Kooler Ice IM500 Legacy Ice Vending Machine – 1,909 lb/Day, 500 lb Bin

IM500 Legacy Ice Vending Machine – 1,909 lbs of Fresh Bagged Ice Every 24 Hours

The IM500 Legacy ice vending machine from Kooler Ice is a complete bagged-ice business packed into a six-foot-wide footprint. It automatically makes, stores, bags, and dispenses fresh ice on demand, 24 hours a day, with no attendant required. At its core is a Scotsman C1848 Prodigy ice maker rated at 1,909 lbs of ice per 24 hours, feeding a 500 lb insulated storage bin and a bag holder that carries up to 500 bags between refills. Customers pay at the machine, the IM500 fills and drops the bag, and the built-in IceTalk™ management system reports every sale back to you in real time.

This is the machine that built the modern ice vending category. Introduced by Kooler Ice more than a decade and a half ago, the IM500 earned a reputation as the smallest, hardest-working bagged-ice vendor on the market, and its 72″ wide × 36″ deep cabinet slips into the same pad space as a standard ice merchandiser. For a car wash, convenience store, or campground that wants to stop buying pre-bagged ice and start selling its own, the IM500 Legacy ice vending machine remains one of the most proven ways to do it.

Specifications

Key Features

• IceTalk™ remote management – track sales, monitor machine status, and adjust settings from a desktop or smartphone, with automatic alerts if the machine runs low on ice or bags.
• Adjustable vend pricing – set and change your bag price yourself as your market allows.
• High-volume cash handling – the MEI Extended bill validator holds up to 750 bills, so busy weekends don’t require daily collection runs.
• Corrosion-free aluminum frame – built to survive coastal salt air, road salt, and year-round outdoor placement.
• Easy-change water filter – simple cartridge swap, recommended every six months.
• Simple, serviceable design – fewer moving parts than many newer machines, which is a big reason so many IM500s are still in service across North America.

Optional Upgrades

• Filtered or reverse osmosis water vending – add 1- and 5-gallon water sales to the same cabinet.
• Credit/debit card reader – capture cashless customers alongside the bill validator.
• LED lighting package – improve nighttime visibility for 24/7 locations.
• Cold weather package – freeze protection and heating for northern winters.

About Kooler Ice

Kooler Ice is a US ice and water vending manufacturer headquartered in Byron, Georgia, with more than 18 years in the business. The company builds a full line of ice vending machines from compact merchandiser-replacement units up to high-capacity house-style vendors, and it continues to support its legacy models – including the IM500 – with parts availability and technical documentation. You can review the manufacturer’s legacy model information directly at Kooler Ice, and the machine’s ice head is built by Scotsman Ice Systems, one of the most widely serviced commercial ice maker brands in the country.

Where the IM500 Earns Its Keep

Ice vending works where people already buy bagged ice: car washes, gas stations and convenience stores, campgrounds and RV parks, marinas and boat ramps, bait shops, and roadside lots in warm climates. Because the IM500 fits the footprint of a standard ice merchandiser, many operators simply replace a rented merchandiser – and the wholesale bagged ice deliveries that come with it – with a machine that produces ice on site for pennies per bag in utility cost.

With 1,909 lbs of daily production, the IM500 can typically support a steady retail location’s bagged-ice demand; operators in high-traffic seasonal spots often pair machine capacity to their busiest weekend rather than the average day. Site requirements are straightforward: a level pad, 220V/100A single-phase electrical service, a ¾″ water line, and a 2″ drain. If you are new to the business, our Vending Startup Program walks first-time operators through siting, utilities, and launch.

Condition, Warranty & What’s Included

This listing is for the IM500 Legacy model as shown, tested and inspected before dispatch from our Hanover, Minnesota facility. Every machine we sell is covered under our published Warranty Policy – 2-year limited parts-and-service coverage on new machines and 1-year on refurbished/used units, including replacement parts and remote technical support for US customers. Kooler Ice maintains parts inventory and technical support documentation for its legacy line, so the IM500 remains fully serviceable long-term. The unit ships with the Scotsman C1848 ice head, insulated storage bin, bag delivery system, MEI bill validator, and IceTalk monitoring hardware installed.

Why Buy From Finn Vending Sales

We ship freight-free anywhere in the continental United States, with orders processed, tested, and prepared for dispatch within 1–2 business days of payment confirmation. Click Add to Cart or Buy Now to reserve it, and our team will confirm your order and send an invoice with secure wire-transfer instructions. Browse more machines in our Ice Vending Machine collection or start with the Buyers Guide.

Compare related machines

Buyers weighing this machine also look at these Finn Vending Sales listings:

• LEGACY ICE VENDING MACHINES — $18,700
• IM1000 SERIES III Ice Vending Machine — $36,000
• IM600XL Ice Vending Machine — $39,000
• SnoMaster SM-700 Ice Vending Machine — $8,700

Frequently Asked Questions

How much ice does the IM500 Legacy ice vending machine produce?

Its Scotsman C1848 Prodigy ice maker is rated at 1,909 lbs of ice per 24 hours, backed by a 500 lb insulated storage bin so peak-hour demand doesn’t outrun production.

Does it take credit cards?

The machine includes an MEI Extended bill validator with a 750-bill cartridge as standard, and a credit/debit card reader is available as a factory-supported upgrade.

What power and water does it need?

Plan for 220V single-phase electrical service with a 100-amp panel, a ¾″ water supply line, and a 2″ drain. A licensed electrician and plumber should handle the hookups.

How big is the machine, and how is it delivered?

It measures 6′ wide × 3′ deep × 7′10″ tall and weighs 1,115 lbs, so it is placed by curbside freight onto a prepared pad rather than moved through a doorway. Free freight shipping covers the continental US.

Can it run in cold climates?

Yes – Kooler Ice offers a cold weather package with freeze protection and heating so the machine can operate through northern winters. It is a smart addition for a Minnesota- or snowbelt-area placement.

Is the IM500 still supported with parts?

Yes. Kooler Ice maintains a parts inventory and technical documentation for legacy models, and our own warranty adds parts, labor, and remote tech support per our published policy.

Can I monitor it remotely?

The IceTalk™ management system reports sales and machine status to your desktop or smartphone in real time and alerts you automatically when ice or bags run low.