What's the verdict on newer model MB sprinter vans - diesels?

[cantdrv55]

I have a 2010 Class B Sprinter Diesel, not 4X4 though. The stories you hear about diesel fuel not available in most places aren’t true. Stories about diesel mechanics are few and far between are also not true. FedEx and Amazon own so many of these vehicles as well as civilian owners all over the place. I live in a town of 28,000 and there are two shops here that work on Sprinters. I’ve not had any problems though so I can’t vouch for their expertise.

I just did an oil change, air filter and cabin air filter change. It cost about $200 for parts (12 quarts of Mobil 1 ESP is expensive). Oil changes are every 10,000 miles. I have only 55,000 miles on my 11 year old van. Next maintenance are front brakes. I’m replacing the rotors and pads next weekend. Parts purchased through Amazon for $220 for cross drilled and vented rotors plus pads. Not bad for MB maintenance prices.

[dar636]

My 6.0 has been bullet proof (pun) with some thoughtful ‘bullet proofing’. 169k on it, 17 mpg, looks brand new at this point and is a bug out rated tank. No complaints. I don’t think it’s dated but that’s just me. I do like the look of the Sprinter SMB conversions - but with the same layout I’d have to pay out big $$$ to basically get a inside toilet, which is pretty attractive I have to admit. The wife’s good with the current layout, so no problems.

Sportsmobile West owner Alan Feld broke ranks with SMB and now builds Field Vans in Fresno. Check them out too.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Otter74

I recently took a two and a half week road trip in my diesel Jetta from Chicago to Colorado and Utah. I found that regardless of the local price of unleaded, diesel seemed to be about $3.50/gallon everywhere. Whatever the local gas price, diesel didn't seem unreasonable to me. I do have to pay attention to find a diesel station where I live, but in the remote places in the west every single station had it.

Yeah it seems to be 50+ cents more than the going rate for gasoline at any place off a highway. It kinda sucks when you're getting 10-12mpg and 27+ gallons per fill up. It gets old real quick trying to find reasonable priced fuel. Even with a 110 gallon transfer tank it goes really really quick. For a tdi that is getting 40 mpg I will do that all day long (and I did. 115k mi on a mk6 tdi before sell back).

I have nothing against diesels, or MB diesels. But if you're not taking full advantage of heavy towing, or MPG. You're just wasting money and "spinning your wheels".

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Tishabet

Significant departure from the Sprinter, and I know I have plugged it before, but...

My current camper is a true 4x4 (central decoupler, front and rear lockers and a crawling gear, 10 inches of clearance), a fridge/freezer and house battery setup that will keep my beer and ice cream cold for 4-5 indefinitely, a propex heater which keeps it toasty when we go skiiing, can sleep 2 couples, is powered by the most popular Ford engine of all time, and can park in most home garages.

It's a 1986 VW Syncro Westfalia with a Bostig Zetec engine conversion. jyl rocks one of these as well (his is not the "syncro" 4x4 but does have the same engine conversion). I can buy anything for this engine at my local FLAPS or at the FLAPS in South America.

... snip ...

Here is one for sale.

Here is mine:

Very nice! I didn't think they could be built with such serious 4x4 capabilities. Generally VW busses are not my thing at all though. We area also all pretty tall, so it'd be pretty tight.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by dar636

My 6.0 has been bullet proof (pun) with some thoughtful ‘bullet proofing’. 169k on it, 17 mpg, looks brand new at this point and is a bug out rated tank. No complaints. I don’t think it’s dated but that’s just me. I do like the look of the Sprinter SMB conversions - but with the same layout I’d have to pay out big $$$ to basically get a inside toilet, which is pretty attractive I have to admit. The wife’s good with the current layout, so no problems.

Sportsmobile West owner Alan Feld broke ranks with SMB and now builds Field Vans in Fresno. Check them out too.

That is AWESOME. And these were the new models when I started dreaming about a nice van for the boonies. You should sell the thing to me and buy yourself a nice one with a bathroom.

Torn on toilets and bathrooms. Don't need them for myself but I know my wife would enjoy the ability. The cassette toilet on the Revel that's removable from the outside is pretty nice in that aspect. That said, the prospect of manually emptying excrement gives me the heebie jeebies. Currently I carry one of those foldable toilets you can put a bag, it works in a pinch (no pun intended) and you just toss the doggy bag first opportunity.

I'll go check out the field vans indeed!

[vash]

Originally Posted by dar636

My 6.0 has been bullet proof (pun) with some thoughtful ‘bullet proofing’. 169k on it, 17 mpg, looks brand new at this point and is a bug out rated tank. No complaints. I don’t think it’s dated but that’s just me. I do like the look of the Sprinter SMB conversions - but with the same layout I’d have to pay out big $$$ to basically get a inside toilet, which is pretty attractive I have to admit. The wife’s good with the current layout, so no problems.

Sportsmobile West owner Alan Feld broke ranks with SMB and now builds Field Vans in Fresno. Check them out too.

that is badass!!

one of the great joys is crapping in the outdoors. i kinda picture our ancient ancestors using the exact same position all those years ago...going back to my roots.

[vash]

George.

is one of those new fangled BADASS overland tiny ass camp trailers not an option? that company Turtleback makes some cool ass trailers. the suspensions are freaky cool.

[aigel]

Those camping trailers are nice, but with the 55mph tow speed limit in CA, it adds a lot of time to drive. Also, when boon docking, I often just pull off into the NF and find a decent logging or fire road. That can be a problem with a trailer if you end up in a spot you can't turn around in?

I'll think about it. Bad ass trailers are a lot cheaper than bad ass off wheel campers or vans. I have a desire for the new Bronco (I am waiting for the 6 speed stripper version with the Sasquatch package!). That would be a good rig too, a light weight off road camper behind that!?

G

[jyl]

A friend bought a high roof van - Dodge or Ford - and is having fun building it into a camper. I’d go that route. You get to include what you want and skip what you don’t. I’ve rented the Fords often and like them a lot, dunno about their soft road ability though.

[beepbeep]

White Merc van is basically European equivalent of F150. They are everywhere. Usually with diesel inline 4 OM651. Only top of the line got 3L V6.

[tadd]

Originally Posted by beepbeep

White Merc van is basically European equivalent of F150. They are everywhere. Usually with diesel inline 4 OM651. Only top of the line got 3L V6.

The four cylinder is 2.1L and compound turbo. I have that motor in my E250. Its a nice lump.

The V6 is a single turbo and That motor is in my ML350. It is a nice motor. Tow rated at 7500#s. Only issue is you have to watch the tongue weight... which is only 550# for the ML. The Europeans build there trailers at 7-8% vs American 9-11%. I tow a a 32 6800# camper with the ML and it does awesome once I got the hitch set up right (dealer had no idea what they were doing).

Both motors have over 100k miles now and only repair issue motor wise has been EGR replacement (Ma Benz don't clean them), and the DEF heater went on both. ML was under warranty, Eating the sedan cost. Of course its an assembly, so its pricey at $2800 for the whole tank unit (pump, heater, DEF level sensor and tank).

As for DEF itself, go thru about 5 gal every 15k miles. Get it usually while Im at home depot or lowesf for $12.95/2,5 gal. Try to stock up when on sale at $9/2.5 gal.

ML will get 30 mpg on the road. Drops to 18 with the camper. Car will peak at 45 mpg on my hour plus commute.

[911boost]

When I was going into the office pre covid I drove by these guys on the way to work and the way home, and boy did I dream.... They make an even bigger one now, the one below is used with 3,XXX miles on it and still a cool half mil, who buys these things?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by aigel

Those camping trailers are nice, but with the 55mph tow speed limit in CA, it adds a lot of time to drive. Also, when boon docking, I often just pull off into the NF and find a decent logging or fire road. That can be a problem with a trailer if you end up in a spot you can't turn around in?

I'll think about it. Bad ass trailers are a lot cheaper than bad ass off wheel campers or vans. I have a desire for the new Bronco (I am waiting for the 6 speed stripper version with the Sasquatch package!). That would be a good rig too, a light weight off road camper behind that!?

G

And here I thought that the limit was 80mph all these years. Seriously, if you towed or drove anything @ 55mph on the interstate, you would create a dangerous situation.

[speeder]

As for the old Vanagon Synchro Westy, they are impossibly cool and the general construction and quality of the interior is first-rate. The problem is the 47hp, (or whatever it is), engine trying to push it up a hill. It can't do the job empty, much less with two people and a dog inside. A re-power operation is mandatory.

I've told the story here before but 20 years ago, I knew someone who traded one in for a new at the time F-350 dually 4x4 crew cab diesel. The truck got better fuel mileage than the Westy, with about 500 more lbs./ft. of torque and weighing ~8k lbs.

[monoflo]

Id love a new one but --- prices are outta my range --even used

[jhynesrockmtn]

My wife loves our trailer but if it were just me I'd have a slide in truck camper. There are a ton of options out there. You can go big with slides or minimalist. This way you still have a truck for truck stuff. Tons of used out there. Our friends bought a nice older non slide camper with a bathroom that he put on his F250 for around $5k.