Jim Coleman Equipment costs

[twintowerscarwash]

Dear Jim Coleman Customers:
I am looking into buying/using Jim Coleman equipment and would like input from all of those presently using or HAVE USED the equipment in the past. Also, please let me know what a good price for the equipment is.
My Bays will have (1) WW 2.0 (1) eFusion and (2) Self-serve.
I have not gotten the spec list for the eFusion since it was a late addition.
The WW 2.0 is:
High Pressure under carriage
scrolling message board
Presoak heater
2 step pre soak system
Circulating presoak
Tri-foam Autofoamer
Zero degree Rocker Nozzles
Contouring Top Boom
Auto door controller
Low pressure wax
I am being quoted seperatly for the On-Board drying system
Head systems
3-15 hp
motor control center
Powder coat finish
Countdown timer

Self-Service Equipment
HD SS Frame/Tanks w/Hydrominder Proportioners
5 hp 3ph motor
foam brush/tire+engine cleaner/presoak/tri-foam/high pressure soap/high press wax/high press rinse/wash-n-blow/spot free rinse
SS meter box w/ digital display timer
Electronic coin acceptor
10 Posn switch
FB weep
Tri Gun Weep
Bay Gun Weep

Last Question: Has the downturn in the economy forced manufacturer to lower prices or add sales incentives? i.e. 6 months no payment, rebates, etc.

I appreciate any and all information.

 

[Greg Pack]

Coleman has list price books available and the distributors I know use their quoting software. Coleman recently raised their prices on many items. Any discounts you get will likely come from the distributor's cut.

I have a 2.0 and generally like it. As far as cleaning ability, it's one of the best on the market. It does have quite a bit more sensors and more moving parts than the average IBA, which translates into more maintenance.

I looked at the efusion at the ICA and liked what I saw. But I don't have any friction IBA experience. I would like to hear some input also.

Good luck with the SS. At my site, SS bays make up 20% of site revenue and 75% of the headaches of owning the carwash. New construction doesn't pencil out very well here. Might be better for you if you're in a rural area.

 

[mr-gte]

As a Coleman $159,000.00 end user / car wash owner , I cannot give a good recommendation to any , Coleman vacuums, Self serve equipment , credit card payment systems.
Support rating = very poor.
Check Jim Coleman section on the forum.

Jim Coleman Price tag is like Gasoline costing more than beer.

I would gladly sell all my Coleman vacuums and self serve equipment.
OR
I could fetch a good price scraping the stainless steel.

Coleman Automatics , I have no experience with.

Keep in mind, higher quality systems with excellent support are available.

 

[Reds]

I have two WW2.0 & 2 JC self serve bays & 2 JC vacs. My equipment is well maintained. My distributor is very helpful in trouble shooting any problems even though I do most of my own repairs. Here's my experience with JC equipment - My vacs have run without a single problem for 3 years. My WW's do an excellent job cleaning. For the complexity of the equipment they are very reliable. I have had to do some repairs (eyes, prox wires, heim ends, etc) but this can be expected with any similar mechanical device. The blowers (MacNeil have been the biggest problem. I have had to replace 2 motors (1 warranty, 1 not). I buy whatever parts I can from a source other than JC. Blower motors can be repaired for a couple hundred bucks. After having my original WW for 2.5 yrs I just added a second one 3 months ago. I looked at the fusion but didn't think it was a good idea my rural setting where a majority of my vehicles are trucks (with big mirrors) with lots of mud, hay, leaves, mulch, etc. I am very happy with my WW so I stuck with it. The only problem I have had with the SS is the tire cleaner pump started leaking. So I replaced it with a SS procon brand and that ended that. I would recommend that you put bill acceptors in your SS bays. Also, install your own presoak heater. You will save a couple thousand dollars doing that. And make sure you negotiate a discount from your supplier. I don't have enough space to relate all of my experiences with the equipment. Feel free to email me if you wish to discuss in more detail. Good luck

 

[Greg Pack]

I would gladly sell all my Coleman vacuums and self serve equipment.
OR
I could fetch a good price scraping the stainless steel.

How much do you want for the vacs? Are they combos? I've got four fragramatics I'll trade.

 

[dclark3344]

You may want to make sure your SS presoak is low pressure (not medium)and consider a low pressure sealant like rainX, get a mutitron coin accepter to accept Quarters, Tokens or gold dollars is nice. Do not let them put the aluminum rails in the bay instead use solid plastic parking blocks lined up instead of the rails. The rails catch the customers tires and pull the steering into and just the rail or damage the expensive rims the young people put on their cars. Also on the SS pump size go up to a CAT 530 or I am switching mine out to Aramitsu pumps. I have 8 SS, to WW 1.0, 8 combo Frag/vac and 8 combo shampoo vacs, all Coleman and I am glad I used their equipment that has given me the competitive advantage. Dont forget to get a glass face vending machine. David in Sooner country.

 

[trentu]

I have 4 WW 2.0s and 5 bays of JC Self serve. If I had to do it again, I would not get their SS equipment. It is expensive, proprietary to a large degree and their customer support does suck. I like the WWs a lot and once you ramp up on them they are a pretty solid machine. If you have the choice, at least don't get JCs meter bay doors. The timers are propietary, very expensive (a lightning strike cost me about $2k) and aren't very versatile. Go with someone else's meter box so you can get all you want in it. Also, don't pay for their spot free system, get 1 off the market. Theirs was incapable of keeping up with 1 auto and the SS bays on busy days, then I added a second auto and it was constantly out on a 900 gallon tank.

 

[MikeV]

Coleman is like Polaroid, they could give the equipment away and still make a killing on their high cost of proprietary parts and what they charge for service and tech support