Doosan DH55GOLD Excavator Review: A User's Experience

[MikePhua]

In this interview, we explore the experience of a Doosan DH55GOLD excavator owner from Shandong, China, a member known as "boshan55." He became a member in October 2009 while studying in South Korea. Growing up with a keen interest in excavators due to his family's influence, he returned to China in 2010 and chose to start his own excavation rental business. His family previously owned a Komatsu PC55MR, and after returning, he decided to invest in a Doosan DH55GOLD. As a 1980s generation excavator owner with overseas study experience, boshan55’s story offers valuable insights into the excavation rental industry.
Purchase Details:

• Purchase Date: April 2025
  
• Price: 350,000 RMB (with a 20% down payment, financed over 3 years)
  
• Working Hours: 620 hours
  
• Reason for Choice: Before purchasing the Doosan DH55GOLD, boshan55 considered an 8-ton Kubota KX185. However, due to limited funds and the small size of the KX155 (a tail swing machine), he opted for the 5-ton Doosan DH55GOLD. He chose Doosan for its affordable price, low maintenance costs, and availability of reasonably priced parts.
  

Despite the initial excitement about the purchase, boshan55 faced some disappointments during the transaction. He encountered discrepancies in the price quoted by the dealer before signing the contract, which ended up including an unexpected 8,000 RMB guarantee fee that was never mentioned. He also received a promise for a free hydraulic hammer and a washing machine, which were never delivered. Furthermore, the delivery date was delayed by half a month, which also caused frustration as the dealer failed to pay the promised penalty for the delay.
Work Conditions:

• Primary Tasks: The Doosan DH55GOLD is primarily used for small-scale site jobs, including foundation work, leveling, and clearing debris. Occasionally, it is used for road repairs and agricultural water conservancy projects.
  

Work Efficiency:

• Speed: The Doosan DH55GOLD has a relatively fast swing speed, but its arm and bucket movements are slow, leading to a perceived lack of efficiency. On some occasions, supervisors on the worksite mistakenly believed the machine was deliberately delaying work. Boshan55 laughs about it, saying, "The machine just can’t move faster; that’s its design." Comparing it to his Komatsu PC55-MR, the difference in speed is quite noticeable.
  

Fuel Consumption:

• Fuel Usage: The fuel consumption is approximately 4.5 liters per hour under full load, meaning that a 500 RMB fuel cost lasts for about two days of work.
  

Product Performance and Issues:

• Engine: As a new machine, the engine has not had significant problems, except for an incident where the shutdown pull-cord fell off, which was quickly resolved.
  
• Hydraulic System: No major issues have occurred with the hydraulic system thus far.
  
• Other Problems: There have been issues with greasing the arm and bucket joints, where the grease gun couldn’t inject grease. Despite reporting the issue, it took a week for the dealer to respond. After five hours of attempted repairs, the dealer was unable to resolve the issue and even damaged a grease gun. The part required for the repair was unavailable, and as of now, the problem remains unresolved.
  

Dealer and After-Sales Service:

• Dealer Experience: Boshan55 has been disappointed with the dealer, Shandong Yonghong Engineering Machinery Co., Ltd. From broken promises during the purchase process to subpar after-sales service, his experience with Doosan’s dealer has left him disillusioned. He compares the service unfavorably with the other brands he owns, citing the slow response to issues and lack of professionalism.
  

Parts:

• Parts Availability: Boshan55 mentions that Doosan parts are reasonably priced compared to other brands, which was a key factor in his decision to purchase this model. However, the overall experience with parts has not been entirely smooth.
  

Overall Evaluation:
Despite Doosan’s high market share in China, boshan55’s experience has been mixed. Initially, he had a favorable impression of Doosan, but his dealings with the dealer have left him feeling frustrated. He points out that, if the situation isn’t resolved, he wouldn’t consider purchasing Doosan machines again and would advise his friends and family against doing so. In an industry where user reputation is crucial, the rise of domestic brands with better customer service has challenged Korean manufacturers like Doosan. Boshan55’s experience highlights the importance of maintaining good communication and reliable service to keep customer loyalty intact.
It’s hoped that Doosan and its dealers can address these issues and improve customer satisfaction, ensuring the brand remains a strong contender in the Chinese market’s excavator segment.