Help Needed - Inspection of MCI 102A3 located in Christiansburg VA near Roanoke

[ScharpeStGuy]

Clifford, great advice.

On the Oil/Fluid Sample testing from the Engine, Transmission, Coolant, Power Steering, Differential do I find a place to do this locally or is this a mail order thing where they send a kit with "vials" and once filled you send it to ________?

I am definitely willing and able to meeting anyone there who is willing to share knowledge and experience with me.

I understand that "____" happens and it's a roll of the dice but from reading the forums I am trying to ask the questions first and glean as much wisdom and advice prior to pulling the trigger.

Appreciate the help.

[luvrbus]

A dot inspection will tell you the condition of the brakes,suspension, air leaks,cracks,compressor and lights it's a good deal for the bucks.You can do this on your own just make your mind up to do it,if you run into a problem post a photo and question here there are a lot of smart guys here that have BTDT .It's just my thought that Fitch would not have started a conversion on a bad shell but I could be wrong 

[buswarrior]

Smoking engine?

Reality check time.

Whatever you pay for that coach, you, and especially the other half, need to be completely comfortable with spending another $10-12k on an engine.

Maybe it just needs a fresh fill of the proper 40 wt oil and driven hard up and down the mountain a few times...

Or, it is shot and requires re-build.

Do you like the prospects of divorce, alimony and child support payments?

Pause the dream here to confirm...

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[ScharpeStGuy]

BusWarrior, so your saying that not all DD engines smoke? Shoot my 2005 E320 CDI will smoke when I give it a good "Italian Tune" or as your refer to it going hard up and down the mountain a few times!!!

Any advice on Oil/Fluid inspection companies, who do Bus Nuts use and recommend? Would like to get this aspect of it and perhaps even the DOT inspection done first so I can have those reports in hand and follow up with a visit to the bus with perhaps Dennis and a Friend.

Thanks

[eagle19952]

My thoughts,FWIW,etc

it has a converter
it doesn't have an inverter
batteries,camera and satellite are likely outdated
mirrors on the ceiling and ceramic tile on the floor are not to my liking, YMMV
date codes on tires
radiant heat.

good luck

[ScharpeStGuy]

Eagle,

Just to clarify your comment (Thank you!)

"it has a converter - Good?
it doesn't have an inverter - Bad?
batteries,camera and satellite are likely outdated - I would remove Satellite we Roku/Netflix/Amazon, new batteries, new camera
mirrors on the ceiling and ceramic tile on the floor are not to my liking, YMMV - I agree on the ceramic tile, not sure yet about the mirrors
date codes on tires - Yes I need to get those as I may be looking at new tires approx cost $3,000?[/font]
radiant heat." - Good?

Thanks!

[digesterman]

Converter is bad, inverter is good. Lot of smart people here that can guide you to some "smart" inverters that are well worth the money but they're spendy

That's a lot of data you will be using, you have a rare unlimited data plan I take it

We have marble on the floors and love it, YMMV

3000 for a set of tires sounds like a good price, 8 tires (Michelins) cost me closer to 5 but I probably got hosed.

These things tend to be expensive

[DoubleEagle]

Everyone, remember this is his very first bus and he does not have a lot of driving experience with a bus, and he is far away from the current bus being considered. He is definitely very interested in getting a bus and is trying to be diligent in selecting one. I have looked at two Eagles for him that are in Ohio, which both turned out to be inappropriate for his needs. The most important thing, in my opinion, is that he gets a bus that is essentially sound and fits his interior arrangement needs, and that he does not get stuck with a bus that needs major work. He needs something that is ready to go pretty much as is. The niceties of tile vs. wood vs. carpet are things to think about as side issues. Tires are either okay or not, but the major running gear condition is tricky to uncover. Fraser has to make the final decision, but he needs our wisdom to help make it. I don't think he is going to blame anyone for recommending a bus that later turns out to be with problems. Every bus has some problems; they are a conglomeration of multiple systems that can and will fail. Hopefully, this bus will check out okay, and all of the necessary repairs will be reasonable in cost. The issue of smoke from the engine and rough shifting was raised by Sawyer's  inspection of the bus, Clifford could be very correct that these are not necessarily things that can't be corrected, the bus has been inactive since last year (or more), so, the bus needs inspection.

[brmax]

I think you should cut sawyers a check for the one in your 1st post, tell them to run it through the cross country inspection and get it ready.
Your taken it to Texas

and I do like it better with the cool aluminum wheels
good day there
Floyd

[eagle19952]

Eagle,

Just to clarify your comment (Thank you!)

"it has a converter - Good?
it doesn't have an inverter - Bad?
batteries,camera and satellite are likely outdated - I would remove Satellite we Roku/Netflix/Amazon, new batteries, new camera
mirrors on the ceiling and ceramic tile on the floor are not to my liking, YMMV - I agree on the ceramic tile, not sure yet about the mirrors
date codes on tires - Yes I need to get those as I may be looking at new tires approx cost $3,000?[/font]
radiant heat." - Good?

Thanks!

none of the above are to my liking... and i am not a boondocker either, i am in an all electric too.
i am also not a fan of roof AC
And i wonder why there are no shots of storage/bays...lots of room for sin there.
i would want a lot more pictures before i went 50 miles to see that coach...let alone 2000.

not saying it is not an appealing candidate.

[DoubleEagle]

The video of the MCI on the Sawyer's site shows the bays briefly. There are at least two slide trays mounted in them. For the price, this bus has good possibilities if there is nothing majorly wrong with it. Roof airs are very common and practical, and the star coaches usually have five. We need more busnuts in Virginia with cameras. Inquiring minds want to know more about this bus. I am six driving hours away, but isn't there someone closer that can get to it sooner than sometime in July?

[luvrbus]

The video of the MCI on the Sawyer's site shows the bays briefly. There are at least two slide trays mounted in them. For the price, this bus has good possibilities if there is nothing majorly wrong with it. Roof airs are very common and practical, and the star coaches usually have five. We need more busnuts in Virginia with cameras. Inquiring minds want to know more about this bus. I am six driving hours away, but isn't there someone closer that can get to it sooner than sometime in July?

Friday is July,has he asked Abbott about service records ?

[DoubleEagle]

Friday is July,has he asked Abbott about service records ?

Not to my knowledge.

[jackhartjr]

If the coach can be drivin, about 40 or so miles south in Fort Criswell, there is a Speedo that can do an inspection as well as an oil analysts!

[Hi yo silver]

OK, let's try again. I responded and my carefully crafted paragraph disappeared.
Fraser and my friends on The Board; (Always capitalize The Board) LOL
I don't disagree with any of the advice offered above. My offer was simply to drive to Sawyers, at no cost, put eyes on the bus and maybe drive it long enough to warm it up, look over the house systems and offer an opinion regarding whether you should "Run Fraser, Run!" or if it looks like a worthy candidate worth spending some hard-earned money on for more in-depth inspections, evaluations and repairs. My opinions would be based on my experiences as a former MCI owner for five and a half years, and on my experiences with local shops. That would cost you nothing, and since nobody else has stepped forward...
If you find a better option or if that wouldn't be helpful, then no harm, no foul. My offer stands.
Dennis
HiYoSilver