Merc 500efi/bravo reliability????

[1030]

I'm looking for some opinions/experiance with a mercury 500efi (blue motor) with a bravo drive(not x or xr) 125hrs.
Reliability?
Average live of 500efi?
Thanks, 1030

[Havasu1986]

I'm looking for some opinions/experiance with a mercury 500efi (blue motor) with a bravo drive(not x or xr) 125hrs.
Reliability?
Average live of 500efi?
Thanks, 1030
Most of the motor heads are here in Havasu for the Poker Run:D Going down to the Nautical to check out the big boats:)

[1030]

yup, I did'nt think there would be much of a response till monday....
thanks

[shippingguy]

I'm looking for some opinions/experiance with a mercury 500efi (blue motor) with a bravo drive(not x or xr) 125hrs.
Reliability?
Average live of 500efi?
Thanks, 1030
It will be very reliable. It is probably a Bravo XZ drive. That was the beefier drive before the XR came out. If you treat the package right and keep regular maintenance both will live for a long time. I had a 525 in my last boat with an XR drive and I ran it hard for 130 hours no problems whatsoever. Changed the oil in the motor and drive every 25 hours and you are good to go. I would definitley have somebody go through the drive and motor before you buy.

[Screaming Pete]

i had an hp500 blue motor and it ran great, at about 60 hrs i put new impellers in and a water pump only because i boated in the lower river. lots of sand down thier. other wise i heard at some point it's wise to do valve springs. they were great motors and designed to run hard in the factory class 1 and 2. something you could run hard all season

[boatnam2]

problem is if your not buying it new,who knows what the realiabilty is maybe you get a guy like andy01 that put 50 hrs on it but it is beat to shit,or a guy that enjoys boating and dont have to be at 5100rpm the whole time your in the boat and has taken care and not ran it top to death.Tough call.

[1030]

Its a one owner boat, "never been beached", and the owner (not a kid) seems like he's not the type to run it hard.....

[shippingguy]

Its a one owner boat, "never been beached", and the owner (not a kid) seems like he's not the type to run it hard.....
Ran hard or not I would get the motor and the drive checked out still. See if he can show you maintenance receipts. Problems arise when the proper maintenance is not followed through with.

[boatnam2]

i would say it has plenty of life left then...

[1030]

I might be going for a test drive this weekend and will be having it looked at before any deal is made.

[Not So Fast]

I just made did swap from black to blue (HP500EFI) this last winter. The boats were the same years (2004) and approx the same hours. My mechanic has serviced both boats since new so I have some history to go by. We took the boat out before the swap and pushed it, ran like a top all the way to the limiter. Before the install he checked everything out, drained all fluids (oil pan included since it was out of the boat) took the oil cooler apart to clean out any sand and found none. In other words checked out everything possible. When I questioned the valve springs (there was a thread about replacing them not long ago) he said they were alredy the good ones in later model HP 500's and not to worry, with regular service and oil changes at 25 hrs it will outlive me the way I drive. I have the greatest of confidence in these motors and they just look so much better:D NSF

[1030]

The boat will be in the shop this week, any other things to look for?

[Indiansprings]

I got a 500efi and XZ with 165 hrs. Runs great, runs and looks like new. Hava a compression test and have the ECU checked. That is a low hour motor.

[VictoryIzMine]

Bought mine new in 02/2000. 330hrs and still going strong. Regular recommended maintenance every 50/100 is the key.

[ACEB36TC]

I Love Mine! Blaps Right Up Every Time! All Day W/o Problems. It Likes All Settings. Can`t Say Enough. Wife Raced Super Comp Nhra For Years . Worked My Ass Off On That Motor. Not So W/ 525 Efi. Just Gas And Go. I Am Anal About Oil Changes Though.

[cola]

We have a HP500EFI in our 29' v so it pulls a load. 375+ hrs with oil changes every 25hrs. I just changed the plugs, cap & rotor a couple of weeks ago. They looked way too good to change. I would think they would live past the 800 -1000 hrs before it needed any freshening.
Mike

[1030]

Thanks for the replys, everthing sounds positive so far.