Sprinter Van advise

[baxterday]

I am considering the purchase of a late model Mercedes Sprinter, 170 12 passenger model. Probably the v6 with 5 speed auto tranny. Anyone on here have any experience with these vans? We'd be using it for travel and possibly a shuttle business, I'm looking in to the licensing process now. Advice or suggestions appreciated.

 

[StuP]

I've run around 20 of the diesel ones for several years, ok until they start to go wrong, then horrible. Corrosion's been a real problem with them as well. I'm buying 10 of the new Transits now, see if they're any better.

 

[baxterday]

At what mileage can you expect to see problems?

 

[CliffB]

We have an '06 with 350k miles, a '12 with around 240k and a '14 with around 180k. The '06 has been flawless and the only major repairs has been a gasket on the front of the motor that was leaking small amounts of diesel at cold start up and the front end needed some parts replaced around 180k miles. The '12 needed the same front end parts replaced around 150k and just had to have the blower relay replaced for the heat/ac. The '12 has been going into limp mode a lot lately but we are leaning towards it being a fuel issue and we've been running conditioner in to remove the water from the fuel. The '14 went into the shop with about 5,000 miles on it for a faulty sensor related to the DEF in the exhaust system. Overall we have been more pleased with the '06 over the '12 or '14 and i wish my dad had waited for the Ford Transit to come out before buying this last Sprinter.

 

[roundhouse]

Is the transit available with a diesel ?

 

[CliffB]

Is the transit available with a diesel ?

3.5l Ecoboost or 3.2l Turbo Diesel. Dad's actually transporting a Sprinter passenger van from Virginia to Texas as we speak.

 

[baxterday]

That is exactly what I am considering, the passenger van 170. I found one in Atlanta, but it has 229k miles on it. The van was clean and started right up and purred, but I did not drive it yet. The rear seats looked as if they'd never been used. I am trying to start a shuttle business so I have to have a high roof mode.

 

[CliffB]

This person had to go all the way as far as Virginia from Texas to find exactly the one they wanted. I don't understand by more families do not own them. If I had a large family I would rather have a loaded Sprinter at 20-25mpg than a Suburban.

 

[roundhouse]

The sprinter was a game changer for the van market

Double
The mpg and they don't flip over like the 15 passenger ford vans did

 

[baxterday]

View attachment 670497 This person had to go all the way as far as Virginia from Texas to find exactly the one they wanted. I don't understand by more families do not own them. If I had a large family I would rather have a loaded Sprinter at 20-25mpg than a Suburban.

That is exactly what we are looking at, we have five kids, and a friend or two that travel with us. We have a Suburban, but we seem to be out growing it.