It's not just Colorado my friend. I have a 4WD converted 2022 MB Sprinter. I had an appointment last Monday (1/30/23) I drove 200+ miles to the closest MB dealership in the state that "actually" works on Sprinters to have the A/C compressor replaced since it was leaking. Surprisingly, They got it in within a few days. I drove up Sunday night and ended up in an ice storm that wasn't supposed to be here until Tuesday. They replaced the A/C compressor under warranty but I got stuck up there for 4 days (not MB's fault obviously). Was finally able to drive it home on Friday. Got home and the A/C compressor is leaking worse than it was before I went up there. I'm 99% sure they replaced the A/C compressor but can't be 100% sure. Now, it has to be flat bedded back to the dealership (once again 200 miles +) to have it replaced again since I'm not driving it back up there nor do I actually think it will make it up there. If the A/C compressor locks up, it will shred the serpentine belt and that will cause a whole host of other issues. I'm kind of like you. How do I know they "actually" do the things they said they did? You aren't back in the shop when the repairs are being made. Luckily all of this falls under warranty but it's still frustrating that I have to have the same service that I just had done last week all while being stuck up there for 4 days. Then only to find it is worse than when I took it in the first time. Saying all of that... They have been able to get me in both times within a few days instead of weeks to months in advance. And MB Roadside assistance has been great along with MBUSA. But I agree that MB service leaves something to be desired. I've actually marked my A/C compressor with my initials in a place that is hard to see. If it comes back with the same A/C compressor? We are going to have issues with them. I told them "do not send it back until it is fixed". We'll see how this goes. The van only has 2500 miles on it and it's already been in the shop twice now. Not a good start.
Ask that they RETURN the Replaced Parts. They should do that unless there is a CORE charge. It may be worth PAYING the core charge just so you have PROOF.
@@supermankent1041 That's a good idea but it's too late for that now. In fact, it's now on a flatbed traveling back up to the dealership I had the work done on it last week. I told them "do NOT send it back until you are sure it isn't leaking". So, we'll see what happens.
If it's cold enough for ice storms I'm confused on why you would need to run the A/C? I wouldn't think you would need to and you wouldn't have to worry about further damage happening from driving it back if you aren't running the A/C.
This is in a Honda dealer here inAlberta, Canada. I left once my spare tire inflated to a low PSI on purpose before coming in for basic service. sure enough they gave me the service report back with everything in green, INCLUDING 'complementary' multipoint inspection... I told them .. are you sure you refilled ALL my tires to spec including spares? yep, all good sir. we did!. gues waht? ... they didn't ... and so I starting doubting of the such multipoint inpsection marketing bs... probably they do some... but not all of them.... be careful out there.
Thanks so much, my most expensive car I've ever owned was a 2002 C300 where every single window lift, a handful of sub assemblies as well as large suspension components all went out. Every quarter that red light would go on and it would be $1200-1800. Thanks for this video as I was vacillating between the Ford Transit and the Sprinter. There are 2966 ford dealerships nationwide as opposed to 383 MBZ dealers. Enough said.
thanks mercedes was taken off the my list in 2006 i went to local dealer to buy a car and i was buying a car on that saturday no sales man even approached me if they had i would have bought any car that i liked instead i ending up at the lexus dealer and bought a rx330 still have the car and it still runs like it did in 2006
Kyle, for basic service you can go to non-dealers, such as Branch Automotive, Merrill Automotive. These small automotive shops have years of experience with Sprinters.
My son-in-law was training to be a car mechanic (ASE Certification). He told me that he would not recommend buying a Mercedes-Benz or a BMW, unless you want to be on a first-name basis with your mechanic. Sounds like he wasn't exaggerating.
This is why I’m waiting for the new Ford off-road ready van to become widely available. Lots more Ford dealerships and the parts should be cheaper too.
This was the case with almost all Kia dealers. My car was mostly great, but the service really let the car down from an ownership perspective. These companies need to realize that their repeat business doesn’t just rely on making a good car!
After Kia had the whole steering column / USB cable hack thing, I cannot recommend that anyone ever buys a Kia. There are places in the US where gangs of hoodlums specifically break into Kias because they are so easy to steal. No thanks!
They have issues with the sales too from what I've heard. They're still stuck on the sub-prime lender mindset and not used to a higher class of customer even though they sell $50k+ SUV's. One person said they had sold their previous SUV and had $45k in cash and told the finance guy that they wanted to put $45k down and finance the rest and the guy was like "do you mean $4,500?"
I love my 2007 sprinter. No DEF additive needed. I also found my own mechanic in san diego that makes it affordable to maintain it. V6 diesel is awesome.
Unlike Tesla, you are likely better off with an independent Sprinter specialist who will give you more competitive prices and faster turnaround. In Colorado there are many independents for Sprinters such as (in no order of recommendation) The Shop Boulder, Big Van Repair Denver, MB Clinic Denver, Sprinter Benz Service Brighton, Kleemann Colorado Springs, Hoover Mercedes Parker, Colorado Fleetworks of Commerce City
I cannot stress enough to not do your own maintenance on a sprinter. I do my own maintenance on all of my vehicles. Did one on my sprinter 3500 (not easy), Oil filter gasket slipped after about 2000 miles and ruined the engine. Cost me $27,000 for a replacement engine. Not worth the risk.
I forget the name, but there is a guy with a repair shop in Golden, who specializes in sprinters. (I don’t know where you are, you could be 5 hours away) I rolled in there on a cross country trip - recommended by a truck repair shop - I had a hole in my intercooler air intake hose. Took it in immediately, replaced both in and out hoses from the intercooler, and found a couple of other things that needed help. I was out, just after lunch.
LinDen Automotive - I'm sure this is the shop and guy you are referring to. He's talked about very highly on all of the sprinter forums. My biggest worry while traveling in our sprinter out West is running into an issue in CO. Even though with the AEM warranty, a month lead would kill our travel plans.
My buddy has a 2017 4x4 sprinter, $5000 a year in maintenance since owning. Last service he went to Albuquerque (he lives in steamboat springs). I did his buildout, I have a ford transit on order that I had originally looked at a sprinter. May not last as long but cost of ownership is going to be cheaper.
I got an oil change for my Subaru Outback at the dealer within two hours, no appointment, $74. Then I loaded my tent, camping gear, food, bike, and drove to AZ from LOCO. Was thinking about a camper van, but at 70 I'll stick to the KISS Principle. If I did anything to change my system, it would be a Toyota Tundra with slide in camper.
Kyle, I'm curious if you got the MB maintenance schedule in the glove box when you took delivery from Winnebago and what the ACTUAL schedule B is per MB, not what the dealership says it is. Every time I compare a manufacturer schedule to the one at the dealership there is always more things on the dealership schedule for more money of course. Could be an interesting video to share with us if drastically different. 2nd thing, saw that there was a battery replacement on the service invoice. Shouldn't that have been covered under warranty due to the vehicle being only 2 years old?
I have found this with almost every brands dealers, It gets really annoying. They always add on a few things that aren't included on the maintenance schedule but then omit things that must be more time consuming like brake, transmission, and differential fluid services.
Been there done that, had 2009 Dodge RAM 3500 6.7 diesel, was due for it 24K KM service, the dealer in Gibsons BC quote me $1900.00, went through an extensive list of fluid change in transfer case et, etc.. So I drove the Penticton where that Dodge dealer sold more heavy duty RAM than others (including a busy service department), quote me $190.00 for oil change and some other key points that were needed. Goes to show you there are lots of dealers ready to hose you.
Service A and B mean diddly squat to me if done by Franchise dealerships around the country. The top reason is what you mentioned about service availability due to the lack of technicians to do the service. Do-overs rarely happen as they should when the least experienced techs' work orders are above their pay grade. The good, better, best choice of traps for the dealer's customers is fudging by the differences in what the owners' manuals recommendations say in print. Just follow the manual when dealing with certain dealers. They are not all the same. Franchise dealers pay techs less and they make more glaring mistakes overall, more so than other shops like independent german wrenchers and foreign car shops that can do warranty work approved by MB.
I work for an independent workshop and if customers are worried about their warranty on vehicles we will advise them to buy their parts from the local dealership and keep the bill of sale not only for their records but also of any warranty issues then they can go back and say 'no I purchased all OEM filters and oils from the manufacturer' if theres any problems down the line. The US may work differently from the UK (where I am) but we've had to do warranty claims on engine failures and not had problems in this situation with OEM oils and filters, the issue comes when you use aftermarket filters and oils from places like (for example) Napa and Autozone. Even if you do it DIY over here the OE or extended warranties are pretty good as long as you can provide proof of mileage and bill of sale of the parts and it will cost about between a quarter to a third of the price to DIY than go to a dealership
We have the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act here in the U.S. The implications are too long to list here, but in a nutshell as long as your vehicle is serviced by yourself or a certified mechanic the burden of proof lies on the warranty provider provided you used the proper part for your vehicle OEM or not.
yep. Exactly why the Ford Transit platform is the go to platform. In Colorado, there are plenty of Ford dealers. Been saying for years that it is foolish to buy Mercedes diesel camper van because barely anyone works on them. Finally, Ford has beefed up their Van Transit platform for Camper van use. Also, the average guy only knows how to work on gas engines too. Maintenance is expensive on diesel engines too
I’m sure you know Kyle but for the back yard mechanics the Sprinter uses something like 13 quarts of oil. So when you go to drain it make sure you have an oil pan that can hold 13+ quarts of oil. I had thought about changing the oil myself but took it to the dealership instead but if I had that would have been a bad day for me.
I have a 2020 and i buy the OIL and FILTER and Crush washer and take it to a Oil change place that I hove used for years. last time I paid them $35 to keep my hands clean and not deal with the oil disposal. I not know the price Post Covid. it also saves Time.
Dealer network and service availability is not just isolated to CO. Very common across the US from our experience. But back in 2019 Westminster got us in and out on a Friday morning with a DEF line fix. But since vans have become the new RVs things have definitely changed for the worse.
@Kyle Conner *Do you have a Freightliner dealer in your area? If so they SERVICE your Sprinter van as well!* They are an authorized Sprinter service center and dealer under the Freightliner name.
This is not new. It's an amazing van when everything works. It's also quite complex, especially the diesel. I am very much leaning to the Pentastar Promaster. Very DIY friendly.
I have had a Promaster since 2017 and have don’t most all the work on my own. Changed lifters rockers, serp belt, radiator , spark plugs, oil, tranny fluid, etc and yes you can get some stuff done but a lot of it is a pain in the ass. The motor is sideways (fwd) so half the motor is almost impossible to get to, you are working blind in very small spaces, but I was able to get stuff done so far. Too much plastic parts too in places where they should be metal. It hasn’t been a horrible van, it gets down the road. My biggest complaint though is that the seats are incredibly uncomfortable ( In think the new ones are better) hope this helps
So sorry you are having troubles finding a good dealer. I'm in Minnesota, and Mercedes dealers here are outrageous!! They ripe you off so bad. We looked around forever and finally found a mechanic that deals with only fleet vehicles, so he works with Amazon, Fed Ex, other delivery vans, etc... and he is about 1/4-1/3 of the cost for anything we do. So... check around for any fleet mechanic.
I have a 2018 Pleasureway Ascent on a 2017 2500 chassis, 2WD. The chassis has been serviced exclusively at the Loveland Mercedes dealer. Other than the post pandemic wait times, I’ve been very satisfied with the service. Warranty service has been minimal-a software update and the backup camera replaced. Early on I had an engine block heater installed. I had the front end aligned. My only beef was the cost of windshield wipers, which they reduced to wholesale when I complained. I’ve spent time in the Loveland showroom and talked with salesmen. I haven’t seen any indication of over-pricing their cars beyond sticker. Sorry your experience has been poor, but mine hasn’t been.
There is a reason we have referred to dealers as "stealers" for years. The local MBZ dealer had an EQC (orS) at an electric car expo locally & they had a $125,000 "dealer add on". We bought a Bolt new in 2017 7 I realized the dealer & salesmen didn't know squat about the Bolt. I like the Sprinter but seeing what goes on as 'service' there is no way I'd buy one. I think I'd find an old Grumman commercial van & convert it to what I wanted. I also hate not being able to watch my vehicle being worked on. That's the reason the things I am not equipped to do, I take my vehicles to an independent shop. I generally have low trust in dealerships. Any dealership.
And that's why I bought a T1N. Paid $4700 and yes, there's more rust to keep an eye on/repair, but it's WAY easier to work on or get independent shops to work on it. Seeing as this is like a $130k+ van, it would be super annoying that you're forced to use the predatory MB dealerships. For the price of a few fluid services, you can just get a whole van that's older, but might as well invest $$$ into that, then some new hunk of DEF fluid electronic garbage that might leave you stranded for months on end.
He said in the video that he doesn't believe they work because they just make the car give you full throttle without having to physically fully press the throttle and he was putting the throttle to the floor and it wouldn't move.
I saw another video a few days ago about the new Sprinter that has a two litre turbodiesel but is actually far better at pickup and acceleration, even in Colorado at high elevation. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C5MqBv3tN68.html
Weird, I didn't have any issues scheduling a service with just a few days of heads up here in Seattle. Ps: oil change is extremely straightforward on sprinters, there's really no need to pay 400-500.
YEP that's what owning a Sprinter is all about. I always do my own maintenance and know its done right. They did give you a great price on the 13 quarts of 229.52 Oil....I usually pay about $10 a liter. All the other prices are about double retail. If you want a good MB dealer try MB of Albuquerque about 500 miles south of you. They have a dedicated Sprinter service building and I was able to have them do some warranty work on a weeks notice. As far as dealers I would say they are reasonable and know their stuff. Once I went to the MB dealer in Calabasas, CA for a TPS unit and they "only" charged me $209 with a 10 % off deal....That was just the sensor not installed.... You can buy the MB sensor from online Dealers for about $80 or less. Many MB and BMW dealers charge 200% on retail sales. That pays for the espresso machine.
Amen to walk away Kyle! Plus, what really grinds my gears is the money goes to the dealership. None of it is going toward the manufacturer (or coachbuilder) as a reward for getting the market right.
I probably have 4 Mercedes dealers around me here in Orange County California but none of them service sprinter van but there is lots of private mechanic that will service sprinter with better price than dealerships.
It’s pretty is to actually. Especially if you’re over 6ft tall. A Promaster is too tight. Transit vans are more roomy but not sure I trust the ecoboost for more than 125k on a 9k plus pound van it’s gonna be under boost sooo much. My sprinter is a joy to drive - and reliable.
@@JohnSeitz But this engine isn't exactly performing? And, what's the cost of a new Ecoboost, fitted? Less than the list price difference plus the extra service costs? . (That's if it fails out of warranty)
Hopefully one of those people able to pay MB prices also happens to be a lawyer and sues MB. Essentially the warranty is not being honored due to appointment unavailability.
All dealerships have computer generated "complimentary" multi-point inspection reports, which they inspect nothing but try to generate problems out of no problems. MB offered me $2K cash for me to come in for their Bluetec emission recall, I refused because once I am in their trap, there will be a $20K bill waiting for me on the road.
Taxis in Germany are mainly MB diesels, whether you call them CDI or Bluetec, and they just keep going and going. You see less and less of these newer diesels in U.S. because Americans don't know who to maintain and fix these vehicles correctly.
You bring up a good point about car maintenance. If MB might not have the right technician for their electric fleet, what are other dealerships such as Ford GM Chevy saying about the electric vehicle maintenance? Do they have the right in-house technicians?
As others have stated, the product is greatly diminished in value in the eyes of the consumer by a poor customer service / ownership experience. Luxury vehicles demand luxury service. I wonder if there will be any response to this video from MB - dealers or corporate. As for the two service techs who stated electric cars had the same service schedule, that could also be blatant stupidity on their part. But it could very well be a total money grab by the dealer and I wouldn’t be surprised. At all.
I recently took my Mercedes to the Westminster dealership for a oil change. The vehicle only had 4200 miles on it and I took it in because the dashboard said it needed. It’s a service I expected to do a oil change and pay maybe $200 I got a bill handed to me for 1300+ I cannot believe it. I thought it was some type of a mistake. I would have to pay that much for a vehicle that has 4200 miles on it I feel your pain 13:21
A VERY important consideration; thanks! It hits close to home for another reason: I have a 1987 BMW K75 motorcycle. NO BMW dealership will work on it; NOT even tire changes or oil changes. And that factor alone has me pissed off at BMW; had I known that prior I wouldn't have bought the brand!!! Talk about a need for Consumer protections: I suggest that ANY dealer flying that logo....HAS to provide service to all models flying that brand name. ps: it's NOT just Colorado; this is a nationwide service issue....and Mercedes DOES NOT care!!
Yep you're never going to use that to its full extent going to be in a campground in somebody is going to steal everything off of the outside of it but you know a fool and his money... it's nice to look out of your kitchen window and see it sitting in your parking spot though.... the first thing I do before I buy a vehicle is check the replacement headlight value because I grew up in the world and headlights we're fifteen bucks but when I first started driving a replacement headlight was $5.99
In the midwest and our MD dealer has a four month wait for service. Thankfully our dealer isn't going for broke on pricing of cars, new or used; I can't imagine paying $50K+ over for a car!
Good to know. I live in CO and would like to buy the same model you have...but only if I move out of Colorado. I can't afford a $200k van *AND* still live in Colorado. :P
loveland and westminster are sister stores. exactly the same. at the dealers sprinter owners are 2nd class citizens. BTW, that $200 filter is $60 on amazon.
True, I'm not in the USA, or North America, but on a totally different continent, and I do own a 2011 MB vehicle. Locally, (and one pays extra for it), I specified additional service plan from the standard 6yr/60 000km service plan, which gave me 10yrs, 120 000km free service (whichever came first). It was a pleasure to not pay ANYTHING, for a dealer service in the first 10yrs (Except for tyres and fuel).
MB Loveland and MB Westminster are the same company. Among techs on the front range, we all know they're terrible to work for. Talk to the folks at Tourig in Golden - they have MB certified techs doing mechanical work and they're great guys doing honest work.
Did you decided to sell your Revel? Also wondering if you checked out VanWorks? They are a local FoCo van builder, great shop, cool vans, simpler than the Revel, way lighter build might help with performance. Thanks for the info, leans me towards a slide in truck bed camper :)
Kyle, this is super upsetting, but I am a kind and generous man. I’ll take the car off you because I really need one of these as a surf expedition vehicle. When do you want me to come over to get the keys?
Just have to vent about my new Model 3. After 2 weeks of ownership, it bricked itself while charging. I consulted the troubleshooting and jump started the 12 volt battery. The next day it bricked itself again. Both were at about 85% SOC with it set to 100%. It stopped charging then the 12 volt drained in a few minutes and the car ran out of juice. I had it towed to the service center 1.5 hours away and it’s been there for 2 weeks. They did give me a loaner so I’m happy to at least have transportation and the people we have dealt with have been sympathetic. The app is telling me it won’t be ready until April 3. I ended up sending 2 letters to Tesla. One to opt out of arbitration and the other as a notice about the defect and my expectations (a formal necessity in the event of a lemon law case). It appears that the issue is related to high voltage isolation.
Not so much a comment but question. Sprinter was assembled by and sold in this country by the Daimler subsidiary Freightliner. Could you go to them for service?
MB of Tampa is worse. No call backs, giving parts for your van to other customers, zero knowledge of warranties, quoting prices for services & changing them after you agree. The list goes on & on. The only MB dealer ive had good luck with is the one in St George UT
Test drive the awd Ford Transit RV. Others have compared it to the Mercedes Sprinter Winnebago and favored the Ford. Same problems with dealers and just finding anyone that services the Sprinter. They recommended Freightliner dealers as an option. Power, more interior height and handling were better with the Transit.
Makes no difference here in UK going to merc dealer or independent. And 236 usd for a fuel filteris pure bullshit. Service B about £300. Get the auto gearbox serviced as recommended. Again about £300 here in UK. Do you have the 2.1 twin turbo diesel?
Learn to do your own. There isn’t much that is tough or complicated on these. I have done my own maintenance on my Sprinter for a number of years due to what you experienced.
My third new Sprinter since 2017. Southern OR / Northern CA. Horrible service calendar and prices. One tech for hundreds of sq miles. $4,005.00 for my 40,000 service on current 4x4 170”.
Note to self: Transportation is getting from point A to point B safely. How expensive that trip will be is up to you. In my estimation, Mercedes Benz would never get my business because of “status” because quite simply, their products aren’t worth the cost or frustration! Overhyped and overpriced!
German premium brands tend to use synthetic engine oils that allow for long oil change intervals. The drawback is that the oil is rather expensive per gallon or liter - especially when provided by the service center. Luckily in Germany the service centers by law must allow you to purchase and provide an (OEM approved) oil yourself. I’ve saved quite a bit by making use of this right.
Ummm... pretty much every new car today uses synthetic oil with longer change intervals. Subaru, 7,000 miles, full synthetic, oil change cost $74, no appointment, two hours.
@@Mike-vd2qt for European VW cars (say a Golf 6 or 7) with LongLife™ oil the change is due after 2 years or 30000 km driven (ca 18600 miles) - whichever comes first. However expect the dealer to ask for 250 Euros if they provide the oil. I get printer ink vibes here.
It's a Mercedes Kyle, Mercedes tools are very expensive....lol. If it was somehow a better vehicle like their cars are it would be worth it but basically you are paying for that Mercedes badge and there are plenty of "inherited wealth" people out there that money is not even an issue. Nice show....keep up the good work!
I would rather use a Service manual purchased from dealers (if they sell them compared to the digital ones dealers now use), tools, and youtube. Oh, and can't forget google blogs and things like Reddit. I can't imagine doing all that. I'd rather just use a sprinter and it is completely empty in the back (Cargo van) instead of a built RV because like the issue you had with Winnebago thinking they can handle stuff that Mercedes wouldn't but it rests on Mercedes with everything.
Sell it and buy a Storyteller LT Ford Transit All-Wheel drive, gasoline, more power when climbing, Ford service everywhere, and much more affordable & with the Volta system that lets you use the air conditioner for ten hours in a row when you travel through the heat of more than a hundred degrees at Atlanta or Florida.
I took my Kia Niro EV into my dealer who sold the me car so they should be EV-savvy... came in for a repair, and got it back a few days later noticing a rattling noise, later found out they left a socket/nut on the inside under the hood and it just rolled around making that noise. Geez.
Not to be rude, but if you're moving to CO especially to FoCo from LA you're the problem. They know everyone from CA is moving to the front range and pretending they live in the mountains and so they price them way higher because they know you can afford it and you'll pay it. I'm glad you're letting everyone know the great info you bring to the table, but you paying even MSRP for something you may take down a fire road one time or go to Moab for 3 days is the problem. Demand is crazy and people keep paying the prices.
P.S. If you buy the 3 year maintenance plan they will only change your oil 3 times and only after 20,000 miles each time. You also have to drive 60,000 miles it the 3 years to get that last service....What a rip off.
Wisconsin isn’t any better. Limited to 3 dealerships. 12 Recalls in two years. MOST for Sofware Updates. 100 miles round trip to nearest dealer. No heat due to failed heater door stepper motor immediately after last recall software reflash. I firmly believe damage was caused by the recall reflash or by the technician who had to fix a Fail Code after he had completed the service. Or the motor didn’t actually fail and they replaced it anyway. Invoice says R&R mother flapper door and RELEARN calibration. I actually love the vehicle as much as I did my diesel Passat. But the service, cost of service and recalls suck. And engineering requiring constant recalls sucks. Latest recall is software update for Parking Pawl? How can you update software and fix a mechanical hard part failure? Sounds fishy. I’m near the end of my warranty and getting scared about owning this Sprinter.
Kyle, thanks for the video and info. Just curious have you rented your van out on Outdoorsy or RVshare and if so have you made money and had good experiences? Also could you do a video on this topic.
Sprinter does do over the air updates. But not for critical issues. It’s a safer approach. (Tesla is a joke as it’s their ceo) I agree the latest update is a game changer.
