Any Conversion Info (Good or Bad) On Setra Buses???

[Highway Yacht]

I'm going to be in the market soon for a bus to convert and really like the looks of the Setra Buses. I like their slick sides and their styling plus they appear to have huge bays. I know most will not agree with me. I've never been inside one or seen one up close, only going down the highway or in pictures. I'm sure parts are not as cheap and easy to get as the MCI's or Eagles but what are some of the other dissadvantages of converting/operating a Setra bus? They do look very tall but I've read that the seat platforms are elevated above the aisles. Do they still need a roof raise or can the seat platforms be taken out to give more head room? I'm 6ft tall and would really like to stay away from trying to raise a roof. Any info, advantages or dissadvantages would be very helpful in helping me make up my mind.

[Just Dallas]

Removed

[Highway Yacht]

Ohhhhhh, Noooooooo!

Wow.. that doesn't sound too promising..

[TomC]

Personally- I'm 6'3" and if I were doing another bus conversion, I'd use the MCI 102C3 with 6'10" headroom, 102" wide, with big windows.  You'll much more happy with the parts availability then with Setra (even though Mercedes-Benz owns Setra and Freightliner).  Good Luck, TomC

[HighTechRedneck]

Just duck your head when BK answers.  He's not having a good time with his Setra's right now.

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=12348.0

Then I called Setra and told them I needed a price on replacing the 2nd and 3rd windows on the passenger/door side of one of my S417's. Well the guy in parts made my day when he told me "well the 2nd one is $5??.?? AND THE 3RD ONE IS $1,3??.??! And now let me transfer you to service for the labor quote!"
OK so only $2,000 in parts, it hurts but I can deal with that I suppose! (opps there goes the advertising $ I was hoping to spend in the new magazine!)
So then the service manager gets back to me and gives me the total cost for parts and labor of about $8,000.00 +/-

And then there was the transmission work that was $$$$.

And now problems with the bank trying to take them back because the former owner didn't have the legal right to transfer them.  (That of course isn't a Setra problem, just a legal and banking one.)

Sometimes I think the older buses are cheaper to maintain than the newer ones in spite of their own eccentricities.

[johns4104s]

I agree Setra is a good looking bus,but parts availability and cost of parts would be a problem for me.

John

[Highway Yacht]

Personally- I'm 6'3" and if I were doing another bus conversion, I'd use the MCI 102C3 with 6'10" headroom, 102" wide, with big windows.  You'll much more happy with the parts availability then with Setra (even though Mercedes-Benz owns Setra and Freightliner).  Good Luck, TomC

Do ALL of the 102C3's have the 6' 10" headroom?

[belfert]

What happened to the tranmission on Bryce's bus could happen to any transmission with a water to oil cooler.  Not specific to a Setra.  My understanding is the cooler failed and coolant mixed into the ATF.

[HighTechRedneck]

What happened to the tranmission on Bryce's bus could happen to any transmission with a water to oil cooler.  Not specific to a Setra.  My understanding is the cooler failed and coolant mixed into the ATF.

I agree, and that B500 transmission is nice from what I hear, but when it needs replacing, it is more $$$$.

[PCC]

I personally like the Setra and want my next conversion to be one, for many reasons, but be sure you know the person from whom you purchase the coach.

[belfert]

One other major issue with older Setras is the body.  It appears they have steel bodies and I have seen one with some pretty good rust on it.

[Melbo]

What kind of rust is the "GOOD RUST"

I like living in the southwest where there is not as much rust

Melbo

[Highway Yacht]

Rust is something I think would affect all buses depending on where they mainly spent their working life and not just Setra's. I've heard horror stories of some beautiful Eagles that were ate up with rust as well as MCI's having some rust problems in the bays. The few Setra's I have seen on Ebay over the past couple months look like they have either plastic or fiberglass bodies but like I said earlier, I've never been up close to one in person. I'm sure they would have the same rust problems on the frames and other metal parts as most of the Eagles or MCI's. I'm thinking the last one I saw on Ebay that appeared to have the plastic / fiberglass body was a late 80's or very early 90's model.

[Busted Knuckle]

Rust is something I think would affect all buses depending on where they mainly spent their working life and not just Setra's. I've heard horror stories of some beautiful Eagles that were ate up with rust as well as MCI's having some rust problems in the bays. The few Setra's I have seen on Ebay over the past couple months look like they have either plastic or fiberglass bodies but like I said earlier, I've never been up close to one in person. I'm sure they would have the same rust problems on the frames and other metal parts as most of the Eagles or MCI's. I'm thinking the last one I saw on Ebay that appeared to have the plastic / fiberglass body was a late 80's or very early 90's model.

jlink,
Setra's are not a plastic of fiberglass body. They are some type of metal, but I ain't sure what type! Magnetic signs will stick to the skins!
Also I know of a very reasonably priced '90 model S215 HDH 8V92 DDEC/Allison 748 happens to ba available!
I love my Setra's even with the issues mentioned above! And I can tell you ways to work with the floor issues!
two seven zero-seven zero five-eleven thirty nine!
  BK 

[Highway Yacht]

Rust is something I think would affect all buses depending on where they mainly spent their working life and not just Setra's. I've heard horror stories of some beautiful Eagles that were ate up with rust as well as MCI's having some rust problems in the bays. The few Setra's I have seen on Ebay over the past couple months look like they have either plastic or fiberglass bodies but like I said earlier, I've never been up close to one in person. I'm sure they would have the same rust problems on the frames and other metal parts as most of the Eagles or MCI's. I'm thinking the last one I saw on Ebay that appeared to have the plastic / fiberglass body was a late 80's or very early 90's model.

jlink,
Setra's are not a plastic of fiberglass body. They are some type of metal, but I ain't sure what type! Magnetic signs will stick to the skins!
Also I know of a very reasonably priced '90 model S215 HDH 8V92 DDEC/Allison 748 happens to ba available!
I love my Setra's even with the issues mentioned above! And I can tell you ways to work with the floor issues!
two seven zero-seven zero five-eleven thirty nine!
  BK 

Thanks for your input on the bodies. I sent you a PM last night.