Posted Sun Nov 18, 2012, 5:46am Subject: Linea 3AV: What is the bottom line?
Dear Fellow Geeks:
This thread goes back a while, so I do not hold a great hope that experienced Linea owners are necessarily going to see this and respond in time, but here goes:
I have an opportunity to buy a LM Linea 3AV at auction. I will have about 1 hour to look it over before making a bid. The unit will not be plumbed in but I might be able to plug it in if the showroom has a 220 line. Several questions:
Is it safe to plug it in dry? I am going to assume that somewhere along the line, someone else plugged it in dry.
Aside for obvious chassis cracks and rust, dents and abuse, cracked wiring, what telltale problems should I be looking for? I will NOT be able to lift this 165 lb. machine up to look underneath.
We can expect scale on the diffusers, petrified o-rings, etc.
Bottom line question: how much is it worth for parts (then there will be no surprise inside that is too nasty for me)?
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 474 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Sun Nov 18, 2012, 6:07am Subject: Re: Linea 3AV: What is the bottom line?
It this the kind of auction where the auctioneers don't know how much it's worth or how important the LM name is? Outside of this circle, it's an "expresso machine," such as the Rio Astoria 2 group I picked up for $220 on CL and is now selling for $1400. I have no idea how much this machine is worth, but if looks cosmetically rough inside and out and you can't plug it in, I would be hesitant. Then again, I'm just a newbie, so this thing may be like the rusted out shell of a Shelby Mustang that's still worth more than one of my kidneys.
Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 3:54am Subject: Re: Linea 3AV: What is the bottom line?
Dear Markarian,
That is right. In their eyes, the LM is no different from a Bunn hot water urn, just more capable of producing a higher bid. Thank you for your input. I am sure your kidney is worth more than you say, especially if it is served with a fine Chianti.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,666 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Nov 19, 2012, 7:18am Subject: Re: Linea 3AV: What is the bottom line?
Buckley Said:
Dear Fellow Geeks:
This thread goes back a while, so I do not hold a great hope that experienced Linea owners are necessarily going to see this and respond in time, but here goes:
I have an opportunity to buy a LM Linea 3AV at auction. I will have about 1 hour to look it over before making a bid. The unit will not be plumbed in but I might be able to plug it in if the showroom has a 220 line. Several questions:
Is it safe to plug it in dry? I am going to assume that somewhere along the line, someone else plugged it in dry.
All of these, general over all condition can give you a rough guess of internal condition but there will be no way to know until you hood everything up and test out for real.
Buckley Said:
I will NOT be able to lift this 165 lb. machine up to look underneath.
depending on who owned the machine and the service it had, at least expect to spend a few hours cleaning it and yes all the gaskets etc should be replaced.
Buckley Said:
Bottom line question: how much is it worth for parts (then there will be no surprise inside that is too nasty for me)?
It is worth what the market says it is. I have seen them go from a hundred on up. Overall condition will be a rough guide, the rougher the condition, the less it is worth. If you have need of such a machine, and it sells for a couple hundred dollars, also expect to spend a couple hundred on repairs, connections, hoses and what not, providing it is in operating condition, more if it needs help, possibly a LOT more if some of the black boxes are bad.
Good luck!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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