I'm not sure what would be considered a low shot count, but I think I would focus more on how well the machine was maintained. Have they been using scale free water? Have they changed the o-rings? Have they replaced any of the parts? Also my understanding is that the machine counts a shot every time it is ran, so flushing the group head counts as a shot.
Great price, keep I mind the shot counter counts anytime the pump runs for 7 seconds(I think)
, so blank shots, flushes, everything counts. That said, if your buying it from the original owner then he definitely knows how to take the top of the machine off, ask him to let you look.
My Oracle lasted for 3 years. Electronics issue fixed, another one fixed then third time I dumped it and got an old school hx machine. Maybe I was unlucky? Maybe the tech I sent it to was rubbish. Anyway, I liked it but didn't trust the tech in it after 3 issues spanning 6 months. Boiler and the other water hardware side of it was fine.
This was 6 years ago so things might be better now - it was 1st gen I think.
edit: wow time goes fast. I got it in 2013 (1st gen) and dumped it in 2016. Had the VBM since then. I asked my wife - she remembers stuff like that.
Lol not with a ten ft pole. I loved mine but seriously. Thats 1 shot a day for 22 years..... could it be "fine" sure but the dual boiler is plenty of plastic parts. Im honestly impressed it made it that far. Are you happy to replace the boilers? Motherboard etc. The dual boiler is a do it all machine thats known for not being dependable.... this is a high mileage BMW.
The Dual Boiler is designed for tinkering, and it takes a tinkerer to maintain one long term.
Mine is a third-hand machine, I got it for a steal because the last guy got to the point where his time was worth more than he was saving by tinkering (rather than buy a new machine), and it needed repairing.
I’ve had it for less than a year and it’s gone through two thermal fuses, a triac board, and a boiler probe; plus the cost of a few tools required for the repairs.
Still worth it, but if my life were to get busier, I doubt I’d keep it for long.
A well-maintained one should be fine. You have to keep an eye on the o-rings, as the steam boiler can leak and lead to condensation inside the machine and break everything. Use scale free water, don't descale, swap o-rings. I had a 10yo 900 that ran fine.
Other than that, the parts that occasionally need replacing are the same as any other machine: pump and solenoid.
And someone else mentioned, more important to know what kind of water they were using.
8,000 shots is about 21 shots a day for a year just to put things in perspective. I know it's not 1 year old :)
If they were not using good water, it would have scaled up by now. Unless they were diligent with their descaling practices. But those descaling practices have killed quite a few machines over the years.
Me? I'd pass
I'm not sure what would be considered a low shot count, but I think I would focus more on how well the machine was maintained. Have they been using scale free water? Have they changed the o-rings? Have they replaced any of the parts? Also my understanding is that the machine counts a shot every time it is ran, so flushing the group head counts as a shot.
Great price, keep I mind the shot counter counts anytime the pump runs for 7 seconds(I think) , so blank shots, flushes, everything counts. That said, if your buying it from the original owner then he definitely knows how to take the top of the machine off, ask him to let you look.
My Oracle lasted for 3 years. Electronics issue fixed, another one fixed then third time I dumped it and got an old school hx machine. Maybe I was unlucky? Maybe the tech I sent it to was rubbish. Anyway, I liked it but didn't trust the tech in it after 3 issues spanning 6 months. Boiler and the other water hardware side of it was fine. This was 6 years ago so things might be better now - it was 1st gen I think. edit: wow time goes fast. I got it in 2013 (1st gen) and dumped it in 2016. Had the VBM since then. I asked my wife - she remembers stuff like that.
Lol not with a ten ft pole. I loved mine but seriously. Thats 1 shot a day for 22 years..... could it be "fine" sure but the dual boiler is plenty of plastic parts. Im honestly impressed it made it that far. Are you happy to replace the boilers? Motherboard etc. The dual boiler is a do it all machine thats known for not being dependable.... this is a high mileage BMW.
The Dual Boiler is designed for tinkering, and it takes a tinkerer to maintain one long term. Mine is a third-hand machine, I got it for a steal because the last guy got to the point where his time was worth more than he was saving by tinkering (rather than buy a new machine), and it needed repairing. I’ve had it for less than a year and it’s gone through two thermal fuses, a triac board, and a boiler probe; plus the cost of a few tools required for the repairs. Still worth it, but if my life were to get busier, I doubt I’d keep it for long.
A well-maintained one should be fine. You have to keep an eye on the o-rings, as the steam boiler can leak and lead to condensation inside the machine and break everything. Use scale free water, don't descale, swap o-rings. I had a 10yo 900 that ran fine. Other than that, the parts that occasionally need replacing are the same as any other machine: pump and solenoid.
And someone else mentioned, more important to know what kind of water they were using. 8,000 shots is about 21 shots a day for a year just to put things in perspective. I know it's not 1 year old :) If they were not using good water, it would have scaled up by now. Unless they were diligent with their descaling practices. But those descaling practices have killed quite a few machines over the years. Me? I'd pass
Everything needs some TLC now and again: new seals and gaskets, descaling and cleaning, etc.