Why??

[Bob Gil]

Well I am still trying to get this bus to pass the state inspection.  I needed to replace some of the clerance lights as they were burnt out.  I started taking the cover off the 2nd one and the screws both broke off with the first try.  I got decided to replace them but to I found that they were not some thing ZI cold get at the local auto - truck parts house.  When the person put the caps on this bus they went with MCI lights in stead of the ones that you can get aat the parts house.

Why would any body go with MCI lights for $31.00 each (plus   MCI wants $30 for ground shipping) when you can get good lights at the parts house for $6.00 each when you need them?  Is it a mater of looks or just some thing they did not think of?  Any body got any ideas?

$60.00 for a one bulb clearence light is on the high side in my books, when I can go with the led tiger eyes with 10 leds for $8.00 each.

Just the thoughs of a poor boy trying to make it work.

[belfert]

I can't answer why someone used MCI parts, but you can avoid shipping charges with MCI by using their online parts store.  Anyone can sign up for an account.  In the past I have called for the part number and then ordered the part online to avoid the extra charges,

(This policy may have changed since the MCI bankruptcy.  I haven't ordered anything in some time.)

[NewbeeMC9]

LEDs weren't always cheap, so maybe that wasn't an option then,  also be sure the screw holes and the and size match up.

[Sojourner]

All vehicle manufacturers do not make the marker assy to keep production cost at the lowest. So it become the middle-man and has to charge the added profit & handling for those who would want to save time searching for the OEM version. And they (MCI) have pay nearly or the same as we do because of much lower volume buying as cars manufacturers do.

Grote, Marker & Clearance Lamp bulb & LED

Truck-Lite, Marker & Clearance bulb & LED

Peterson, Marker & Clearance
Or LED


BTW...suggestion is to get the smooth taper version to avoid tree-branches breaking the len off.

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[Busted Knuckle]

Bob,
FYI if you look those MCI lights have an SAE & DOT # and can be bought thru NAPA! Also if you spend more than $100.00 @ MCI shipping is free! (It has been for yrs! And according to Belfert it also is if ya buy online, I wouldn't know as we never spend less than $100.00 {as a matter of fact I didn't realize you could buy from MCI for less than $100! or any other bus manufacture for that matter!)
Now lastly is yer bus 12 or 24 Volt ?
I can get exact replacement MCI style LEDs from Setra for $25 ea!
FWIW   BK 

[Runcutter]

Bob, remember too that there's an MCI service center in Dallas.  Essentially I-35E & Northwest Highway.  They stock parts. 

Arthur

[BG6]

For clearance lights, you can use ANY DOT-approved light.  They will get you past the inspection and until you find someone with some used ones.

[Airbag]

Change the bulb, ops check then put the lens back on with a dab of silicone till you can get it sorted out.

[Bob Gil]

I did not look for them at NAPA.  I looked at fleet pride and he told me he could not get them they were a dealer item.

I am going to try to drill the broken off screws out and then try to replace them if that does not work I will silicone it back on.

I just don't understand why they did not use a standard light when they put the caps on.  That is unless they bought the caps from MCI and they came with the lights in them.

Bob

[Busted Knuckle]

I just don't understand why they did not use a standard light when they put the caps on.  That is unless they bought the caps from MCI and they came with the lights in them.

Bob

or could it be that they were used MCI caps, and already had the lights on them. Or it could be that back then those were the standard lights! FWIW Setra's S215 & S217 models use the same light!

I have been converting all our to the LED lights slowly (1 bus @ a time) due to the cost.

  BK 

[Bob Gil]

I went to NAPa and they could not get them either.

I tried to drill out the screw that was broken off in the base and the nut came out of the plastic so I went and got new nuts and I think I can make it work this way.

I like the led lights but they do cost a little more than normal.

all the lights that I put on the E-350 school bus I am making a handicap bus out of are going to be LED.

Bob

[edroelle]

A number of years (12?) ago I bought MCI clearance lights from Mohawk Mfg., 800-323-7652.  At that time, they were about $12.

Ed Roelle
Flint, MI

[belfert]

Napa is not always the best source of parts.  There are three or four manufacturers making the light I needed and Napa couldn't get it without a huge shipping and handling charge.  I ended up ordering two of them online and the shipping cost as much as the lights.  (Local truck parts place had Grote, but not the light I needed.)

Optronics, Grote, Truck-Lite, and Peterson all have websites with PDF catalogs and there is a good chance that one of them will have the light unless the light is really old or custom.

I have at least one light on my bus that is metric sized made in Brazil.  MCI wanted $40 or $50 for a new incandescent one and I found a LED version that is close enough for maybe $20 each.

[Bob Gil]

I have not found the MCI catalog on line does any body have the url?

[Busted Knuckle]

I have not found the MCI catalog on line does any body have the url?

Bob MCI doesn't  have a online catalog. They have a online parts dept. but you have to either have yer part # or be pretty savy at using their search feature to find what ya want! I almost always end up calling them and giving them a description of what I need and get #'s from them to order online, or I just tell them to ship it! (skipping the online frustration thing since I almost always spend more than $100 anyway! (like today when I ordered 2 Dina airbags @ $161 each!)
FWIW  BK