15,000 miles like above and no problems.
Get 17 MPG on a average.
DownTheAvenue wrote:
I am not a fan of the Mercedes Sprinter diesel. It has very specific oil requirements that even Mercedes dealers don't know. Finding a dealer who can and will work on it can be challenging.
I am not a fan of the Mercedes Sprinter diesel. It has very specific oil requirements that even Mercedes dealers don't know. Finding a dealer who can and will work on it can be challenging.
The Sprinter is not really a car which is probably why the Mercedes dealers don't know anything about them. Find a Freightliner dealer, they sell and service them.
Bill
Nodwell RN110 out moose hunting. 4-53 Detroit, Clark 5 spd, 40" wide tracks, 10:00x20 tires, 16,000# capacity, 22,000# weight. You know the mud is getting deep when it's coming in the doors.
 (200x149) (2) (130x97) (110x82).jpg)
Two and a hound in a 2015 Coachmen Prism "B+"...pushed by '09 Suby Forester
First 50 done, working on the second pass! Nunavut - we'll see...!
2005-2015 Roadtrek 190P
1993-2005 Northstar Soft-Side TC
1989-1993 Backpacks & Tents!
1967-1977 Family TT's
We've had it 5 years now. Just had our longest trip, 1250 miles to Jellystone NP and back.
15 MPG: @65 MPH without toad, @55 MPH with toad.
See M-B oils and other specs here: List of M-B specs.
Best deal I got on oil was from Amazon and also the tools.
MOTHER SHIP Winnebago View 24H (2007 Dodge Sprinter 3500 Chassis, 2008 Body)3.0 L M-B Diesel V6 bought used with 24K miles. Toad: ROCKY the Flying Squirrel.
Moose and Squirel wrote:
We are looking at a 2015 Winnebago Navion 24V. Anyone had any problems with this engine/chassie/model? We have never owned a diesel and would like to hear from those who have.
Hi Moose and Squirel,We are looking at a 2015 Winnebago Navion 24V. Anyone had any problems with this engine/chassie/model? We have never owned a diesel and would like to hear from those who have.
No doubt about it, the Mercedes Sprinter has a strong following. And I say "Good For Those Sprinter Owners".
Just make sure the Sprinter diesel will meet your particular needs. Here are some considerations when comparing the Sprinter chassis to it's main rival, the Ford E350 chassis with gasoline V10 engine.
Advantages Of The Mercedes Sprinter With Diesel Engine
- Offers a 35%-50% improvement in fuel economy over the Ford E350-V10, when both are loaded and driven identically.
- More ergonomic driver compartment with more leg room.
- Comfort continues with a car-like feel & quiet ride.
- A grander view out the windshield
- Made by Mercedes which people are attracted to.
Advantages Of The Ford E350 with V10 Engine
- Given identical motor homes both brand and model, the Ford is around $13,000 MSRP cheaper
- The Ford V10 engine has 50% more horse power and torque
- The Ford E350 chassis handles 1430 pounds more weight.
- The E350 is able to tow a heavier load.
- The E350 rear axle is significantly wider which translates to better stability.
- In most places traveled, gasoline costs less than diesel fuel
- The Sprinter diesel has limited mechanical service shops around North America
- The Sprinter diesel is typically outfitted with a propane generator. Propane is a critical fuel for RV operations, and generally needs to be rationed when dry camping.
- This Next Point Is Debatable But Still Worth Noting....The V6 Sprinter diesel engine is not allowed to idle for extended periods. This limitation is detrimental when you need a/c but there are generator restrictions, you are low on propane, or you have a mechanical failure with the generator or roof a/c. The Ford offers a great backup system. The V10 with the 55 gallon fuel tank, can safely idle for hours on end, heating, cooling, and battery charging, all valuable if you have a baby, pets, or health/respiratory issues.
Setting your priorities will help make the better choice for your particular travel needs. I personally feel the Sprinter is ideal for putting on piles of miles, like people who follow ball clubs around the country. But if you drive only around 5000 miles per as my wife and I do with our E350, our lesser fuel economy has not been a factor. Our 55 gallon gas tank with gas generator has been very comforting and useful for extended stays in remote locations, and being able to tow our Jeep Liberty with ease has also been great. Because of our travel style and destinations, our E350-V10 meets our particular needs much better than a Sprinter could.
Each to their own.
2007 Phoenix Cruiser model 2350, with 2006 Jeep Liberty in-tow
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
We love that this unit has the twin bed set-up, the real reason for our interest in this vehicle, not many make this bed set-up. More to follow......
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB
midnightsadie wrote:
I,ve been under my sprinter and there's a steel frame from front to back. looks plenty strong to me. my coach is a LTV all fiberglass.
You are right, it does have a frame. But the frame is thin hardened steel, two "U" channels glued together to make a "box" frame. They call it a uni-body design because the front cab is integrated into the frame. No welding is permitted or the steel looses it's strength, one reason why the wheel base of a Sprinter is not allowed to be modified like an E-series. Outfitters like motor home manufactures are not even allowed to drill a hole into the frame. So if the box frame is damaged in an accident, the vehicle is quick to be totaled.I,ve been under my sprinter and there's a steel frame from front to back. looks plenty strong to me. my coach is a LTV all fiberglass.
CLICK HERE to see many pics of a Sprinter cut-away chassis I seen at an auto show a few years ago. Also is the Transit. Note how the Sprinter frame and cab are integrated. An E-series, the frame passes under the cab with the cab bolted on top of it like a truck.
In the pics, note the two "U" channels that make up the box frame.
* This post was last edited 01/06/18 01:24pm by ron.dittmer *
DownTheAvenue wrote:
I am not a fan of the Mercedes Sprinter diesel. It has very specific oil requirements that even Mercedes dealers don't know. Finding a dealer who can and will work on it can be challenging.
I am not a fan of the Mercedes Sprinter diesel. It has very specific oil requirements that even Mercedes dealers don't know. Finding a dealer who can and will work on it can be challenging.
I have heard the same issue and many Mercedes dealerships don't want to work on them.
That said, I have a friend who bought one a couple of years ago. She likely it so much, she bought another that had a different floor plan that better suited her needs.
I agree, the owner of a Sprinter needs to become knowledgeable of the vehicle, much in the way that the owner of an old English sports car is. If you cannot do the work yourself, you need to be able to tell the mechanic exactly how you want it done, and know that you are right, and be able to ask enough questions to know if the mechanic did something incorrectly. The oil situation is a difficult sticking point. There are only a couple of semi-readily available oils on the market that meet the MB 229.52 spec (or for 2016 or earlier 229.51 or .52 spec).
Charles
'03 Ram 2500 CTD, 5.9HO six speed, PacBrake Exh Brake, std cab, long bed, Leer top and 2008 Bigfoot 25B21RB.. previously (both gone) 2008 Thor/Dutchman Freedom Spirit 180 & 2007 Winnebago View 23H Motorhome.
* This post was edited 01/06/18 04:50pm by HawkTX *
HawkTX wrote:
I don’t understand all the confusion about the oil. Go to your chassis manual and use what they recommend. Sprinter parts depot online sells the entire oil change kit based upon your model.
I don’t understand all the confusion about the oil. Go to your chassis manual and use what they recommend. Sprinter parts depot online sells the entire oil change kit based upon your model.
There is no confusion, its just that many people prefer to purchase their oil locally rather than order it and pay sometimes stupid shipping charges.
NAPA sells Valvoline SynPower MST 5W40 Motor Oil which is priced right now for $5.49 a quart. It meets the 229.51 spec.
Taking the MH to a Mercedes dealer will many times get the wrong oil installed, as apparently, even the dealer does not understand the oil specs. More than one member of the Yahoo V/N forum has reported having the wrong oil installed during an oil change at the dealer.
Charles
CharlesinGA wrote:
There is no confusion, its just that many people prefer to purchase their oil locally rather than order it and pay sometimes stupid shipping charges.
NAPA sells Valvoline SynPower MST 5W40 Motor Oil which is priced right now for $5.49 a quart. It meets the 229.51 spec.
Taking the MH to a Mercedes dealer will many times get the wrong oil installed, as apparently, even the dealer does not understand the oil specs. More than one member of the Yahoo V/N forum has reported having the wrong oil installed during an oil change at the dealer.
Charles
HawkTX wrote:
I don’t understand all the confusion about the oil. Go to your chassis manual and use what they recommend. Sprinter parts depot online sells the entire oil change kit based upon your model.
I don’t understand all the confusion about the oil. Go to your chassis manual and use what they recommend. Sprinter parts depot online sells the entire oil change kit based upon your model.
There is no confusion, its just that many people prefer to purchase their oil locally rather than order it and pay sometimes stupid shipping charges.
NAPA sells Valvoline SynPower MST 5W40 Motor Oil which is priced right now for $5.49 a quart. It meets the 229.51 spec.
Taking the MH to a Mercedes dealer will many times get the wrong oil installed, as apparently, even the dealer does not understand the oil specs. More than one member of the Yahoo V/N forum has reported having the wrong oil installed during an oil change at the dealer.
Charles
Sprinter Parts Depot ships free for orders over $100. If you buy the Mobil 1 change kit, which Mercedes approves and recommends it ships free.
I wonder if for those who are not comfortable changing their own oil if they buy the oil change kit and take it to the Mercedes dealership they would just charge them for the labor? That would be an easy fix.
Service is my only problem-------------------some car dealerships will not take them in.
I will NOT recommend one for RV'ing. If I ever buy another Class "C" it will be a Ford.
Marvin
2010 Coachman Freelander 22TB on a
2008 Sprinter/Freightliner chassis
1995 Geo Tracker (Toad)
DownTheAvenue wrote:
I am not a fan of the Mercedes Sprinter diesel. It has very specific oil requirements that even Mercedes dealers don't know. Finding a dealer who can and will work on it can be challenging.
I am not a fan of the Mercedes Sprinter diesel. It has very specific oil requirements that even Mercedes dealers don't know. Finding a dealer who can and will work on it can be challenging.
Mercedes dealers that sell and service Sprinters do. It's just like Ford dealers that don't deal with RVs.
2011 Itasca Navion 24J
2000 Chev Tracker Toad
CharlesinGA wrote:
Ford Transit cutaway chassis/cab is very similar in design to the Sprinter, a unibody construction. Fact is, if your E series is involved in an accident that damages the chassis rails, you can bet the insurance is going to total it, rather than replace the chassis (and have it stretched if needed).
I agree, the owner of a Sprinter needs to become knowledgeable of the vehicle, much in the way that the owner of an old English sports car is. If you cannot do the work yourself, you need to be able to tell the mechanic exactly how you want it done, and know that you are right, and be able to ask enough questions to know if the mechanic did something incorrectly. The oil situation is a difficult sticking point. There are only a couple of semi-readily available oils on the market that meet the MB 229.52 spec (or for 2016 or earlier 229.51 or .52 spec).
Charles
Ford Transit cutaway chassis/cab is very similar in design to the Sprinter, a unibody construction. Fact is, if your E series is involved in an accident that damages the chassis rails, you can bet the insurance is going to total it, rather than replace the chassis (and have it stretched if needed).
I agree, the owner of a Sprinter needs to become knowledgeable of the vehicle, much in the way that the owner of an old English sports car is. If you cannot do the work yourself, you need to be able to tell the mechanic exactly how you want it done, and know that you are right, and be able to ask enough questions to know if the mechanic did something incorrectly. The oil situation is a difficult sticking point. There are only a couple of semi-readily available oils on the market that meet the MB 229.52 spec (or for 2016 or earlier 229.51 or .52 spec).
Charles
The Sprinter cutaway is not unibody....only the vans are. They build class As on the same chassis (sans cab). The Transit is of the same construction. Oil is not a problem if you know what you're looking for. NAPA sells it and it goes on sale for cheap regularly.
* This post was edited 01/10/18 11:24am by Dakzuki *
Dakzuki wrote:
The Sprinter cutaway is not unibody....only the vans are. They build class As on the same chassis (sans cab). The Transit is of the same construction. Oil is not a problem if you know what you're looking for. NAPA sells it and it goes on sale for cheap regularly.
The Sprinter cutaway is not unibody....only the vans are. They build class As on the same chassis (sans cab). The Transit is of the same construction. Oil is not a problem if you know what you're looking for. NAPA sells it and it goes on sale for cheap regularly.
Crawl under yours and look, it IS a unibody construction. What Winnebago uses on the Via, is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cowl chassis, which does not have the MB hood, fenders, grill, bumper, A pillars, etc. It is still a unibody of frame, and firewall/cowl. Its just that a lot of MB parts have been left off or cut off and WBO fabricated pieces to take its place.
This same process was used on some pesudo Class A MH's 30 or so years ago, using the Ford E Chassis, where the manufacturer removed fenders, hood, etc and cut away certain structural parts of the cab and then built a Class A type body around the front end of it.
http://www.winnebago-rv-motorhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercedes-benz-f50-chassis.jpg
![[image]](http://www.winnebago-rv-motorhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercedes-benz-f50-chassis.jpg)
Mercedes also has a low frame variant designed especially for camper use. The top of the frame rails is 8 inches lower than a standard Sprinter, the rear suspension is trailing links and coil springs to lower the height, and optional air suspension is available. Three wheelbases are available, 141 inch, 151 inch. and 161 inch (curiously all shorter than the standard 170 inch wheelbase used on a Sprinter now). The rear track is 7 inches wider and variable overhangs at the rear are also available. However the GVW is only 3.5 metric tons, 7700 lbs, this chassis is more designed for the smaller European campers/caravans.
Low chassis, cutaway and cowl models.
Charles
* This post was last edited 01/11/18 09:41am by CharlesinGA *
CharlesinGA wrote:
Crawl under yours and look, it IS a unibody construction. What Winnebago uses on the Via, is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cowl chassis, which does not have the MB hood, fenders, grill, bumper, A pillars, etc. It is still a unibody of frame, and firewall/cowl. Its just that a lot of MB parts have been left off or cut off and WBO fabricated pieces to take its place.
This same process was used on some pesudo Class A MH's 30 or so years ago, using the Ford E Chassis, where the manufacturer removed fenders, hood, etc and cut away certain structural parts of the cab and then built a Class A type body around the front end of it.
http://www.winnebago-rv-motorhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercedes-benz-f50-chassis.jpg
Mercedes also has a low frame variant designed especially for camper use. The top of the frame rails is 8 inches lower than a standard Sprinter, the rear suspension is trailing links and coil springs to lower the height, and optional air suspension is available. Three wheelbases are available, 141 inch, 151 inch. and 161 inch (curiously all shorter than the standard 170 inch wheelbase used on a Sprinter now). The rear track is 7 inches wider and variable overhangs at the rear are also available. However the GVW is only 3.5 metric tons, 7700 lbs, this chassis is more designed for the smaller European campers/caravans.
Low chassis, cutaway and cowl models.
Charles
Dakzuki wrote:
The Sprinter cutaway is not unibody....only the vans are. They build class As on the same chassis (sans cab). The Transit is of the same construction. Oil is not a problem if you know what you're looking for. NAPA sells it and it goes on sale for cheap regularly.
The Sprinter cutaway is not unibody....only the vans are. They build class As on the same chassis (sans cab). The Transit is of the same construction. Oil is not a problem if you know what you're looking for. NAPA sells it and it goes on sale for cheap regularly.
Crawl under yours and look, it IS a unibody construction. What Winnebago uses on the Via, is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cowl chassis, which does not have the MB hood, fenders, grill, bumper, A pillars, etc. It is still a unibody of frame, and firewall/cowl. Its just that a lot of MB parts have been left off or cut off and WBO fabricated pieces to take its place.
This same process was used on some pesudo Class A MH's 30 or so years ago, using the Ford E Chassis, where the manufacturer removed fenders, hood, etc and cut away certain structural parts of the cab and then built a Class A type body around the front end of it.
http://www.winnebago-rv-motorhomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/mercedes-benz-f50-chassis.jpg
Mercedes also has a low frame variant designed especially for camper use. The top of the frame rails is 8 inches lower than a standard Sprinter, the rear suspension is trailing links and coil springs to lower the height, and optional air suspension is available. Three wheelbases are available, 141 inch, 151 inch. and 161 inch (curiously all shorter than the standard 170 inch wheelbase used on a Sprinter now). The rear track is 7 inches wider and variable overhangs at the rear are also available. However the GVW is only 3.5 metric tons, 7700 lbs, this chassis is more designed for the smaller European campers/caravans.
Low chassis, cutaway and cowl models.
Charles
That is not a unibody. The scuttle area is likely stressed sheet metal primary structure but you are looking at a ladder frame.
In autos there is a spot welded "frame" added to the body, and yes the body carries the load, but that is impossible here. Look under a regular Sprinter van (which is unibody) and you find a very similar looking frame welded to the body.
Here is a 2006 3500 undersides. Basically the same frame rails, sans the upper cap, they welded the lower channel of the ladder frame to the bottom of the van body.
Its all about parts interchangeability, make as much stuff interchange as possible, fewer special parts to make.
![[image]](http://s1156.photobucket.com/user/Racelizard10/media/sprinter/7D834911-1DDF-4E96-A198-8C9A7C6799D9_zpsm3cnaymt.jpg.html)
Charles
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/wink.gif "wink")
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C
pnichols wrote:
Now for off-topic grins .... someone maybe should show the underside of a Ford E350 or Chevy 3500.
Now for off-topic grins .... someone maybe should show the underside of a Ford E350 or Chevy 3500.
Ewww.
HawkTX wrote:
I don’t understand all the confusion about the oil. Go to your chassis manual and use what they recommend. Sprinter parts depot online sells the entire oil change kit based upon your model.
I don’t understand all the confusion about the oil. Go to your chassis manual and use what they recommend. Sprinter parts depot online sells the entire oil change kit based upon your model.
People have a real tendency to get wrapped up in their shorts on some things. Yes, MB has a specific oil spec that they require. Is the oil sometimes hard to find - yes. I believe the spec is now MB 229.52. You can get this oil from NAPA or you can order online. Not a big deal. And a lot of the OP's are correct - pull into a MB dealer for issues on the Class C and they will turn you away as they are not equipped to service most issues and generally do not have doorways and lift ceilings set up to handle class C's. However, if you do a search for Sprinter dealers / service, you will find a listing of BOTH MB and Freightliner dealers across the US that are authorized service centers. I carry a copy of this in my rig, plus have it stored on my phone for reference, if needed.
2017 Tiffin Allegro RED 33 AA
2020 JLUR
Roadmaster Baseplate
Sterling AT Tow Bar
Demco Air Force One Brake System
2012 Winnebago Vista 32K
2011 Honda CRV Toad
In Oregon there are 4 Mercedes sprinter dealers that have sprinter mechanics, so this can be a problem for some but since we have family in the Salem area we go to Salem even tho it is 260 miles on way.
As far as Bio-diesel, you can use bio-diesel as long as it is B-5, or if it says bio-diesel without a B rating it is okay also.
Hope this helps.
2014 Winnebago View Profile 24v
2021 VW Atlas Cross Sport 2.0 4motion
1998 Honda CR-V toad
https://mercedes-benz.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/10832/0/filename/Illinois+biodiesel+brochure_Final.pdf