M380 Problems

[gepatch]

I had a M380 and sold it because of all the problems I had. I loved
the coach and heard that bb was completely redesigning it. Is this
true?
I know thet took it off the market for a few months.
Thanks
Glenn

[rfauconn]

Yes, by the end of this year they should have some M380's coming off
of
the line. They will be stainless steel instead of the lucabond
siding. They will continue to have the ISL 400 and will be a double
slide only, but you will have the choice of ordering a single slide.
Also a 400lxi quad slide is in the works. This from Allen Barbee, BB
sales.





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "gepatch"
wrote:
> I had a M380 and sold it because of all the problems I had. I
loved
> the coach and heard that bb was completely redesigning it. Is this
> true?
> I know thet took it off the market for a few months.
> Thanks
> Glenn

[johnhaney17]

Hi all:

I'm brand new to your forum and have a couple of questions. First let
me give you some background. I work for an auction company out of
Florida that has owned 5 birds over the last 30 years. I have only
been involved with the last two. The current bird is a 2004 M380 (on
the road 7 weeks since delivery and already 16K miles). The previous
bird was a 1998 43' Lxi with (we ran her to 200K+ miles).

We primarily auction real estate all over the United States and use
the bus to travel from site to site so we're not the typical RV owner.
Our bus rarely (um, never) sees a campground.

Anyhow, on to the problems. We seem to constantly run into problems
with refrigerators, air conditioners, and general electrical issues.
Just recently we have had the daytime running light module burn out,
abs warning light on, entry step engage while vehicle is in motion,
dead batteries for no particular reason, inoperative fuel guage, etc.
I have also noticed several fit and finish issues. We have several
places where the paint is peeling, the headlight covers have peeled,
and we've had water leaks around the shower vent and slides.

Although we work our bird like a loaned out mule, we do take good care
of her. I ensure that she is regualry serviced, professioanly cleaned
in and out, and gets daily checks (engine & gen oil, transmisson,
coolant, tires, etc) when were on the road. In other words, she is
used but not abused.

I realize we are not the typical bluebird user, but do any of you run
into similar problems? I know that the machines are much more
complicated than most realize and therefore run into more issues.
Also, if any of you own a 380 or 450, how satisfied are you with it?

I think it is also important to note that in spite of the problems we
still love the ride, style and manueverability of the 380. I look
forward to your responses.

John

[richardfriedkin]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "johnhaney17"
wrote:
>
> Hi all:
>
> I'm brand new to your forum and have a couple of questions. First
let
> me give you some background. I work for an auction company out of
> Florida that has owned 5 birds over the last 30 years. I have only
> been involved with the last two. The current bird is a 2004 M380
(on
> the road 7 weeks since delivery and already 16K miles). The
previous
> bird was a 1998 43' Lxi with (we ran her to 200K+ miles).
>
> We primarily auction real estate all over the United States and
use
> the bus to travel from site to site so we're not the typical RV
owner.
> Our bus rarely (um, never) sees a campground.
>
> Anyhow, on to the problems. We seem to constantly run into
problems
> with refrigerators, air conditioners, and general electrical
issues.
> Just recently we have had the daytime running light module burn
out,
> abs warning light on, entry step engage while vehicle is in
motion,
> dead batteries for no particular reason, inoperative fuel guage,
etc.
> I have also noticed several fit and finish issues. We have several
> places where the paint is peeling, the headlight covers have
peeled,
> and we've had water leaks around the shower vent and slides.
>
> Although we work our bird like a loaned out mule, we do take good
care
> of her. I ensure that she is regualry serviced, professioanly
cleaned
> in and out, and gets daily checks (engine & gen oil, transmisson,
> coolant, tires, etc) when were on the road. In other words, she is
> used but not abused.
>
> I realize we are not the typical bluebird user, but do any of you
run
> into similar problems? I know that the machines are much more
> complicated than most realize and therefore run into more issues.
> Also, if any of you own a 380 or 450, how satisfied are you with
it?
>
> I think it is also important to note that in spite of the problems
we
> still love the ride, style and manueverability of the 380. I look
> forward to your responses.
>
> John
>

John,

We've had our 2004 M380 since Feb 05. We put 8000 miles on since
June. The only problem we've had like yours were dead batteries,
which Bluebird and Parliament replaced under warranty. We've had no
leaks anywhere and no electrical problems. The arm on the drivers
seat fell off, the entertainment system and GPS weren't wired
properly,and a few other minor problems. The fit and finish seem
fine. Parliament in Clearwater Fl, where the coach was bought, did a
wonderful job in fixing everything. As you say, it drives and rides
beautifully, and we're quite happy with it. We used it as our escape
vehicle to stay away from Wilma. Went to White Springs, Fl (Suwanee
River) and enjoyed our safe and quiet stay. Our only complaint is,
that traveling with 3 dogs and an African Grey Parrot, we would like
a little more space. We've been looking at 3-5 year old LXi's, but
the fuel mileage is about 50% worse than the M380. We'd be
interested in hearing about anyone's experience with 2000-2002 LXi's.

Dick & Sandy Friedkin, Winston, Annie, China & Junior
2004 M380, 2003 PT Cruiser
West Palm Beach, FL

[David Brady]

I also love the M380. We almost bought one, but went with a
2002 LXi instead. We picked her up one year ago and have
driven her for 20,000 miles. The bus never fails, the slide is
great, the ride is good. I did have a little problem with the ride
initially but traced it to too low of a ride height. The detroit
diesel and allison combo are world class. The bus gets 7mpg
in top gear, 6.5mpg average. Build quality, fit and finish, and
reliability are great. I'm a fuss budget, so everything has to
be perfect, and it is. I had a slide seal rupture and had HWH
replace it. They traced the problem to over inflation. Everything
else has been superb, but I do long for the fuel mileage and
the maneuverability of an M380.

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey, Va

>We'd be
>interested in hearing about anyone's experience with 2000-2002 LXi's.
>
>Dick & Sandy Friedkin, Winston, Annie, China & Junior
>2004 M380, 2003 PT Cruiser
>West Palm Beach, FL
>
>
>
>



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