Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they?

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Sat 20 Oct 2012 07:41
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - merlinauto

I know this is a site for those with an interest in cars but…

I currently run a 1996 (P-reg) Sprinter 312. I’ve had it for 5 years and 120k miles (220k miles total) and have been very pleased with it.

I’m now considering changing it but I am concerned that the current models may not be so reliable. I will be buying used rather than new.

Does anyone know whether the Euro 4 Sprinters (up to 2009) and the Euro 5 Sprinters (from 2009) are good?

I believe that the Euro 5 models use the OM651 engine as fitted to MB passenger cars. Does anyone know if these suffer from the same injector problems that the cars suffered from (maybe only Blue Efficiency variants?).

Any information gratefully received.

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Sat 20 Oct 2012 09:32
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - Collos25

Made by VW I believe what injector problems one or two people have a problem print in a paper and its a world catastrophe.

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Sat 20 Oct 2012 10:20
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - nick62

Not sure about the Sprinter, but the Vito from this same period has terrible rust problems. Maybe worth checking if the same appplies to the Sprinter?

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Sat 20 Oct 2012 10:41
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - Collos25

Different factory different manufacturer different steel different everything.The question was about the Sprinter not a Vito.

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Sat 20 Oct 2012 17:23
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - jamie745

Everybody knows the only van worth buying if the Ford Transit.

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Mon 22 Oct 2012 11:27
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - nick62

...................The question was about the Sprinter not a Vito.

Collos25, I did qualify my answer! You seem to have a bigger chip on your shoulder than I?

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Mon 22 Oct 2012 13:35
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - specialist

I know this is a site for those with an interest in cars but…

I currently run a 1996 (P-reg) Sprinter 312. I’ve had it for 5 years and 120k miles (220k miles total) and have been very pleased with it.

I’m now considering changing it but I am concerned that the current models may not be so reliable. I will be buying used rather than new.

Does anyone know whether the Euro 4 Sprinters (up to 2009) and the Euro 5 Sprinters (from 2009) are good?

I believe that the Euro 5 models use the OM651 engine as fitted to MB passenger cars. Does anyone know if these suffer from the same injector problems that the cars suffered from (maybe only Blue Efficiency variants?).

Any information gratefully received.----------------crap

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Mon 22 Oct 2012 15:19
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - merlinauto

It seems that that depth of knowledge on Sprinters is not as extensive as for passenger cars. My apologies, I'll try to keep to cars in future.

Specialist - I'm not sure whether you're saying that Sprinters are poor quality or that you don't think I would appreciate any help?

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Mon 22 Oct 2012 20:57
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - Collos25

The current model is every bit as good and even better than the model it replaced 1million miles is commonplace for a cross europe light haulier.

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Mon 29 Apr 2013 12:54
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - superman56

My advice is :stick to your old Sprinter model,as soon as I repair my 208,2001 model,Am getting rid if it and I will Put back on the road my old 1995 fiat Ducato van,vhich served me well for 8 years,All I done on it is oil,filters,brakes tyres and clutch.

Even after 2 years standing, I placed a good baterry the van started instantly

Regards,Steve

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Mon 29 Apr 2013 12:42
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - superman56

I kmow that Mercedes has produced s*** vehicles in the last 14 years,,as I am mechanic by trade.I have no modern machinery to diagnose faults in modern vehicles,as I stoped working in the trade over 20 years ago.

I have Mercedes Sprinter van 208,2150cc,2001 model.Has no EGR valve or Catalitic Converter from new.I havbeen having nothing but problems sinceI bought this van 2 years ago,but I managed to sort these problems.I bought a meter to test injectors.So I have become an expert in stripping and servicing Injectors,Which is not realy a mechanics job but out of desperation and not wanting to be ripped off by crooked so called experts.I made my own injector puller equipment Re-seated the injector seats.Recently I came from work,parked the van,but in the morning I could not start the van.It was 5 th of December 2012,snowing and wery cold.I knew I replaced all the heater plugs,but I checked them and they were ok ,there was a quarter of tank of fuel so I poured 2 gallons of diesel,but the van would not satart.After testing I found no voltage at injector solenoids.I disconnected skart at ECU and tested the wiring loom.Loom is ok but no signal [voltage]out of ECU.My question is,before I send the ECU forexpensive repairs,having in mind that I dont have the circuit diagram of electronics, Is there a Riley or Fuse between the fuse board and ECU,which powers up in ECU the voltage[impuls] to injectors???

THANKS IN ADVANCE

Steve


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Mon 29 Apr 2013 14:39
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - Collos25

MB did not make the Sprinter although it is badged a MB, you are talking about a 12 year old commercial vehicle do you not expect a certain amount of problems.

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Mon 29 Apr 2013 14:54
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - RT

M-B makes the Sprinter for sale in Europe - which is also rebadged as VW LT and VW Crafter with VAG engines.

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Mon 29 Apr 2013 23:55
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - Collos25

I think you will find its the other way round.

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Tue 30 Apr 2013 08:44
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - RT

I think you will find its the other way round.

No - Mercedes build the Sprinter and the LT/Crafter at the Daimler AG plant in Dusseldorf www.daimler.com/dccom/0-5-1370780-1-1341451-1-0-0-...l

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Mon 29 Apr 2013 15:58
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - dieselnut

Assuming this is a Common Rail engine as you mention ' injector solenoids '. The fuel rail pressure sensor has to register a certain pressure before the ECU will trigger the injectors. Check your 'in tank pump' if it has one, a clean fuel filter & no air in the fuel before the high pressure pump. Otherwise you will need a fault code read.

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Mon 29 Apr 2013 23:02
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - Avant

"Is there a Riley or Fuse between the fuse board and ECU...."

If there is, flog it and you'll get enough for a much newer van - especially if it's one of those lovely long low RM-series Rileys of the late 40s and early 50s.

Sadly, I fear you mean a relay which is much less exciting.

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Wed 1 May 2013 00:18
Mercedes Sprinter - How good are they? - daveyK_UK

I know a small independent courier who has 4 sprinters, he purchased the lot at BCA.

They all had between 220-260k miles on the clock and where used by a company called Babcock, the vans where slighlty over 4 years old.

A bit battered and bruised, and despite the mileage they where more expensive than transits from the same age with half the mileage.

One is now on 500,000 miles. He says they are great vans but when they do go wrong (and they have done), they are alot more expensive to repair.

He would neither reccomend nor slag them off.

Make of it what you will!

Then again, he doesnt rate transits or masters.

Edited by daveyK_UK on 01/05/2013 at 00:18

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