New to car wash industry and am purchasing an existing 6 bay ss with 2 IBA bays. The wash currently only has one automatic bay operational that has an Autec AES-46 friction machine. It will operate but needs repairs to be used by customers. I have had a service rep from Autec come and look at it to see what it would take to get it reconditioned so that it could operate daily without issues. I have also looked at installing a new Autec, PDQ Surfline, and WW Profile. Pricing to refurbish the existing unit is in the $25-30K range and pricing on the new machines is well known info. I am located in NC near the Autec factory so that is benefit in terms of parts/service availability. My question is do I refurb the existing unit to get things up and going and get my feet wet without the major expense of a new machine or go for the new equipment right from the start. If I did the refurb on the friction machine my thought would be to add a new touchless machine in the second bay once I get up and running smoothly.
Purchasing A IBA Wash With Autec AES-46 Machine - Need Advice
- Thread starter prostock
- Start date
MEP001
Well-known member
I don't know anything about Autec, but some makers have a program where they install a refurbished gantry for a decent price and take the old one to refurb and sell again. You might also look into a PM program, but I would urge you to learn the machine the best you can to make sure they're doing things right. I've seen techs do the bare minimum to keep the machine limping along until something major breaks.
OurTown
Well-known member
What are they going to do exactly? Refurb or recondition can mean different things to different people. Is this 25 years old like your SS equipment? If so me personally would not put that much money into that old of an Autec.
STOP! Don't put any serious money into a Autec AES-46 automatic or any Atec machine for that matter. I'd just try to keep it running as long as I can before I replaced it with something else. What's wrong with the Autec that's not working? Learn as much as you can about your equipment so you can repair your equipment yourself, if you have to call someone out every time to fix something it'll kill you financially.
Greg Pack
Wash Weenie
A different machine, even a refurbished one, is a great way to spur interest and make a statement that things have changed around there.
Thanks for the input, here are a few answers to the questions you have asked....
The current Autec is 15-17 years old.
The main issues that need fixed/replaced: all of the fabric, drive wheels and tracks, hydraulic mitter actuator. dryer motor, and a few bearings.
The thought behind refurbing the existing machine is that I could have that machine running and use for a few years for the cost of just the install on a new/different machine.
The current Autec is 15-17 years old.
The main issues that need fixed/replaced: all of the fabric, drive wheels and tracks, hydraulic mitter actuator. dryer motor, and a few bearings.
The thought behind refurbing the existing machine is that I could have that machine running and use for a few years for the cost of just the install on a new/different machine.
Greg Pack
Wash Weenie
Ultimately your call, but Customers need to occasionally see something different and new. I would have a hard time putting 30K in a 17 year old machine with 30 year old technology.
I know of a factory refurbished combo machine that can be installed with a new dryer arch for around 90K. Probably 75K if yours can be retained (ballpark numbers)
Ryko has been aggressively running specials too.
I know of a factory refurbished combo machine that can be installed with a new dryer arch for around 90K. Probably 75K if yours can be retained (ballpark numbers)
Ryko has been aggressively running specials too.
tdlconceptsllc
Well-known member
Also Tom Hobby just sold Autec. Carolina Pride would give you good reliable service since you are new to the Industry if you bought a new machine then you could learn the ropes.
If the Autec has a mitter instead of a real top brush, I wouldn't put anything into it. It will never clean no matter what is done to it. And if the machine is that old, all of the hydraulic lines and fittings will be failing and sending oil all over everything.
washnshine
Well-known member
You could potentially find another used machine that will be newer and clean better for close to the same price. You could then get even more time out of it and it would be “new” to your customers.
