Why is nobody buying this bus for a conversion ?

someguy · August 28, 2020, 09:43:31 PM

Why is nobody buying this bus for a conversion ?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-MCI-E4500-BUS-NO-RESERVE-BANK-REPO/333693899459?

2002 E4500. A few body dings but nothing serious. Odo says 487K, so either 487K or 1.487M. Series 60. Allison. Alcoa wheels. Power/heated mirrors. Retarder. Glass looks good. Idle oil pressure is 30+ PSI. Alternator looks to be working. Proheat 45. Tail lights have been upgraded. Power blinds. OTR compressor is intact. Dual alternators. Frameless windows.

Seller seems very impatient, ie no pre purchase inspection? Has it listed at $13K for a few weeks, no bites.

Seems like a pretty solid start for a conversion. Am I wrong ? Offer him $11K, he'll probably take it ? What would be the downside ? Isn't the salvage value on the components near his asking price ?

Am I missing something?

I think it would be a better platform than this bus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ85rKOT0xA

luvrbus · August 29, 2020, 04:11:05 AM

Buy it he will take less then you know, Sam in KS has a yard full being parted out if you need parts

Utahclaimjumper · August 29, 2020, 05:52:39 AM

After all your talk lately,, where is your wallet?? >>>Dan

richard5933 · August 29, 2020, 06:01:27 AM

Why?

I don't know that I'd spend that much money on a pig in a poke unless I personally knew the seller or if I was able to get more information on the bus.

DoubleEagle · August 29, 2020, 06:43:55 AM

Historically, repossessions are some of the most abused vehicles available. In this case, no pre-inspection is available, and all you have to go by are the pictures. Don't count on the previous maintenance to be good or up to date. The eBay seller has a good feedback rating, but that is it. If it appears to be a candidate for you, make a low offer, and keep in mind that salvage prices are at a low level now. How far away is the bus from you? It might cost a lot to get it home.

belfert · August 29, 2020, 06:48:30 AM

Is there really a chance that bus has 1.47 million miles? That would be about 226 miles every day for the past 18 years. Does a typical charter bus get driven that much?

I would be worried about a bank repo. Did the previous owner let maintenance slip since they didn't have the money to keep up on payments? My bus came from a charter company that went out of business. No idea if it was a repo, but the maintenance had not been kept up on. It needed new tires, new brakes (including drums), new wheel bearings, an exhaust pipe, and some other stuff I don't recall. $10,000 at the shop not including tires. The shop had me come out during the repairs to look at the wheel bearings. They were literally falling apart.

belfert · August 29, 2020, 06:59:30 AM

I looked closer at the listing and noticed a couple of things. The mileage is digital and appears to have room for another digit so it is likely the real mileage unless some of the electronics have been replaced. The listing doesn't mention what drive train it has. However, but looking at all of the pictures it appears to have an Allison (probably B500) and the engine is a Series 60. Isn't 2002 still a non-EGR engine?

I would almost consider this bus just for the drive train if I wasn't building a garage for my bus next year.

The B500 might be close to end of life if the fluid and filters haven't been changed regularly.

buswarrior · August 29, 2020, 07:33:13 AM

Why isn't anything selling?

This far into the pandemic?

There are NO buses on the road up here, fleets are shuttered all over North America, many people have a big hole in their bank account from reduced or lost work, those with money, are worried about their adult kids reduced/lost wages...

The potential market is WAY WAY smaller, almost non-existant, than it was 9 months ago...

Good buses are going for cheap, why buy a very likely crap bus?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

someguy · August 29, 2020, 08:27:06 AM

Quote from: buswarrior on August 29, 2020, 07:33:13 AM
Why isn't anything selling?

This far into the pandemic?

There are NO buses on the road up here, fleets are shuttered all over North America, many people have a big hole in their bank account from reduced or lost work, those with money, are worried about their adult kids reduced/lost wages...

The potential market is WAY WAY smaller, almost non-existant, than it was 9 months ago...

Good buses are going for cheap, why buy a very likely crap bus?

Good answer.

But is that a crap bus ? How much lower should the price be to justify the crapiness ?

I'm looking to avoid pre Multiplex buses, but maybe I should reconsider that.

lvmci · August 29, 2020, 08:39:05 AM

Watch out for rust, check every possible place it could rust, including under the bus...

lvmci · August 29, 2020, 08:45:26 AM

Alabama, Watch out for rust, check every possible place it could rust, including under the bus...

richard5933 · August 29, 2020, 08:58:11 AM

Quote from: someguy on August 29, 2020, 08:27:06 AM
Good answer.

But is that a crap bus ? How much lower should the price be to justify the crapiness ?

I'm looking to avoid pre Multiplex buses, but maybe I should reconsider that.

The problem with this particular bus is there is no way to know if it's a crap bus or not until after you pay the money. You pays your money you take your chances.

I'd think you can the same or better bus for the same or less money elsewhere, probably without the mystery.

someguy · August 29, 2020, 09:15:40 AM

Quote from: richard5933 on August 29, 2020, 08:58:11 AM
The problem with this particular bus is there is no way to know if it's a crap bus or not until after you pay the money. You pays your money you take your chances.

I'd think you can the same or better bus for the same or less money elsewhere, probably without the mystery.

Where ? Show me an E4500 in that condition for $10K.

The engine might be worn out. S60s are easy to do an inframe on. Parts and plentiful and cheap. The Allison might have issues. But if you rebuilt them, you'd have a bulletproof drivetrain.

someguy · August 29, 2020, 09:18:33 AM

Quote from: lvmci on August 29, 2020, 08:45:26 AM
Alabama, Watch out for rust, check every possible place it could rust, including under the bus...

I've looked at several southern and northern E/Js. Rust has certainly not been an issue with these buses. Generally everything is completely free of rust except the front and back bogies area. (MCI calls the sub frames that hold the front and rear axles bogies.) And even in those areas the rust is not compromising anything and nor is it bad. Just usual chassis rust. If find this a big change from earlier generations of buses, ie MCI9s with rotted out air beams.

richard5933 · August 29, 2020, 09:21:32 AM

Quote from: someguy on August 29, 2020, 09:15:40 AM
Where ? Show me an E4500 in that condition for $10K.

The engine might be worn out. S60s are easy to do an inframe on. Parts and plentiful and cheap. The Allison might have issues. But if you rebuilt them, you'd have a bulletproof drivetrain.

My point is that you're buying a pig in a poke - you have no idea what kind of hidden problems are in that bus. It bothers me that inspection is not allowed at all and that you are required to buy based on only a few photos.

It's your money - if you think it's a great deal then I look forward to seeing the photos of your new bus soon.

You asked for opinions on why that bus isn't already sold, and I gave you mine. Not trying to start an argument and you're perfectly free to spend your money as you like.

I bought my bus without laying eyes on it. The only thing I saw about the bus were the photos and videos from the previous owner. But, I did my research and found that Luke's shop had recently worked on it and knew the condition of it, and Luke was able to personally vouch for the seller as an upright dealer. This is the part I see missing here - you don't have any way to verify through a trusted & known source.

If you feel confident in it then carry on.