DrewE wrote:
Any motorhome is going to require a good bit of maintenance, not just to the chassis (that's probably the least maintenance intensive part) but to keeping up with caulking, cleaning, odd minor repairs, battery maintenance, and a host of other little things. Some are better than others, but all require more or less attention.
The V10 is a good, reliable, capable engine, but does rev high to produce its power and does consume a fair bit of fuel. Offhand, the other alternatives I can think of for small class C's are based on the equivalent Chevy van chassis (with the GM V8), a Ford Transit chassis, or--for very small units--a Ram ProMaster. The Promaster has limited carrying capacity in comparison to the other alternatives, so pay close attention to weight limits when looking at any of them; some are pretty close to being fully loaded with no water and no belongings and no passengers.
Personally, I think this guy has done more to scare people away from the BluTec engine than anyone else and I think his article is (mostly) his viewpoint. Mercedes is real picky about what fluids to use and as long as you use the current oil spec (229.52, in my case) and the Mann filters, there should be no real issues. And follow he prescribed maintenance schedules. I got about halfway through the article and stopped reading it. It is a good and proven engine, so enjoy it and what it will do for you. I am very happy with my MBS unit.
