anybody got a diesel sprinter - Page 4

Andrew · 01-30-2008, 07:31 PM

Sprinter Forum is a helpful site, I've found:

http://sprinter-source.com/forum/index.php

Mine would/will be a low-roof model with windows, to fill the niche my old VW Bus occupied.

Flash412 · 01-30-2008, 08:52 PM

The thing is made by Mercedes Benz. My pal Crazy Charles has blinged his "Dodge Sprinter" out with a kit that includes Benz tri-stars for all over the thing... hub caps, grill cover, steering wheel, shift lever and so forth. When he took it to the dealer for service, the service writer chided him on the tri-stars. Charles opened the hood and pointed to the tri-star on the valve cover and asked, "So... you have factory trained mechanics for this vehicle, right? Were they trained at the factory in Detroit or in Stuttgart?"

TUCKERS · 01-30-2008, 09:11 PM

BOURKECO on this site has a killer one, all Mercedes.

ADVMax · 01-30-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dbear

This one is on Flea Bay - said to be repairable...

They say golf balls are very aerodynamic - that fucker aughta FLY!

fullmonte · 01-30-2008, 10:07 PM

PM Rockbreaker if you want to know about the newest generation. He has a new high top panel version.

Sabre · 01-30-2008, 10:58 PM

I own two of 'em, earlier Freightliner-badged models. They're in ambulance service, and each racks up over 100K miles annually. I have a lot of experience and opinions about these units.

First, I wouldn't buy another for commercial duty. That said, I'd consider one for personal use. In contrast to the Fords that comprise the rest of our fleet, these highly-engineered Teutonic wonders are built like spacecraft rather than like trucks. Our guys have battered the shit out of 'em through daily use...sheetmetal is all dented from hands slamming doors, door handles pulled off, controls broken, doors literally falling off the hinges. The Fords get ridden hard, too, but are much stouter and require much less upkeep.

Second, the vaunted Mercedes drivetrains really let us down. Our Fords go hundreds of thousands of miles without problems or major maintenance (well, after we sorted out all the crap E40D trannies in the early '90's). These things both went through complete engines and trannies in the first 100K miles! No diesel should do that, much less a commercial van. These aren't even in front-line 911 duty, either. They clock miles doing mostly long-distance runs...easy duty. Dodge did acknowledge some partial responsibility and cut us a check for a portion of the work.

When things go wrong...little things, like headlights and tail lamps...it's a major PITA to fix them. We feel that they're over-engineered and underbuilt for commercial service.

OTH, they are nicely powered, get good fuel economy (21 mpg pushing a raised top and lightbars fore and aft), handle nicely, turn practically in their own length, and show very nice fit and finish. They are NOT plush at all, but clearly built for commercial service. That's why we've been disappointed in them. Others have enjoyed great success with them, but it's the fleet managers that have the real perspective on these things. Overall cost of ownership, in our experience, has been outrageous. You can buy an awful lot of damned diesel for the price of a new MB 5-cyl turbo diesel and transmission!

YMMV

xlcr · 01-31-2008, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash412

"So... you have factory trained mechanics for this vehicle, right? Were they trained at the factory in Detroit or in Stuttgart?"

Saltillo, Coahuila

raindog · 01-31-2008, 07:22 AM

thanks for the tips all . interesting on the commercial experience. There are two here locally. one a daily driver, hauler and one kitted out for RV. Both are 2 years old and both owners have completely drank the kool-aid..they love em.

Daniii · 03-31-2008, 08:42 AM

Thinking about getting one. Gonna get one that is pretty bare and make a toy hauler / camper out of it. DanWife just isn't into the 12 hour (or 22 in one case) marathon rides. And bitches when I leave her home (which is why I won't be at the bugscuffle this month). So what's the concensus.
The good, the bad amd the ugly.

Britmick · 03-31-2008, 08:46 AM

l think that's a wonderful idea & you should both be very happy,& it will lead to a closer relationship when you have to share a chemical toilet.

DireWolf · 03-31-2008, 08:49 AM

There was a thread on the Sprinter a few months ago....... there was some good info and links.

RAW · 03-31-2008, 08:51 AM

What I see as bad:

no manual transmission

no 4x4

Spode · 03-31-2008, 08:54 AM

PM Wagonpilot. Remember, Chris brought his to the Blood Moon Bounce Bash last fall, nice rig!

Klay · 03-31-2008, 09:01 AM

I think sas drives one. I remember a ride report where there weas a breakdown and Sprinter to the rescue.

G-van drone · 03-31-2008, 09:13 AM

talked to Fedex & UPS guys driving 'em . . . pretty good fuel economy (diesel), but finding a dealer that will service them was the complaint . . . . and they are a Mercedes design, so you'll pay M-B prices for parts & such

01-30-2008, 07:31 PM	#46
Andrew Optimus Primer Joined: Sep 2001 Location: Eastbania Oddometer: 13,934	Sprinter Forum is a helpful site, I've found: http://sprinter-source.com/forum/index.php Mine would/will be a low-roof model with windows, to fill the niche my old VW Bus occupied. __________________ Splitting lanes, and splitting hairs.

01-30-2008, 08:52 PM	#47
Flash412 Elk Biffer Joined: Apr 2003 Location: Effin' 'ell Oddometer: 7,433	The thing is made by Mercedes Benz. My pal Crazy Charles has blinged his "Dodge Sprinter" out with a kit that includes Benz tri-stars for all over the thing... hub caps, grill cover, steering wheel, shift lever and so forth. When he took it to the dealer for service, the service writer chided him on the tri-stars. Charles opened the hood and pointed to the tri-star on the valve cover and asked, "So... you have factory trained mechanics for this vehicle, right? Were they trained at the factory in Detroit or in Stuttgart?" __________________ Click here for Gathering Speed - Tales of Motorcycles and Life 60 countries/6 continents, 40/6 on motorcycles, so far, and counting... 50 US states, 49 via moto. ɹǝpun uʍop uǝǝq ı Helmet laws interfere with natural selection. If you TRULY believe that God knows better than man, don't vote, PRAY.

01-30-2008, 09:11 PM	#48
TUCKERS the famous james Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Villa Maria Sanitarium, Claremont, CA. Oddometer: 8,033	BOURKECO on this site has a killer one, all Mercedes. __________________ I am not intimidated by the DMV James and Colleen Tucker. Real Cafe Racers drink tea. Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

01-30-2008, 10:07 PM	#50
fullmonte Reformed Kneedragger Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee Oddometer: 4,378	PM Rockbreaker if you want to know about the newest generation. He has a new high top panel version. __________________ "If you are looking for the typical ride to a restaurant, eat tacos, hold the middle finger over the food, stop and take a picture of a gravel road type ride, you probably won't be interested." - dlrides "A guy I know was the lead researcher for the University of Utah federally funded study of cellphone and texting use while driving. He found that your twice as dangerous as a drunk while using your cell phone and I think it was up to six times worse if the driver was texting."-dakardad

01-30-2008, 10:58 PM	#51
Sabre Prêt? Allez! Joined: Nov 2004 Location: North of Seattle Oddometer: 9,702	I own two of 'em, earlier Freightliner-badged models. They're in ambulance service, and each racks up over 100K miles annually. I have a lot of experience and opinions about these units. First, I wouldn't buy another for commercial duty. That said, I'd consider one for personal use. In contrast to the Fords that comprise the rest of our fleet, these highly-engineered Teutonic wonders are built like spacecraft rather than like trucks. Our guys have battered the shit out of 'em through daily use...sheetmetal is all dented from hands slamming doors, door handles pulled off, controls broken, doors literally falling off the hinges. The Fords get ridden hard, too, but are much stouter and require much less upkeep. Second, the vaunted Mercedes drivetrains really let us down. Our Fords go hundreds of thousands of miles without problems or major maintenance (well, after we sorted out all the crap E40D trannies in the early '90's). These things both went through complete engines and trannies in the first 100K miles! No diesel should do that, much less a commercial van. These aren't even in front-line 911 duty, either. They clock miles doing mostly long-distance runs...easy duty. Dodge did acknowledge some partial responsibility and cut us a check for a portion of the work. When things go wrong...little things, like headlights and tail lamps...it's a major PITA to fix them. We feel that they're over-engineered and underbuilt for commercial service. OTH, they are nicely powered, get good fuel economy (21 mpg pushing a raised top and lightbars fore and aft), handle nicely, turn practically in their own length, and show very nice fit and finish. They are NOT plush at all, but clearly built for commercial service. That's why we've been disappointed in them. Others have enjoyed great success with them, but it's the fleet managers that have the real perspective on these things. Overall cost of ownership, in our experience, has been outrageous. You can buy an awful lot of damned diesel for the price of a new MB 5-cyl turbo diesel and transmission! YMMV __________________ Hey mec, ne chie pas dans mes cornflakes. Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. -the Dalai Lama

01-31-2008, 07:22 AM	#53
raindog ^OP dharma bum Joined: May 2003 Location: Naples, Long Beach Oddometer: 16,982	thanks for the tips all . interesting on the commercial experience. There are two here locally. one a daily driver, hauler and one kitted out for RV. Both are 2 years old and both owners have completely drank the kool-aid..they love em. __________________ here's a little video I made

03-31-2008, 08:42 AM	#54
Daniii geezer Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Plano Tx Oddometer: 19,151	Dodge Sprinter Thinking about getting one. Gonna get one that is pretty bare and make a toy hauler / camper out of it. DanWife just isn't into the 12 hour (or 22 in one case) marathon rides. And bitches when I leave her home (which is why I won't be at the bugscuffle this month). So what's the concensus. The good, the bad amd the ugly.

03-31-2008, 08:46 AM	#55
Britmick Banned Joined: Mar 2007 Location: 'Vegas/Harleyville Oddometer: 4,235	l think that's a wonderful idea & you should both be very happy,& it will lead to a closer relationship when you have to share a chemical toilet.

03-31-2008, 08:49 AM	#56
DireWolf Knees in the Breeze Joined: Jun 2006 Location: In the Mustard Booyah. Whooop!! Oddometer: 4,661	There was a thread on the Sprinter a few months ago....... there was some good info and links. __________________ And all you are left with is a vast featureless blancmange de merde. - Bongolia 2003 XR650R (plated) For Sale

03-31-2008, 08:51 AM	#57
RAW stamen in the sniffer Joined: Jun 2003 Location: WNC Oddometer: 3,834	What I see as bad: no manual transmission no 4x4 __________________ Get $5 off of your smugmug signup! Enter code: sA9I4bmgcofRU

03-31-2008, 08:54 AM	#58
Spode Malcontent Joined: Sep 2003 Location: The Alamo Oddometer: 5,511	PM Wagonpilot. Remember, Chris brought his to the Blood Moon Bounce Bash last fall, nice rig!

03-31-2008, 09:01 AM	#59
Klay plainsman Joined: Nov 2005 Location: out in the great wide open Oddometer: 89,049	I think sas drives one. I remember a ride report where there weas a breakdown and Sprinter to the rescue. __________________ _______

03-31-2008, 09:13 AM	#60
G-van drone depressed Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul Oddometer: 108	talked to Fedex & UPS guys driving 'em . . . pretty good fuel economy (diesel), but finding a dealer that will service them was the complaint . . . . and they are a Mercedes design, so you'll pay M-B prices for parts & such __________________ " . . . living every day in the crosshairs of a madman".

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