Tbh the video doesn’t do it justice, keep an eye out for 1811, because once you go on it your expectations for a loud gearbox will change dramatically 😂
@@coolsoap8 I also got 1811 today so I got 2 really good buses. Aboard 4868 today it seems there was another transport fan as he got a ride on it after it went out of service all the way back to port botany.. lucky kid
I'm gonna miss the gas OC500LEs when they retire, sometime soon. Although, surprisingly to enthusiasts because of its engine, but not to drivers because of concerns with operating them like struggles on hills because of its gas tanks for example Its sad to see them go, being the last gas buses in Sydney, they will be missed, especially its engine which screams when accelerating, mainly the ZF and the turbocharger (along with the loud fan) combined to make the perfect sound. All of them will be stuck with Custom Denning Elements (along with the diesels) once they're gone. Hopefully, the HCVA would organise its farewell tour so enthusiasts can ride them for the last time. RIP Mercedes OC500LE CNG CB60 Evo II (2008-2025/26)
These buses are very unpopular among drivers, and I’m sure they’ll be happy to see these buses go. It’s such a shame as they’re still so young, but there are so many better options out there than slow, expensive and overweight CNG vehicles. I will miss these buses very much for the same reasons you have listed, and it’ll be a real shame if there’s no farewell tour for them. If they do a farewell tour, it better be with 1811 or 4875, because both of them will leave their passengers deaf by the time they hop off 😂. Thanks for watching mate, hope you enjoyed it :)
The amazing ZF is the only good thing about this model bus from a driver's perspective. I remember having to transfer these buses back and forth between Mercedes and the depot due to a faulty gearbox and engine with the buses frequently going into "limp mode" even after accepting the buses from Mercedes when new. They are sometimes extremely slow on hills, especially with a load of passengers and even when empty. This model bus was known to catch fire due to the incorrect placement of hoses in the engine bay, and I truly hope that this problem has been fixed. Excellent video, well done 👏 👍
I wouldn’t have guessed that drivers also enjoy the sounds of the bus, but I suppose they don’t have much else to listen to. The heavy gas tanks and underpowered CNG engines makes for a slow overweight bus, which does indeed make them struggle up hills. I *think* the engine problem might still be present on some buses, as a few months ago one of these CNG units went up in flames, although it might’ve been an isolated incident. I’m glad you enjoyed this video and I was stoked to hear a gearbox like this one. Thanks John, cya in the next video :)
@coolsoap8 you're very welcome 👍 The loud ZF is actually a fault in the gearbox, and sometimes it makes "gear hunting" very obvious when the bus shifts up and down the gears in traffic and on hills.
I wonder what he was doing back there 🤨, very strange fellow indeed. Something tells me he was mesmerised by the gearbox sounds, I wonder who it could be??? 🤔
Just curious as to where all this info is coming from lol. No, gas buses won’t be retired this year. No, electric buses aren’t coming to pobo. you seriously think electric infrastructure takes a day to build?
It’s common sense. Multiple gas buses from different operators have recently been withdrawn and deregistered for seemingly no reason. I am very aware that electric infrastructure takes time to install, but it just doesn’t seem logical to keep the inferior gas buses when there are better candidates currently on the market. I never said for certain that the gas bus withdrawals will start soon, but it’s just speculation.
@@coolsoap8 which gas buses in particular have been withdrawn for no reason? Not sure which ones you’re talking about. However, they’re not so inferior anymore as we’ve been tuning the power on them to make them reliable. They are the fastest buses in sydney, but it’s too dangerous for us to turn up to original power. It’s very costly, and it’s pretty dangerous how fast they get.
Now its one favourite buses in port botany depot
Ok
cool video sam! that ZF sounds absolutely majestic. even the lady on the left at 1:30 liked it...
Thanks Isaac! 1811 makes some truly beautiful sounds, and it’ll be a real shame to see it go.
i agree, this bus has an amazing ZF
Tbh the video doesn’t do it justice, keep an eye out for 1811, because once you go on it your expectations for a loud gearbox will change dramatically 😂
i actually went on this exact bus today, and you should actually also go on 4868 as it is very loud like this bus
you should get 4868 omg i got it today and JESUS
I’ve heard a lot about 4868… the class leader of the O500 gassies. Riding 4868 is on my to-do list, don’t worry 😉
@@coolsoap8 I also got 1811 today so I got 2 really good buses. Aboard 4868 today it seems there was another transport fan as he got a ride on it after it went out of service all the way back to port botany.. lucky kid
I'm gonna miss the gas OC500LEs when they retire, sometime soon.
Although, surprisingly to enthusiasts because of its engine, but not to drivers because of concerns with operating them like struggles on hills because of its gas tanks for example
Its sad to see them go, being the last gas buses in Sydney, they will be missed, especially its engine which screams when accelerating, mainly the ZF and the turbocharger (along with the loud fan) combined to make the perfect sound.
All of them will be stuck with Custom Denning Elements (along with the diesels) once they're gone. Hopefully, the HCVA would organise its farewell tour so enthusiasts can ride them for the last time.
RIP Mercedes OC500LE CNG CB60 Evo II (2008-2025/26)
These buses are very unpopular among drivers, and I’m sure they’ll be happy to see these buses go. It’s such a shame as they’re still so young, but there are so many better options out there than slow, expensive and overweight CNG vehicles. I will miss these buses very much for the same reasons you have listed, and it’ll be a real shame if there’s no farewell tour for them. If they do a farewell tour, it better be with 1811 or 4875, because both of them will leave their passengers deaf by the time they hop off 😂. Thanks for watching mate, hope you enjoyed it :)
The amazing ZF is the only good thing about this model bus from a driver's perspective. I remember having to transfer these buses back and forth between Mercedes and the depot due to a faulty gearbox and engine with the buses frequently going into "limp mode" even after accepting the buses from Mercedes when new. They are sometimes extremely slow on hills, especially with a load of passengers and even when empty. This model bus was known to catch fire due to the incorrect placement of hoses in the engine bay, and I truly hope that this problem has been fixed. Excellent video, well done 👏 👍
I wouldn’t have guessed that drivers also enjoy the sounds of the bus, but I suppose they don’t have much else to listen to. The heavy gas tanks and underpowered CNG engines makes for a slow overweight bus, which does indeed make them struggle up hills. I *think* the engine problem might still be present on some buses, as a few months ago one of these CNG units went up in flames, although it might’ve been an isolated incident. I’m glad you enjoyed this video and I was stoked to hear a gearbox like this one. Thanks John, cya in the next video :)
@coolsoap8 you're very welcome 👍 The loud ZF is actually a fault in the gearbox, and sometimes it makes "gear hunting" very obvious when the bus shifts up and down the gears in traffic and on hills.
@@aussiejohn5835I would assume that gear hunting is when it struggles to find the right gear?
@@coolsoap8 That's correct.
Nice video
Thanks Ben :)
@@coolsoap8 your most welcome
Very suspicious article up the back 🤔
I wonder what he was doing back there 🤨, very strange fellow indeed. Something tells me he was mesmerised by the gearbox sounds, I wonder who it could be??? 🤔
@@coolsoap8 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Was that Norbert driving?
No idea
Yo Coolsoap are u going to busfest 2024
yes
@@coolsoap8 heard there might be a trb there
Just curious as to where all this info is coming from lol. No, gas buses won’t be retired this year. No, electric buses aren’t coming to pobo. you seriously think electric infrastructure takes a day to build?
It’s common sense. Multiple gas buses from different operators have recently been withdrawn and deregistered for seemingly no reason. I am very aware that electric infrastructure takes time to install, but it just doesn’t seem logical to keep the inferior gas buses when there are better candidates currently on the market. I never said for certain that the gas bus withdrawals will start soon, but it’s just speculation.
@@coolsoap8 which gas buses in particular have been withdrawn for no reason? Not sure which ones you’re talking about. However, they’re not so inferior anymore as we’ve been tuning the power on them to make them reliable. They are the fastest buses in sydney, but it’s too dangerous for us to turn up to original power. It’s very costly, and it’s pretty dangerous how fast they get.