I have a 2013 that I use for work and it has almost 130k miles on the odometer and two 2014 sprinter with over 60k each. I don't have the windshield noise issue but have gone through 2 of them. The cruise control was weird at first but it's awesome now. We also have transits and hands down the sprinters are built better. Most of the features are explained in the manual.
Try spinning the nozzle to the side as you pull it out. Like after you pour a glass of wine. You could also pull it out at a downward angle, lifting the end of the nozzle up as you pull it back...It's not rocket science, lol
Recirculation controls don't ever make it "blow harder". It may sound louder in some vehicles when the recirc is on. But the fan does not spin any faster. Recirc only closes a flap that stops air from the outside from coming in. That way it is only "recirculating" the inside air.
Loved your review - had me chuckling a couple of times. We just purchased a 2006 MB Leisure Van conversion with the 5 cyl diesel and the fuel mileage was beyond anything we expected. Better than any motorhome out there. Yes, there are a couple of things in the vehicle that are kind of odd (same things you mentioned and our vehicle is 10 years older!) - odd door locks, the cruise control and blinker levers are to similar/close together, weird heater control switch - all little things. Already put on almost 5,000 kms (one month) and love the vehicle. It is easy to drive - I started off in the centre of Toronto - and had control of the vehicle throughout the city as I navigated my way out. I will say that my cup holders are better as they are deeper and at the bottom of the console out of the sun. :) Happy motoring.
I prefer Transits they are simple,cheap parts,Cheaper,well thought. I could name much more but I will save you the time. Lastly I am not trying to bash on your choice I agree Mercedes has the coolest looking van on the market but on the other side it has its flaws. Thanks for the honest review that goes a long way.
"I don't know what the heck this does" 3:48 You should know, you definitely should, especially because you live in a humid area. Been driving Sprinters for years now, both private and business, never had any real issues.
The conclusion is that the van was built for Europe. We have a lot more speed restrictions than the USA. We have smaller cups of coffee and most of Europe does not have your heat.
My prediction, based merely on feedback from Sprinter owners, is that your list of "Cons" is going to grow. Hopefully, it won't happen and Mercedes has improved on the van. Fingers crossed for ya!
If, only if, properly maintened by trained professionals, wou will see this car in superb condition. The neglect, the untrained, so called car mechanics, cheap parts...will ruin every car fast.Therefore MB is not blame. I see those cars with miages up to 100k every day in myhome town(germany).
@@over9000ize It's not that simple, MB can't just hide behind "maintenance". Some cars are just unreliable. You can't claim that a car is reliable even when the maintenance has too happen too often, and the parts that break down are so many that in the span of 10 to 15 years you will probably have paid for so many replacement parts that you can build a whole new car with that amount of parts. I really wish Toyota would build large vans. The buses that Toyota makes seem to be produced in Japan/Asia only.
Things I like in the MB sprinters is that the side mirrors are huge and the lower mirror for dead corner can be adjusted for every driver needs. Most of the vans have much smaller mirrors and the dead corner mirror cannot be adjusted at all. Also you can fit in the driver seat no matter how tall or short you are. My friend is approx. 160cm (sorry for the metric numbers, I live other side of the world) and I am 200cm tall and we both can get good driving position. Also tall ppls can get their legs pretty straight between the pedals on long high way trips (the automatic transmission with only two pedals). I also like the cruise control stick that you didn't like, its crisp and very easy to use when you get use to it. In my opinion much better than buttons in the steering wheel on some of the ford transits I have drive for example. Something you forgot to say is that the top air vents on the dashboard are always blowing cold air no matter what you choose from the temperature wheel. The one button you didn't know whats its made for, was side mirror/windshield heating switch in case you have either one in your vehicle. The radio buttons you didn't know what to do with them are excellent for saving 10 different radio channels or entering the frequency in case you know what you want to listen, other than that they are pretty much useless. As far as I know the SD card reader is mainly for integrated navigator in case you might have one (to update maps), that's probably why it doesn't work with music very well. Next time when you are looking for a place to put cellphone in try the slope in front of your gauges, its like made for that :P And lastly the fuel tank cap or what ever that weird yellow thing is supposed to be, is something that I have never seen before and I am almost 100% sure that is not genuine MB part right there. At least in Europe there is no such stupid things at all, there is normal cap on it and a hole that fit the fuel pistols of all sizes and they don't leak and drip all over the place when you refuel.
It is indeed much easier to understand and convert to up and down in metric units but since I saw the guy in the video is from states, 160cm or 200cm probably say nothing to him since he is used to use imperial system.
Finally someone who undestands what Euro vans are all about. The Sprinter is absolutely the best on the market, we run 10 in our fleet, service them by an agent when required and use only genuine parts. For comfort over long distance, economy and lack of rattles we couldn’t ask for anything better and we have tried a few different makes.
Hi from Germany! I had 3 Sprintervans Longwheelbase, each one of them had no Problems at all! i am just going 100mph across Germany hunting small Cars all the Time ;-). The 164hp engine is a exellent Motor: 27mls to the gallon when you only go 80mph. when you read the ownwers Manual you see that the top Lockbutton is for the front Doors, the down Button for the rear Doors. the Fillercap is not German, never seen ! they are working Vans, yes really expensive but also Long Lasting! You really have to take care about the Paint, wax it at least 3 times a year, otherwise the rost is very fast! Nobody cares here about Cupholders, we drink out of Bottels and they fit in the Doorpockets. My hardest Ride was from Hamburg to Augsburg in Bavaria wich is 760km distance, I did it in exactly 5 hours drivingtime! Maybe there is a Quality difference between Vans build IN Germany, and Vans build in other Countrys, could be. Sorry for my bad Englisch ....... ;-)
Hi Yanni, Iveco ist ok, aber noch schmaler als Sprinter und schlechter Komfort. Ich hatte einen Sprinter mit 6meter und 110 PS der war mit 12,5 Liter auf 100 Kilometer eher schlecht. dann hatte ich zwei 7 Meter Sprinter mit 164 PS die brauchten nur 8-10 Liter auf 100 Kilometer je nach Fahrweise. und der lange Radstand Fährt viel komfortabler. Mit jedem bin ich 120000 Kilometer ohne Probleme gefahren, und ich bin wirklich sehr sehr schnell gefahren! Ich Liebe den Sprinter ! Er fährt wie ein Auto nicht wie ein Iveco ;-) Er ist Leider nicht billig so wie Iveco aber COOL!!! Wenn du Information willst frage mich einfach! YOURE WELCOME !!!
Ich bedanke mich sehr Ich schreibe dir aus Australia,aus diesem grund frage ich,Weil hier ein bisschen teure sind. Viellicht kaufe ich mir nexte woche einen sprinter aber nagel neu Der sprinter 316 cdi Ich wird dir informieren Danke dir aus Australia
Sehr Cool ! Es gibt ihn auch mit Differential Lock , für die Rear Axle. 2018 kommt der neue Sprinter auf den Markt ! somit kannst Du das alte Modell Billiger Bekommen, call all Dealers for an Offer ! My Dream is a 4x4 longweel base Camper, Custom made Suspension Liftkit , 3 Locks and real massive Tires like 33x12.5 or so. One Day I will get one...... Greetings from Bavaria !
I wish, I can get one too,but to expensive here in Australia. Mate everything here’s overpriced. Well be any different in look for the 2018? What do u think? Anyway this is my email address noor80@me.com We keep in touch Cheers
After I got a load of the price for a Mercedes Sprinter I went and bought a 2005 Chevy Astro AWD from the WA State auction for $2,000. I took out the seats, got a cot and set it up as a camper. I don't have a heart attack over rock chips on dirt roads and pasture driving. I get 18mpg and have put 6600 miles on it with -0- problems. I love it. Just my .02
Josh, thanks for taking the time and effort to give your review, likes/dislikes, about the Sprinter. We enjoy our 2016 170 WB ext high top very much! We do not drive as fast as you do and average 26-30 mpg. Another observation was our cargo van does not have a fuel fill cap like yours nor the dash. Guessing passenger vs. cargo and the options that go with each. Never had the fuel leak issue due to the cap, maybe....? Keep on keepin on!!
Some of those negatives would drive me crazy....I thought German designers/engineers were supposed to be braniacs.....but those shortfalls are deal breakers. Really good recap of good and bad. Cheers
Love this Channel , I’ve had my Sprinter for two (2) months. It’s all because of this video. The Sprinter so much better than a SUV, my wife and kids loves it. Thanks
Nice review. Very American. Watched it with pleasure. I work with a Sprinter and did 500.000 km without any problem with it. I see US models are slightly different from EU models. That yellow thing at the fuel inlet...we don't have that. Thanks for the review, I liked it!
they usually have two power outlets, one is within the drinks holder tray that you pull out, the other is usually very well hidden, and is below that drinks holder tray right at the bottom of that same panel just before the panel meets the floor of that vehicle, you wont usually be able to see it unless you get out of the vehicle and take a closer look.
Hi Josh, I buy the ex ambulance here in Sydney Australia. They are usually three years old, MWB, 316 CDI’s with around 100,000 ks on the clock. When commissioned they have the Ambo pack, extra air bags, larger alternator etc. I then fit them out as a camper van. To overcome the sore neck on longer trip as I am 5’10” high I have designed a fibreglass roof pod This fits in perfectly with the interior furniture. This way you do not need to buy the high top Sprinter. Additionally it add to the stealthiness as the vehicle is completely self contained. I find the Sprinter (bytheway, these are German made) especially the MWB, a delight to drive they are easy to park and fitted out are the best value. Instead of overpriced oversized vehicles with all the comforts of home, having a smaller vehicle which allows more freedom is the way to go. Not only do I build them I use them and my wife and myself are off on a two and a half month trip, end of Fed. Travelling to Tumut NSW then to Victoria to the Silo way (look it up) and across to explore Tasmania for a month. I enjoy your utube posts keep up the good work
Grant Batkin I’d love to see some pictures of your camper conversions- particularly the roof pod & interiors! Do you have a website, or a link to check them out? Also interested in what set up you use for fresh/waste water, heating & electrical system... A month exploring Tasmania sounds fantastic! Safe travels...
Hey Grant, where do you find vans to buy? I’ve been on the lookout for a van and it’s surprisingly really difficult. I want to fit it out how I want, and your post sounds like it could have some really great tips... any chance you could share some info? I’ve been wading through so many sites, there’s just so much stuff and haven’t got very far 🙏🏻
We have the high top long version dually wheels Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in r limousine Fleet. I drive this vehicle everyday and I love it. Not one thing to complain about. Great visibility on the windshield the power is unbelievable for a van of that size. When I decide I want to go it gets up and goes with absolutely no problem. Keep in mind sometimes I'm fully loaded with 10 to 12 people Plus just as many suitcases in the cargo area and the van performs very well. I'm a 19 year chauffeur driver and we've had our particular Sprinter now for the past 4 years. I would have gotten this dually it has good stability on the road.
Your girlfriend stood in the middle of the road probably thinking to herself “ f#*k my life” what the hell am I doing with a man who likes to talk to himself for hours. 🤣
to be clear, if your rear wheels are spinning when on slippery or uneven surfaces that is the differential in action. So you do not have a "limited slip differential", which is what i think you said you would rather you had ordered. there are some drawbacks of limited slip differentials (sometimes this is called positraction ) the main being that since the rear wheels will always spin at nearly the same rate, when you are taking sharp turns on dry pavement, particularly at higher speed, your tires may chirp or squeal. you need to decide what is best for you ... A) you don't want to spin your wheels when the road is slippery or uneven or B) you don't want your rear tires chirping when you make sharp or high speed turns on dry pavement. You can have either A or B, but not both: )
Dumb Bo Differentials... an “open” differential (which is pretty much everything other than a “locked” differential used when off-roading, and usually selected by a switch, then turned back off when not specifically needed to avoid putting too much strain on the axles & diff) allows for the wheels to turn at different rates through turns, as the left & right wheels travel different distances through turns. If they were on one one solid axle with no differential, you would get the chirp you mention as the wheels try to equalize the difference between the distance they travel and the torsion (sometimes called “axle wrap”) on the solid axle. Not such a big deal in the very old days with few paved roads and tall, skinny tires that allowed some “slip”, but very early on in the development of motorized vehicles, the necessity of a differential became obvious. Great, now with the differential the two axles could rotate at different speeds, going around tight corners was no longer a problem (broken gears, broken axles), BUT- if either wheel lost traction (ice, snow, mud, sand) ALL the power went to the spinning wheel, and the other wheel just sat there doing nothing... Hence the development of the LIMITED SLIP differential (which was marketed under the name Posi-Traction by Pontiac, I think, if not all G.M. divisions, and is no longer in use). As implied by its name, it allows a limited amount of slippage (difference in rotational speeds between the left & right wheels) BEFORE progressively locking up, allowing the wheel with traction to transmit power to the ground, rather than just sitting there doing nothing. Of course, if neither wheel has traction, they’ll both just spin... Or you could make great clouds of tire smoke in a burn-out, to the amusement of young boys and old boys, but not old ladies or the police... In normal driving, however, a limited slip differential WILL NOT CHIRP. Nope. Not gonna happen. Now, a TIRE may squeal or chirp as it reaches its limit of traction going around a sharp turn with either a lot of throttle, brake, or lateral load. So... I must disagree with your premise. You can have both A and B! By its very name- LIMITED SLIP- you avoid a locked axle just going around turns, and therefore, it doesn’t cause the tires to chirp- and who really complains about that anyway? That’s much more down to driving style and a heavy foot. Of course, we’re only talking in generalities, like two-wheel drive vehicles, and the older mechanical limited-slip diffs... Now there are MULTIPLE four-wheel drive systems and all-wheel drive systems, viscous couplings, electronic traction control systems that apply the brake to the slipping wheel, and much more... But that’s a different subject...
Here in Europe the Mercedes Sprinter is very popular when bought NEW. But after a few years they RUST and as most Sprinter vans are white it is very noticeable. Other brands of van - Fiat Ducato, Renault Master, etc do not rust [Galvanised]
Hi, first I'm in th UK so some things may be a bit different. First, the lock switches. They lock or unlock the rear and side loading doors only on the panel van for load security. Driver passenger doors are unaffected. It's probably the same on all variants. If you look at the switch icon/ logo it will make sense to you. All sprinters I've seen have two power outlets. One is switched via ignition and the second is permanently powered. The second one is not obvious as it is way below eyeline at the bottom of the radio/ aircon etc., panel. 25 Amp maximum load as I recall. Your windscreen problem is, I think, an isolated problem which MB should fix under warranty. Another commenter mentioned the fuel reserve and he/ she is correct. It does have a fairly large fuel reserve. When the fuel light comes on you are now on reserve fuel. Can't really comment on the cruise stalk position because I've never had a problem with it. Maybe because I'm left handed? Just a thought. I have a feeling that the wheel spin and lack of traction you mentioned is the ESP kicking in. If the van loses traction on one wheel it reduces traction to the other until stablised. Revs can vary from low to high depending on what the ESP determines is correct for the conditions. For example if you try a mega quick getaway on stony ground and one wheel loses grip, the road speed will drop even though revs are still high. It simply won't let you try to accelerate out of it. The ESP is now in charge. Cup holders. Yep, in hot climates the dash mounted ones are wrongly placed. Here in the UK it's not too much of a problem. If it's really hot, I just have a 2 litre bottle of water in the door bottle holder. Engine reliabiltiy has not been an issue for me. My 2007 2.1 litre long wheelbase panel van has 349,000 miles on the clock without an issue and still pulls like a train with a full (and probably over the top) load. Older models did have an issue with water pumps and lower ball joints. I can think of several little gripes with the sprinter generally, but on the whole I consider it to be an excellent choice. Comfortable seating with great forward and side vision and drives like a car. If something does go wrong then MB will ask you to leave all your cards and wallet with them. Way over the top pricing. The MB worker should be sacked for his comments
I had a 2016 and it was sketchy. The acceleration was weak and driving in snow and ice was terrible. Have a 2021 now and it's got better acceleration but so expensive to maintain and replace parts not to mention the oil change. It sucks.
The fuel level is a calculated value by the computer so that is why it is not very accurate. You can get an option code added so that the reading is taken from the float in the tank rather than calculated.
I was going to buy a Sprinter van but I bought a 2016 Nissan NV 3500 van instead. Its comfortable like a pick up truck because the engine is forward. The Sprinter cockpit seats did not seem that comfortable. You sit high but I felt like I was going to fall into the windshield. The NV has a 400 watt power inverter with front and rear outlets. The Nissan 5.6 liter V8 is a proven 500k mile engine with 317 horsepower. The warranty on the Nissan sold me. 5 years/100k mile bumper to bumper warranty. Now the bad. It is a fat pig on gas. I only get 16 mpg on the highway. The Sprinter van gets much better fuel mpg. The NV is not that long and does not have as much cargo room like the Sprinter van. But it is wide and square hand has a lot of headroom for the standard roof model. I call it the Japanese Bread Box. Lol. I guess every vehicle has its good and bad points. Good Luck with your new van. Thanks for posting.
Well I only paid $17K for my 6C dodge and it gets 25MPG. I have none of those complaints. I think you pride is keeping you from admitting to a huge mistake. I hope it is a tax write off.
Cool...sounds like a great deal...still driving the van every day...still love it...now that's not to say that years down the road I might go a different route ....we shall see
I just came from a 1700 mile trip from Riverside , Southern California to Twin Falls, Idaho via Nevada. Cruised mostly at 72 mph. Being very careful not to follow closely behind other vehicles ( passed them at 82 mph easily with the 3 liter V6). Zero cracks on the windshield and no nicks on the paint ( hood protector made of painters masking tape). My 2017 Sprinter Crew Van is fantastic, I purchased it brand new for $44K And came with Nav. 10OK 60 month warranty. And thank you for the tips on the windshield.
Best review yet on the sprinter 4x4. Im about to trade in my 15 aev ram ctd g56 for one. With my 4th child on the way, trucks arent an option anymore. Looks like most of the gripes are based on the fact that it was designed for the european consumer, but most of the issues are solveable with a little ingenuity. Thanks!!
I have a regular fuel cap so I never have the drip issue. The drink holder in the dash is a bit strange but I use the cupholder on the door. It holds large drinks very well. I could be wrong but I thought there are 3 cigarette ports (one in the cup holders, one below that and another one under the driver seat. The nice thing about the one under the driver seat is that it stays on even when the van is off. I could charge my phone when I am away. I don't have the issue with the windshield making the noise. I wonder if there is a new part that would address it... The fuel thing is a bit strange but it is nice to know there are 4-6 gals left when the light is blinking... BTW, many of us experienced leaks in the rear AC. There is a recall on it. You might want to test this out now before it starts raining... Enjoy...
When I bought my package delivery business in ND I inherited two 2012 Sprinters with Mercedes diesels with $1000/mo payments. WORST vehicles EVER!! Best day in my business was when one of them got totaled. Both vehicles constantly went into limp mode. Remaining van can only run in limp mode. In order to utilize it I run it in town only when I need a spare-I can't send it out on rural routes. Both vans were 150-160k miles on them when I purchased the biz. The remaining van had a new motor put in just before I purchased, so mileage on it isn't even 20k miles. Closest dealership is 4 hours away and to tow it there costs me $1200. Had it towed there to fix the limp-mode issue, which they charged me $2k to do. After pickng it up in Fargo from the dealership the van went back into limp mode about 1/2 hour away from home. Dealership won't pay to have it towed back, so I use it as a limp-mode vehicle only. Stay away from Mercedes!! Also, the dealership in Fargo is very unreliable.
Just go to junkyard and by a couple of captain Seats out of customized minivan. Solves problem and is way more comfortable. I know, I used to drive mine 11+ hours at a time.
You matched the pitch of the flapping weatherstripping noise with your voice perfectly, and my first thought was - yep, this guys gotta play music. In fact, thats probably his (sweet) guitar playing edited into the video.
Great review and thank you for sharing all your dislike. I think the best approach to purchasing a vehicle is to reach an agreement with the dealer to test drive it for five days. It gives you enough time to learn of these repugnance before committing long term.
@@StoneyRidgeFarmer I was thinking seriously about buying one of these vans, but as I was watching your great reviews I need to do my homework. This is early 2022 and I’m hoping Mercedes Benz has fixed those bugs that you mentioned. I will get the four-wheel drive. Thank you for this.👍
FYI-. I rented a VW transporter 9 passenger diesel van in Germany. Drove it for 10 days. It gets 56 miles per gallon and goes over 100MPH. I wish they sold it in the USA.
I wish 4wd version was available. You can get a 2016 Ford Transit passenger van for less than 25k. Also with the Ford you can get it serviced in any town in the US, cheaper to service and parts are available.
CFH 420 I work for a Marriott hotel, we Lisa van from Enterprise. We used to have an E350 15 passenger van. That was replaced this year by a Transit 350. You're absolutely right the transit is a piece of crap nothing but issues with it the rear air conditioning sucks. The Econoline was out-of-date design-wise but much more reliable.
I drove a 2006 Dodge 3500 version as a wheelchair lift paratransit bus and loved it. Looks like it's gone down hill since then but still pretty sweet. I can't put a photo but on 8/5/'09 my analog fuel gauge was showing E, 4 miles later I pulled in to the bus barn with 7/10 gal., or about 10 miles left. Just like my 1988 420 SEL it had zero cup holders. I think the Germans thought is if you are driving you can't have beer, so why have a drink holder?
I lift the fuel hose up after the pump stops, this drains the fuel still in the hose into your tank, then when you pull the hose out, there's no fuel left in the hose to drip out.
9:30 same problem different company. consperacy? cupholder is right above the wheel so with every speedbump or turn, coffee spil all over the place. I've put an aftermarket universal cupholder in the middle above the handbrake. works perfect.
8:48 "We're not a pack of idiots here." Overall this was an informative video. However, this is a fine example of the need to question your source of information and do your own research. "Maybe we should read the manual?" Yes, indeed. -There was definitely a manufacturers defect with the way that your windshield and the seal were installed. -I agree about the fuel fill problem, what a mess. -I agree that the choice of cup holders and their placement is terrible. -I agree that there is a shortage of charging ports/receptacles. -The two lock buttons are for different purposes, as someone else here has pointed out. -If you don't want that vent blowing upward, you can close it and obviously more air will flow out of the other vents. -With the hvac on recirc mode, it recirculates the air from inside instead of drawing in fresh air from outside, it's not meant to blow harder. -Of course a 4WD is going to be better off road. Yes, a 2WD is definitely meant for road use. If this gentlemen would have glanced at the owners manual for the things that he was having problems with, most of these problems would have been solved.
Thanks for your honesty...considered the Sprinter but went with a Chevy Duramax 4x4 Sportsmobile...A major condo on wheels..no diesel additive necessary...did 10K miles last drive...Seattle to Key West, Austin tx. to Sedona Ariz. Love our ride...anyway...Keep a handful of disposable plastic gloves( like at a sandwich shop) in my door and never get diesel on the hands...enjoy your journey....can't wait to start our next one...
Ours has a habit of locking itself when keys either in ignition or not. Have to exit vehicle with keys in hand or get locked out. Sprinter 316. Also it blows turbo hoses a lot and keeps going into limp mode.
10yrs factory trained MBZ Sprinter technician. The 4 cyl is good up to about 100-200k miles. Then expect a myriad of expensive repairs (timing chain noise, check engine light due to overly complicated cooling system incorporated into boost control system (wth?? why are they related?) OM642 6 cylinder turbo can go 300-500K with minor problems if you maintain them correctly at least. Most problems are emission related and now covered under extended warranty by MBZ. Don't run it out of AdBlue/DEF or you will pay the price. Do your maintenance, top off your AdBlue/DEF and you are good to go 500K with a 6 cylinder. Don't take to Jiffy Lube please. 6 cyl Made in Berlin. Pre 2017 models are more durable because they are made in Germany. Later models 2017 plus made in the great 'ol USA and are trash. "Made in USA" models are garbage. Very poor work quality. 907 models. 906 much better Drove the OM651 4 cylinder a lot... has light weight and crazy torque but V6 is better any day of the week.
used to have a dodge sprinter , great van almost 300,000 miles till the rust killed the body , all the dodge dealers could work on it , I bought a new ford van because you cant get the Mercedes worked on hardly anywhere , not sure why anyone would buy one of these if the closest dealers 160 miles away. one thing I don't miss is the stinky diesel smell every time I fill up , their is ford and chevy dealers in almost every town easy to get worked on everywhere. not so much with the Mercedes....
All the items that you point out or pretty much a hundred percent spot on we have a 2014 Sprinter with a Coachmen back 3.0 V6 very happy with it aside from the stupid little problems and yes I don't know if you go by the odometer or your GPS but mine will not break 82 miles an hour it has a speed limiter in it which they refuse to remove when I'm out west it's very annoying not being able to go over 80 miles an hour even though I'm 25 ft and pulling and 17 foot trailer it's very easy to drive and we do love it love the video you did a great job.
Thanks for the comment...so many folks are picking the video apart...I'm just pointing out the little stuff that gets on your nerves after a week or more in the van
Yes I have a 2015 Sprinter passenger van low roof...that thing will not go past 82 miles an hour. But being a Turbo V6 it does catch up pretty quick. FYI: I had a water leaked from the rear AC at the beginning of the year...Mercedes dealership took care the repairs. Hopefully it doesn't happen again. A word of advise...buy extended warranty at the time of purchase. Loved my Sprinter Van!
Gas gauges are not linear. I.e., each division does not represent the same amount of gas. Some claim that the reason for this is because people like to see their tank full for a while after they fill it. It gives them a false sense of getting good a MPG. So once you see the gauge down to 3/4, your car has already burned more than a 1/4 tank.
Not sure how many miles you have, I just went over 20K with a 2014 (purchase new in 2015). I bought used, had 10k miles on it. Mine has 6cyl. We’ve taken 4 long trips, and been in dealer 4 times with check engine lights (CEL). First was a speed sensor, no big deal right? Wrong, the speed sensor controls transmission, the speed sensors are located in rear wheel brake housing, and when they go bad, or in my case get clogged with brake dust, it doesn’t send signal, which puts you in...wait for it... limp mode...oh glorious limp mode. The wife really loves limp mode, won’t come out of first gear, it’s protecting the transmission. Second CEL was any easy one, the wiring was faulty on the fuel pressure sensor, it was drivable, but annoying to head to the dealership again. The third and fourth were the best, on long trip, CEL comes on, my wife looks at me with death stair...are you f@&@$# kidding me?! Another check engine light, head to the dealership, oh Mr. Jones, seams your vans NOX sensors are bad, we don’t have any in stock, we’ll give you a loner while you wait four days. My wife was sooo happy, man, wish I had a picture of her look. So we get that fixed. Now we are headed of on a 3k mile trip up to Bar Harbor, my wife jokingly says, if we get another CEL we’re put the thing on Craig’s list. Three days into our adventure, we are 100 miles from Erie Pa, what is that I see...can I cover it up with a piece of gum I think to myself...no...might as well tell her. Sweetie pie, guess what? We have another CEL. Won’t go into our conversation. Stopped at camp ground, had to drive 90 miles in the wrong direction to the closest MB dealership that worked on sprinters. And guess what, our Nox sensors were bad once again. Yippee, another set of Nox senors. Well this time they were in stock. To cut to the point, Mercedes sprinters run great, fast, quiet, smooth ride Handel very well. And the engine runs awesome. But the emissions system is terrible. I’ve read more about how the Def system works, along with the DPF and Nox sensor blah blah bla. Bottom line, at least for me, I don’t trust my van, there are many preventative things to do, to take care of the emissions system, using the MB spec oil, using fuel additive to clean the fuel, so on and so forth. But now, the next trip ( yes we kept the van) I am going to pre plan and know where the MB dealership are on my route. I wrote all of this so someone out there that never heard that Mercedes has a problem with the diesel emissions system will hear it from me. No one said anything anywhere when we were researching. And it’s true, they run great, they drive great, great fuel economy. But when someone ask “what model is that?” we jokingly say, it’s a sprinter 3500CEL. I hope this helps someone. Take care, and I hope you never get a check engine light.
just bought a new 2017 and the light came on at 1500 miles........Im kind of shitting my pants reading all the stories I never saw until I signed my life away on one. Gulp.
I have a Sprinter and the "Check engine light" issue... well.... as much of a serious problem it is in the US (since states will not let you pass inspection if it's on!) is meant as an advisory by MB, not meant to fail you on inspection. But, I do agree, those endless sensor issues and therefore CELs are a massive problem when owning in the US. The emissions part.... also not a problem from MB (if my info is correct) .... the US changed it's emissions laws and implemented them way too fast for major manufacturers to respond with a good system... so they installed instant solutions so as not to lose markets... those solutions are crap... and most just circumvent the law (DPF just accumulates the dust that isn't allowed in the emissions test and then intermittently burns it all off... when not being checked... so... same amount of dust/soot comes out - just manages to pass inspection in US!!!) Sadly this implementation is not as good by MB as by some others... they seem to have decided to make the system try and "sense" when to burn off the DPF... instead of just having a "clockwork" system of, say, every 5k miles or something. MB does tend to overengineer things (many German things are)... and the result is too many expensive trips to dealers or repairshops. I'm thankfully so short into the ownership of my van, that I am still liking it tho :-P Also... I bought mine used with just 122k miles on it for $15k ... I had tried to build a 4x4 version of a new one... just to see the price, and with a V6 turbodiesel tall roof, it came out at $45k ... so no idea how yours ended up being $50k I do think the 4x4 version is overpriced in the US... as it's so much more than the standard RWD .... but the market in the US is craving the 4x4 option... since there was a 4 month waiting on getting one when I checked in August. Such demand means they can overcharge even more than usual :-/
Wheel speed sensors are covered under the EMISSION warranty, 5 yr, 100K mi (7 yr in some states). Don't let the dealer cheat you, they will try to charge you for them.
the fuel gauge leaving 6 gallons in the tank is a smart design, most fuel pumps use the fuel to lub it. and people will run the tank to almost or empty destroying the pump.
I don't think so...it's ridiculous. If the tank is still 1/3 full then I'm wasting my time driving cross country stopping over and over again when I have plenty of fuel....the fuel gauge has you worried but in reality you've got enough fuel to get another 200 miles....as long as there is fuel in the tank..the pump keeps pumping....so you're driving 300 miles on a tank when you could drive 500? Makes a difference when you drive 8000 miles in 3 weeks
@@StoneyRidgeFarmer nope under 1/4 the pump burns out, believe me , done it , seen it . use to with older cars they had different pumps , save yourself the head ache ,don't go under 1/4
Yea...I really do like the van..the utility of it..now the creature comforts are lacking but something I can fix up myself...stick around on the Vlog..and I'll show you the new console I am building..sometimes you gotta make your van what you want it to be!
yeah, didnt hear allot of positives. This van was mainly built for the northern European market me thinks. I live in the UK and i wouldn't touch a sprinter with a barge pole! just so overate because of their badge. The older sprinters are rust buckets! also can be expensive to fix. Also not that good fuel economy compared to other diesels on the market , in EU at least. well over priced in my mind.
I completely agree. The entire German auto industry is suffering from quality problems. I bought a Ford Transit Connect that seems perfect and purposed design and has no issues even close to this vehicle. Also I know someone that bought one of these and a mechanical failure almost killed her after flipping over.
Pre 2007 sprinters are the best imho, mine has none of these issues mentioned in this video (except the hills but hey, it's huge). I've got a 2005 high roof long wheel base and average at 27 mpg and it's got at least 500 lbs of tools in the back. Extremely reliable. Sure, maintenance costs more per visit but service intervals are longer than a regular gas engine. And let's be honest, an oil change is easy and we should all be able to do it in a pinch Keeps the fluids topped and clean and you could have a van easily hit the million mile mark
i got a 2022 with the v6 and the check engine light has been a problem. keeps taking out my particulate filter in the exhaust system. apparantly needs a back ordered sensor and im locked into town. not happy. the van has a 1000 miles on it. the windshield is also cracked.
On you lock button, If you hold the top button in for a few seconds and it flashes twice tithe doors will stay unlocked. Go the one of the sprinter forums.. Very helpful. I have the same with a hight top. the 17's have a different filler neck, so when you go to truck stops you can use there fillers. Also speaking of truck stops go around back and get you DEF it's like 2 a gal not 12 for 2.5 gals! The 4x4 sits allot higher yes. It comes with the 6 cylinder and get 18 to 20 mpg. 16 with a tandon axle box trailer 8.5 x 16 for motorcycles.
On my 2016 sprinter passenger 2wd is we lowered the tire pressure. Factory recommendation is when the van is loaded to the max. We ran 38 psi front and 36 psi rear and the ride is much better unladen. Tire wear is even for the past 16k miles
I'm a trucker and have been for almost twenty years. we wear gloves when we fuel, and when you're done, holding a rag near the fuel spout to catch the drips
hairy plopper I’m diesel mechanic I never wear gloves when my hands greasy I clean them buy diesel and then buy tide over than forty years and I still have my hands
If you talk to any Truck Driver you will find they always carry gloves and wear them when fueling. I always wrap a mechanics red rag around the nozzle while fueling. I have an older 2003 Freightliner (Mercedes with different badging) 3500 with extend wheelbase and dual wheels I used for hots shot freight for FedEx for 5 years. It has the 5 cylinder diesel and gets 22 mpg on the highway. I'm glad they have made the seats more comfortable. The seats in mine were so bad I replaced them with captain chairs from my 97 Astro. The reason the cupholders are so bad in all Mercedes is because they are added for the US market. There are no upholders in the German version because it is illegal to drink, eat or do anything that might distract you while driving in Germany. The older version has an add-on set of cupholders at the bottom of the console on the floor. They do hold large drinks but you have to reach down to the floor to get your drink. Also, if you need a windshield replaced again, talk to the Truck Drivers ( not the newbies but the old-timers like me.) They always know an independent glass-man who will replace your windshield for much less. I had mine replaced not long ago for $175 in my driveway.
best thing to get i promise. you can put a bottle of water next to ceramic tint on the inside and it will be cold the next morning still but try that on the front windshield ant that water bottle will be warm at sunrise
@@AnitaMaxWynnn Geweldige functionele auto in combinatie met Kip caravan 37 EK. Elk jaar een trip door Europa met fietsen en scooter mee. Good Luck and Have Fun🇱🇺
awesome review. thanks for sharing! I have a 2017 metris van and I have pretty much the same complaints about the cruise control stalk, the solitary single usb outlet and the awful cupholders.
Keep it out of overdrive or in a lower gear on on those mountains! Saves your trans and less strain on your motor because you have more power in a lower gear
It would appear that Sprinters have an image problem in the USA. I've had my 2011 Sprinter from new, it's clocked 440,000 miles without serious issues, general maintenance, still on original exhaust, starter, alternator et al. clutch was replaced at 300,000. Most European van owners would agree that there is not much wrong with the Sprinter except its high initial cost, but that is no problem when you are soon to hit half a mill! I've just walked into my home after n 800 mile round trip to Scotland, never missed a beat :)
Pull up on the slack in the hose about 2-3 feet behind the nozzle and allow the remaining fuel to drip in the the tank before removing nozzle. Your welcome
I think the first button that you do not know is for a heated front window. The sign looks like a window and the wobbly lines remind me of heated rear window and also because it has a light to tell you it is on. If you press it and the little pea bulb does not light check the fuse? Normally they stay on for a set time then turn them selves off. Will do when you switch off ignition If you have heated rear view mirrors they normally come on with the heated rear widow and light a little pea light next to the rear view mirror adjuster. My only other thought is if they have a electric heater for the front windscreen so you do not have to wait for the engine to warm up. Your air Recirculate is to give you the option to have the air sucked in from outside or to reuse the air from inside. It is not supposed to give you warmer air it is to give you fresh air option which you can turn off when it gets to cold.
In Construction we had a huge extended 2006 Dodge Sprinter and a 2008 Dodge Spinter which was short but slightly taller. The 06' had less issues than the 08' but was far more basic. I loved the feel and look but the 08' we used had many electrical problems. We had complete loss of power on a major hwy once and we nearly got crushed by a transport truck. Dash lights flickering. Whenever we went over a bridge or open area with wind you could feel the van really pulling. It was like a sail. Overall I liked the roominess and storage but honestly the reliability of this vehicle scares me. On the flipside we had a 2010 Ford E250 that never had a single problem.
I agree on some of your gripes but I found myself wondering why you bought it. There should be usb connection in drivers side dash on left of center hump. I have 2014 170 wheel base and love it. Drove from Texas to Halifax and back. Ours is a 4 turbo diesel tall top and averaged 20 mpg. If Rubber is an issue take it back have it fixed. Anyway if I didn’t have one and saw your review I wouldn’t buy one.
Well I surely didn't mean to come accross as a negative nelly, but after I watched my own video I kinda wondered if I bought the right van too....these little annoyances were just that...annoyances that just got on my nerves after days and days of travel..I am very happy with the van and especially the fuel economy...oh and there is a usb connector on the dash..but it seems to be data only because it wont charge my devices
I understand that moods of they day can affect what we say. Give it time and little things will iron out. I love my Sprinter and want another one to convert to camper. Test drove a ford and hated the cramped lack of leg room. Mercedes diesel best on marked and transmission wins best overall. Thanks for responding
I rented one in a motorhome version in Australia. Many of your complaints are valid. I also know many Hutterites on colonies around where I live. Traditionally they have favoured the Sprinter but lately they are going over to the Ford Transit for many of the reasons you listed. Better technology, better seating, better ergonomics, etc. It would seem the poor little Sprinter has become the orphan of the Mercedes-Benz family and maybe it's time it had a re-vamp. Also I'm told many of them spend more time in the shop than on the road so reliability has become an issue as well!!!
yep....not really the "fix" I'd like to see on the truck....my buddy took pipe insulation and covered every corner on every piece of furniture in his house for his child....now is that really teaching the kid to mind the corners on things? They can hurt ya.....lol totally off subject
I’ve had this for about two years and the v6 for two years before that and the v6 has EGR valve issues. The 4-cylinder is great and I like it much better.
I feel the same way about the air conditioning system and the fuel guage in my 2015 sprinter 3500 3.0 diesel Coachmen prism 2150le motorhome. The fuel tank is very small, mine is 26.4 gallons and we have to stop every 200 miles, I carry a full 5 gallon diesel can with me, we ran out of diesel once in Utah...Not fun, luckily for us we were flat towing a jeep behind us, we disconnected it and went and found some diesel..
Thanks for your honest review. That sort of review is helpful to newbies. I wish you good luck with your German/Chinese plastic van. I've had two Mercedes in the past and I stay far far away from them today.
Shoot you only paid $27k? Oh...btw I am frugal...the sticker on it was around 50K we got it with 10k miles for $29...still pricey but cheap when you compare it to buying a new truck
I bought my 2003 in 2004 for $25k since it was a special order that the guy backed out on. Mine was a cargo version 3500 with dual wheels with extended roof and wheelbase. It had the remote key locks, alarm and every option they offered at that time. Mercedes puts the same cruise control and lock locations on all their vehicles. I have a E420 and the controls are the same. Throw away that radio (not really, just put it away for when you sell or trade it in) and check eBay for a dual din radio with Bluetooth, GPS, back-up camera and inputs for SD and USB. Pyle and Enon are two good brands and either can be purchased for under $200.00. There are even some that are Android so you can add your favorite apps. I have both and they work with apple phones so you can play and control selections on screen.
Great review, straight up, honest no stink of marketing dept (how many 'unboxings' just sound like DIY marketing promo brochures? ) Europeans complain that Americans want huge cup holders for their Big Gulps. I've got a Prius, hit the brakes and anything bigger than 8 ounces is airborne. All those ergonomic, and function complaints? Clearly the interface/functions dept is bureaucratic. The fuel gauge nonsense seems universal. It may be difficult to measure 1/4 of a flat bottomed fuel tank, I get that, but to start beeping that you're out of fuel, and always miscalculate the range? That's just unacceptable. My Prius V tells me I have 389 miles to empty when the tank is full. It starts freaking out that I'm out of fuel 100 miles before it is out. It holds 12 gallons, I get 40 mpg. More than a few times I've sweated making it to a station far out of my route because it's beeping that I have 2 miles left in the range. I'm anxious, annoyed, delayed, overpay for midnight gas...and a fill up is 9 gallons. I could've driven home, done a day of errands and then filled up or waited another day.... There doesn't seem to be any way to change the range. The radio, SD card nonsense is why Tesla will probably take over the world. Every company needs a Jobs or Musk to throw a hissy when the interface is annoying-- they're not listening to us. Happy trails. btw the wheel spinning thing? That's typical of all two wheel drive vehicles, front or rear drive. It's so one of your tires doesn't screech every time you turn a corner. I just had that happen to me in the snow. I got one tire chain on, trying to put the second one on I had to drive back and forth a bit--of course now only the unchained tire is going to spin.
Correct. In the Rockies, the speed limit is 55 to 6o mph. In Wyoming, the highest speed limit is on the main hwy going north and south and it is 80mph. Going that fast is foolish.
Another negative is the maintenance costs for diesel. It costs around $400 to have the oil changed. Another consideration is once they reach the 100k mile point, you need to change parts for the emission system which costs around 6 grand.
Yep...got one in the garage now..soon to change my self..MB dealer was gonna charge $500..pretty pricey..oh and I was told $250 for the service when I was shopping at MB dealer....lies? Hmm?
WE retire in 2019 Canada. I LOVE the vans but I chose the Ram 1500 with thV-8 Hemi. 24.5 mpg but I know how to raise gas up to 29-31.8 We are putting a shell pop up camper and pull a 10x7 cargo telescoping trailer at 1,000 pounds and no change to MPG. Cargo 4K will drop MPG 8 points to about 20-22 and back up when we detach and go exploring with just the pop up.
bud morse you are correct I was on a road trip to Texas and one was broke down the left rear strut was broke where in the hell would you get that at I told him to call a racecar shop and put a coil over on it the only one of those that are breaks down you are SOL !
Where in the hell would you buy parts out in the middle of Arizona you be screwed the parts are higher than hell you better think hard before you buy one
Thank you for the video, are you driving the van now? I just picked up a 2016 sprinter cargo van high top with 50,000 miles on it for $37,000 I've had it for 3 months and right now everything is working great on it.
I have an 08 Chevy Express with a 4.8 v8 and I get 18 mpg. 70k miles I gave 7k for it. The water pump on that Sprinter cost as much as my transmission!!! 50 grand and you had to buy your own duct tape for the windshield. Precision German engineering.
Yep....you got a good price for sure. Now....I honestly don't think the Chevy Express is in the same "category" as the sprinter van or the ford Transit type van. But I'm with ya...a van is a van....and if that Chevy breaks down..you can go to any auto parts store and fix it.....Mercedes is a different story...we sold the Sprinter for fear of a problem in the middle of nowhere America
I love my sprinter..dont get me wrong...but these were a few things I experienced after driving cross country....we adapted to the issues....and I feel like folks should know...everyone keeps telling ya how awesome they are...but there are issues with every vehicle...annoyances more than anything....I'll do another review I'm sure
Now...I wouldnt let this talk ya out of it...I still have the van...and I really love it...just a few annoyances that needed to be addressed...I was tired of seeing "fake reviews" on youtube....folks building campers and all that....these are the real issues that I experienced..but are in no way deal breakers
@Stoney Ridge Farmer Yes. Thank you. Most of those reviews are just rehashing the specs with video, driving, some confusing commentary (eg "The steering feels mushy" "Ride quality not that great"), and maybe a comparison ranking. But these kinds of owner reviews are the most informative. Thanks again.
when you say "dodge version" you mean the ProMaster and not the Dodge imported sprinters right? the dodge/freightliner import ones are the same exact van as the Mercedes ones save for logo/front grille swaps.
The Ford Transit is very versatile. You'll never enjoy the Sprinter. That wind noise not going to go away. Tape may help temporally. Lets face it, if you have to tape the windshield on your "Van", then that in itself speaks to the quality of the vehicle.
Charles Norris a Ford Transit. Sorry, no can do. Sprinter, or the Nissan, wish Toyota had a version, in USA. My first Tacoma sold with 406,000. My second, still using hit 413,000. My third, 200,000!
I have a Ford Transit F150 Cargo van with a mid level roof and Iove it. The ride is fantastic, only issue I have with my van is the back-up camera display is to small.
Well.... very over priced and I just dont care for the European style vans / Your best bet is a 4x4 truck - dual wheel - 1 ton - with a flat bed . then you can add a camper ? a large or small tool boxes ? interchangeable as needed. Just a thought
So we aren't looking for an RV...just a nice comfy large travel vehicle...it did the job but creature comforts and little quirks are what should be shared with folks looking for a van like this
The lock buttons allow you to lock rear "cargo" doors only and leave cabin doors open or vise versa. Like I do with my work van, I lock cabin doors but leave rear doors unlocked to get tools in building site.
Yep then every time you get out it locks, drive it it locks, take the key out it locks..I'd prefer it to stay unlocked until I lock it..annoying little van locks!
You are right, but it depends on what you prefer. When one get´s out of the car and takes the key along and forgets to lock the door it does it for you so you don´t accidentally leave doors unlocked. That I like. My car doesn´t lock the doors when I take the key out if I don´t open and close the driver door after that. If I stay in car doors stay unlocked. It locks the doors while driving only if settings in menu are set that way. I turned that function of, I don´t like it either. I have high and long version with 4 cylinder engine and like the mpg too or liters per 100 kilometers as we say here.
