New 2.lL 4 cyl diesel engine offered in Mercedes sprinters

That is a concern -- a "version 1.0" engine and drivetrain. Especially for Sprinters where you pay Mercedes prices when they throw codes, codes that can't be reset by the Torque app, nor a Scanguage 2, but only by the M-B/FL dealer.

I think time will tell on the four cylinder. Mercedes has some competition in the US market now, and with the best fuel economy, and the 4WD/AWD option, they are ahead of the over Euro van makers in those regards here in the US. However, fuel economy is just a part of the cost per mile. Here in Austin, there is an excellent M-B dealer that knows what it is doing with Sprinters. Same with the FL dealer. However, this is the exception in most areas, not the norm. Austin may have two places for Sprinters... but I can get an E-450 or E-350 fixed up at least 10-20 different places in the same 100 mile radius.

I wouldn't call that MB dealer horror story above typical. Usually I read about the "A" or "B" services being not that expensive, and most Sprinter users I know have had good luck.

My argument is still the same with the Sprinter. Three words, Service, Service, Service. After driving 5K miles this month I saw only ONE Mercedes Sprinter dealer on my travels. I spotted dozens of Ford, Chevy, Chrysler dealers.

I have a 2007 Sprinter that throws "codes" OFTEN, and every time it's throws a code, that's a trip to the dealer and a "diagnostic fee".

Even owning a Sprinter getting " good fuel mileage" I just purchased a Ford E350 with the biggest V-10 on the planet.

What you save on fuel with a Sprinter you lose in Service.

I just drove a HARD 80 MPH plus for three weeks and not a single issue. When my Sprinter was new I was already to the dealer a half a dozen times within 5K miles.

I know for a fact that the Sprinter would not be able to keep up with the traffic I was in going AGAINST monsoon winds in NM, with a speed limit of 80, because I have a 6% grade near me that my Sprinter will only make 40mph when the wind blows and it's an EMPTY VAN. Driving nearly 60 miles against those winds on a Sprinter RV would be embarrassingly slow.

There's a lot more to RVing that saving fuel, and that is the ONLY thing the Sprinter has going for it, it lacks in reliability, power, service availability, GCWR, ( my GCRW has 3,250 lbs over the Sprinter with the same coach ) towing, etc. etc.

Nope, for me I'll take less MPG all day long for the benefits of all the other things Chevy, Ford, Chrysler has to offer.

I'm currently too afraid to drive my Sprinter more than 250 miles from my house for fear of it throwing a code and not being near service.

Don't believe me....look at this
High Price Service

Just reading the specs I'd say the 2.1 four cylinder is more suitable for unmodified sprinter vans used in urban setting. It would appear to me the larger V6 would be more suitable for motorhome duty with weight, wind resistance, higher speed and mountainous terrain.

I think the 2.1L is actually the standard now, and one pays a chunk of change for the V6 as the option. I'd rather have the other way around.

I agree with you about concerns... A little four-banger is going to have to be spinning pretty quickly and have a good transmission in order for it to move the vehicle, especially a class "C".

Given a choice, I'd rather have the V-6 because it has been around the block a few model years. It may not be as economical, but it is a good compromise between MPG and being able to handle mountains in CO or other places without worrying about "I think I can, I think I can".

From what I've read, the four-banger is similar to the T1N's five cylinder engine. However, the jury is still out on that engine, so it will be a couple years before we read about how good/bad/ugly it is.

we have a 2007 LTV ,MH with the I 5cyc MB diesel ,runs perfect ,just got back from a run to morehead city NC up and down theWV mountains ,at 65 plus mph , only avg 19.8 mpg round trip of 1800 miles. my most enjoyable time was passing a class A going up a hill going peep peep. this guy laughed at me at the fueling station ,I just could not resist the peep.I owned one of the monsters never again. pulled right up to the beach no problem.