OC 500 RF chassis

One platform, so many possibilities

What can you expect from a Mercedes-Benz? More

There are buses. And then there are Mercedes-Benz buses. In todays fiercely competitive market, its the star that makes all the difference, giving you that decisive lead and the comforting feeling of having done the best for your companys future.
At the cutting edge. Mercedes-Benz has assumed responsibility for the bus like no other manufacturer. And not simply because Carl Benz built the worlds first motorised bus in 1895. But also because Mercedes-Benz has honed it ever since into a high-performance, safe and environmentally friendly mode of transport. And thats why today youll find Mercedes-Benz buses come with advanced, practical solutions for tomorrows challenges ensuring you remain that vital step ahead of your competitors. After all, we take our responsibility very seriously.

OC 500 RF highlights
Give free rein to the imagination of your designers. The Mercedes-Benz OC 500 RF chassis for touring coaches and rural-service buses gives you a flexible basis for realising your ideas.
Flexibility at your service. It is not the chassis that should determine the appearance of your bus, but your design. Which is why the modular structure of the OC 500 RF simply adapts to your ideas. The 2-axle variant enables you to realise vehicles with a width of 2.50 to 2.55 m and length of up to 13.50 m without any problems. And the 3-axle variant even makes vehicle lengths of up to 15 m possible. Various engine variants and configurations, as well as different transmissions and ratios are also available to meet your individual requirements. Whether in right or left-hand drive the OC 500 RF will turn your plans into reality. Quality that pays off for you. Thanks to high-quality components that have already proved their worth in the Travego and other buses bearing the Mercedes star, you can give your customers definite competitive advantages with the OC 500 RF. In fact the subsequent operators will benefit in several respects. Because the innovative Mercedes-Benz technology is not only particularly durable and reliable, but also as economical as it can possibly be. For example, thrifty Euro V or EEV engines with outputs ranging from 260 kW to 315 kW and a highly maintenance-friendly design ensure particularly low lifecycle costs for the entire operating life of the bus. A partnership that makes life easier for you. The OC 500 RF is the result of close cooperation between MercedesBenz and the bodybuilders. The requirements and suggestions expressed by these specialists were incorporated into the development of the chassis from the very start, and emerge in a host of technical details. Take the standardised interfaces for easy connection of the body electronics to suit your requirements, for example. And should you still have questions, you can always rely on the active, expert support offered by the Mercedes-Benz body advisory service.

Module 1 | Drivers pedestal | Frame | Gearshift lever | Instrument panel | Steering column

Why compromise ?
Create a tailor-made cockpit. Thanks to its extraordinary flexibility, the OC 500 RF makes it easy for you to put together a cockpit that precisely meets your individual requirements.
Flexible in every direction. The cockpit of the OC 500 RF is fully functioning, and can be easily adapted to suit your specific needs. The steering column is adjustable for height and rake, for example. Your designers also have plenty of scope in the cockpit because there is no conventional gearshift lever to interfere with their ideas. Instead the driver has a joystick with a pneumatic shifting aid located next to his or her seat. High precision and a smooth travel ensure gearshifting comfort to rival that of a passenger car. Thanks to integrated emergencyrunning characteristics, the vehicle still remains roadworthy if the gearshift should fail for some reason. The variable location of the joystick also has ergonomic benefits. Making it easy to reach and operate eases the drivers workload, helping them to keep their full attention on the road a major contribution to improved handling safety. Dedicated intelligence. The OC 500 RF chassis is also superior to others where the electronics are concerned. Because it has a centralised brain: an IES-CAN (Integrated Electronic System Controller Area Network) into which all the electronic components are integrated. The IES onboard diagnostic system enables you to test all the control units very quickly, which allows rapid and specific fault identification when servicing and repairs are required. This will reduce downtimes and servicing times for the future bus operator, lowering their costs. Other advantages include standardised interfaces for your electronics, as well as a modular electronics compartment with standardised connectors by the drivers seat. All electrical systems are code-numbered, and therefore particularly difficult to confuse. This means that you can connect your body electrics flexibly and without difficulty. At the same time you have a free hand in the location and installation of your electronic components.

Modul 2 | Front axle | Suspension | Steering gear | Braking system

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Build on the basis of economy, comfort and safety

For bus design using state-of-the-art technology, the front axle module of the OC 500 RF has innovative components from Mercedes-Benz which have already proved their worth in the Travego.

First-class roadholding. With the OC 500 RF you can treat your customers to ride comfort at the highest levels. The front axle with independent suspension stabilises the body to minimise roll, and keeps the vehicle reliably on track. It also makes your bus particularly manoeuvrable. Depending on the body, a turning circle of just 20.98 metres is possible for a 2-axle bus with a length of 12 m, for example. And depending on the body, a 15-m-long, 3-axle touring coach or rural-service bus can make do with a turning circle of only 23.9 m. You can also equip your chassis with a pneumatic raising/lowering system to prevent damage to the vehicles underside when driving over obstacles or expansion joints on the road surface.

Precise steering. Drivers like buses with light, direct steering characteristics, and the OC 500 RF is designed with this in mind. The variable steering gear is mounted in front of the moving axle components, outside the area vulnerable to crash damage, and is therefore protected against damage in the event of an accident. The steering system requires no lubrication and is practically maintenance-free. A reliable braking system. Safety has a very high priority in the OC 500 RF, which is why the Electropneumatic Braking System (EBS) with disc brakes all round is standard equipment. As EBS builds up braking pressure extremely rapidly and precisely, braking and stopping distances are shortened compared to conventional, compressed air braking systems. Electronic guardian angels such as ABS or, optionally, ASR are also integrated into the EBS. The standard-fit Brake Assist (BA) is also particularly helpful. This builds up the maximum brake pressure within fractions of a second when emergency braking is called for, thereby ensuring a shorter braking and stopping distance. From the end of 2010 ESP is also possible as an optional extra.

EBS is also a first-class proposition in financial terms. Its electronic control functions extend the service life of the brake pads and make for longer service intervals. On top of that, EBS routinely performs fully automatic system checks, which means that the entire braking system requires practically no maintenance between regular vehicle services while still providing the greatest possible functional reliability.

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Modul 3 | Transportation frame

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Stay flexible
The centre section of the chassis connects the rear and front components for vehicle transportation. It protects the assemblies while also keeping vehicle transportation costs as low as possible.
Avoiding damage and high costs. The centre section is a robust frame that protects the wiring harnesses and other components against damage during transportation. As a result the OC 500 RF chassis can be manoeuvred and steered under its own power. The dimensions of the frame are deliberately compact in the interests of low transportation costs. It is held together with simple bolts which are quick and easy to remove. Quick-release couplings on the wiring harnesses, which make plenty of cable length available for body installation, also help to ensure that you can start work with the body quickly. Which means that you save valuable time with the OC 500 RF right from the start.

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Modul 4 | Rear axle | Different final drive ratios | Trailing axle for 3-axle buses

Give yourself a firm foundation

The drive axle of the OC 500 RF has already scored top marks in the Travego. Not only is it particularly robust and reliable; it also excels by virtue of its superb refinement.
A top-flight chassis with its feet firmly on the ground. Whether a customer buys your bus is also very dependent on the ride comfort, so the drive axle of the OC 500 RF is designed to meet the highest expectations. An optimal power transfer is ensured by mounting the control arms directly on the axle housing. So that you can configure your vehicles individually for different applications, you also have a choice of final drive ratios. Your customers will also be pleased to find that the drive axle requires no lubrication. It is practically maintenance-free so that means low maintenance costs too. Easy to manoeuvre, even with 3 axles. The standard independent suspension of the trailing axle offers additional comfort, making slow manoeuvring and reversing very much easier. Owing to improved manoeuvrability, there is also less tyre wear. When travelling straight ahead at high speed, the third axle is hydraulically centred to improve driving stability. Conversely, the trailing axle can be briefly unloaded when moving off on a slippery road suface, thereby increasing traction: a practical starting aid.

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Modul 5 | Engine | Transmission | Radiator | Fan

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Make economy your driving force

Low operating and maintenance costs are a convincing argument for a bus operator. The OC 500 RF provides you with the basis for all-round cost-effectiveness.
High performance, low fuel consumption. All over the world, the Mercedes-Benz star on an engine counts as a seal of quality. This means that the OC 500 RF will also reassure your customers. But first you have a choice between various Euro V or EEV engines with trailblazing Mercedes-Benz BlueTec diesel technology. For the 2-axle chassis this means either vertically installed units with 260 kW or 315 kW, or a horizontal variant with 260 kW. The vertically installed version with 315 kW is also envisaged for the 3-axle chassis. The powerful engines are extremely frugal when it comes to fuel consumption. This conserves both the financial resources of your customers and the environment, as correspondingly fewer pollutants and particulates are emitted. Smooth gearshifts. The transmission is specially configured for use in a touring coach. A high level of shift comfort is already assured by the power-assisted, manual 6-speed transmission provided as standard. And if you want to make life even easier for the driver, the 2-axle variant of the OC 500 RF is available with a 6-speed automatic transmission and integrated retarder. The manual transmission can also be combined with a retarder, a compact unit integrated into the transmission housing to save space. It is perfectly adequate when braking from low speeds. It not only saves wear and tear on the service brake, but also reduces maintenance costs as a result. Minimised maintenance costs. The engine and transmission lower the maintenance costs for the later owner of your bus in several respects simultaneously. Long oil-change intervals of up to 60,000 km are a great help here, as are the easily accessible engine, the maintenance-free transmission and the vertically installed oil filter. Innovative cooling system. The designers at MercedesBenz are always in search of trailblazing solutions. Take the engine cooling system of the OC 500 RF, for example. The sensor-controlled and extremely quiet fan drive with its 3-speed electromagnetic coupling is not only very reliable; it also saves fuel thanks to its high efficiency. So make sure your customers have an advantage: the OC 500 RF.

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For further information, please contact your EvoBus representative, or visit our website at www.mercedes-benz.com The illustrations may show items of optional equipment and accessories which are not part of standard specification. The information contained in this brochure applies to the Federal Republic of Germany. Colours may differ slightly from those shown in the brochure, owing to the limitations of the printing process. Correct as at 01.08.2010. The manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the product.
EvoBus GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit, BUS/MPM-M 6098 5034 02 10/0810/01 Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany / Imprim en Rpublique Fdrale dAllemagne EvoBus GmbH, Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit, Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Str. 2157, D-68301 Mannheim, Tel.: +49 (0)621/740-0, Fax: +49 (0)621/740-4251