwhile.

Going to be a fair bit of driving…

Yes I could not get the parts price list on my iphone, on the desk top PC no worries. Good luck!

[Citroënbender]

Jolly’s Geelong is still good, although stock turnover seems to have slowed and yard upkeep slipped a little.

Melbourne commuter traffic is still awful, for me it gets worse with every visit. The only improvement is people in the outer reaches possibly using navigation apps more and trusting their GPS speed instead of an over-reading dash. Cars seem a bit more logically brisk.

Lot of driving between yards planned for today.

[marty351]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Theres about a zillion wreckers on Fordson Road Campbellfield - flat out shitboxes line the streets, reminds me of home

Not sure if self serve, but Campbellfield has LOTS of auto wreckers, there's probably 10+ within a 3km radius of each other.

"Moe & Ibz cut'n'shut"

[Citroënbender]

Pick-a-Part Campbellfield as many describe, a damp wasteland. Almost found a wanted ABS module there but wrong motor configuration and it’s not possible to edit with my software.

Standout was a W123 that appeared almost free of rust, and a red XD (I think) with very sound potential rear cut.

Edit: Ambos just arriving at Pick-a-Part / Simsmetal. :o

[mad2]

excited earlier Mr. Bender ....

had a white ute drive by....

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Jolly’s Geelong is still good, although stock turnover seems to have slowed and yard upkeep slipped a little.

Melbourne commuter traffic is still awful, for me it gets worse with every visit. The only improvement is people in the outer reaches possibly using navigation apps more and trusting their GPS speed instead of an over-reading dash. Cars seem a bit more logically brisk.

Lot of driving between yards planned for today.

wow you are getting around! Time of travel is the biggest factor re: traffic. During school runs is a no no. Dandenong Jollys is the pick of the bunch of the Jollys (for falcons anyway).

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

wow you are getting around! Time of travel is the biggest factor re: traffic. During school runs is a no no. Dandenong Jollys is the pick of the bunch of the Jollys (for falcons anyway).

He'll know about traffic if he's on Sydney Road Campbellfield in peak times, joints ****ed from 6AM-9AM and 3PM-6PM

[Citroënbender]

Yes, it’s going to be an interesting run back to Broadford this afternoon.

I didn’t visit Jolly’s Dandenong, a bit “yarded out”.

Imlachs deserve a special mention for their OTT sign-in system; I’ll be asking in due course how I petition to have my data securely deleted. Heavy mud and not a lot of good stuff. I hadn’t realised how the BA “modestry panel” (sic) is becoming rare.

Pick-a-Part seem to remove or destroy all their front splash shields and undertrays upon placing cars in the yard, at both venues.

Scored a couple of unicorn eggs (almost) - a Pug knee bag at Harveys and a mint NSF AU splash shield from a car on “Death Row” at Ringwood.

Some thoughts, bit of a running summary.

Jolly’s Geelong - wide range, Cheerful Scott is in charge, staff are genial and prices reflect attitude plus gross spend - not necessarily even close to list totals. So you can do very well.

Jolly’s Ringwood - less flexibility but helpful and consistent. Less variety of stock and you can do a lot of walking in a small yard with how it’s set out.

Pick-a-Part Campbellfield - barely worth the two dollars, but you just might find something. A bit muddy in the wet season.

Pick-a-Part Kilsyth - home of the “bonnet bender”. So many saleable bonnets destroyed by people bending them back. It’s where old Falcon utes go to die, as well. Grade of the yard avoids formation of mud puddles. The stock groupings are mostly quite consistent. Prices I found higher than some other places.

Imlachs - HUGE! As mentioned, the data grabbing sign-in is ready for whatever State of Emergency or Martial Law is declared next; they will find you and you will be it/conscripted/in the doo-doo… (Strike out all that may not apply.) Parts prices are very good, but I didn’t get to test them on any grouped assemblies to see how they read the room.

Harvey’s - quiet but busy. Less of the “yalla, yalla” vibe. Petty thieves wander the aisles contentedly filling their pockets with globes, fuses, switch bits etc. I think some of this behaviour is actually a manifestation of mental disorder, so it’s probably in fact giving them a contained sense of purpose. Prices on point, staff attitudes neutral.

As I mentioned yesterday, seem to be a few more “small men” around the roads than Sydney. Today’s hero was a black Camry registered “SHRAZ” - I guess if someone else had already blagged “SHIRAZ” (a Subcontinental name) and you couldn’t have it - you’d be perennially shirty as well.

Wishing everyone a great Friday evening and a relaxing Saturday.

[Franco Cozzo]

Depends where you are around Melbourne is a different level of how poor the driving is, you go out North and West you get everything from grandma doing 30 under the limit in the right lane to someone doing 250km/h in peak hour on the M80 or the surrounding suburban roads weaving in and out of traffic.

[Fatbob103]

Since driving down here everyday I've discovered one thing.
Vehicles in Victoria are set for 80kmh only.
In a 100km zone. Do 80.
In a 60km zone. Do 80.

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by Fatbob103

Since driving down here everyday I've discovered one thing.
Vehicles in Victoria are set for 80kmh only.
In a 100km zone. Do 80.
In a 60km zone. Do 80.

Very accurate.

And forget trying to profile the bad drivers anymore, its infected all types. Frequently get 60+ year old ethnic ladies tailgating me through "slow down" construction zones in their tractors.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Fatbob103

Since driving down here everyday I've discovered one thing.
Vehicles in Victoria are set for 80kmh only.
In a 100km zone. Do 80.
In a 60km zone. Do 80.

I think the only drivers worse than us Mexicans are people from Canberra, holy shit when you come across an ACT plated car on the freeway somewhere its like chaos follows them everywhere.

Adelaide drivers put in a solid effort, easy city to drive around but Australia's biggest road ragers, also indicators optional and turn from any lane in a roundabout.

[marty351]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I think the only drivers worse than us Mexicans are people from Canberra, holy shit when you come across an ACT plated car on the freeway somewhere its like chaos follows them everywhere.

Adelaide drivers put in a solid effort, easy city to drive around but Australia's biggest road ragers, also indicators optional and turn from any lane in a roundabout.

Add Tasmanians to the list.
I get that Tassie is just a big country town with a unfortunately high road-kill toll.
Generally they're good drivers but oh so slow.

P.S.
They also have difficulties using sat nav.

[fordomatic]

What does my head in is how many people stuff good parts at these wreckers. I'm always looking for AU bits and sometimes i'll look at 20 cars on a wreckers run before I can find the part I need that hasn't been munted. AU eggs, it's like people want to just enjoy trying to rip the dash apart. They are so insanely easy to remove. Once the radio is out, it's literally two screws and it's done.

Same as the sunglass holders, people take great delight in ripping them off. I have found a considerable amount of crack in the AU and BA/BF sunglass holders though, on the inside just above the swinging door, seems to be a favourite spot to stash.

[pcman]

Originally Posted by Fatbob103

Since driving down here everyday I've discovered one thing.
Vehicles in Victoria are set for 80kmh only.
In a 100km zone. Do 80.
In a 60km zone. Do 80.

correct ... until a truck tries to overtake then match his speed and/or speed limiter perfectly

[Citroënbender]

Considering distance between venues and the scope of my shopping list, I did pretty well.

I haven’t done anything purely recreational in Melbourne since January 2016, will need to try making some time for such idleness another visit.

Looking at the fairly recent panel cuts taken from some B-series shells, it is a positive that people in Victoria are still repairing these cars.