Sprinter Reliability

To the OP, Papa O. Be aware that the comments here are concerning 2 different Sprinter models. The T1N 2002 thru 06 here in the USA, and the NCV3, 2007 on up. The T1N is a way less complicated vehicle. Has a 5cyl inline engine that can basically burn any kind of diesel fuel and use virtually any kind of diesel motor oil, is a VERY reliable and time proven robust engine. The T1N's major issues seem to have been the turbo resonator which is an easy and cheap replacement item when needed and rust around the windshield, bottom of the sliding doors etc.
Now the NCV3 is a whole different animal. The engine has all kinds of emission related items, as do all diesels nowadays, that are giving some folks regular problems. The engine itself is a very reliable motor with few issues you ever hear about. It also takes a specific type of oil, (low ash), that must be used to protect the diesel particulate filter (DPF), and must use low sulphur diesel fuel. The electronics are more complicated too. We've had some programming issues with the HVAC controls also on our 2013 van which I made the 80 mile round trip to the dealer to get fixed.
Like I had mentioned earlier, alot of folks have no problems with their Sprinters, and some do, and when they do it's the pits to get fixed sometimes. Be aware of where your closest Sprinter dealer is, Mercedes or Freightliner, as they both can do the warranty work

Several observations from a satisfied Sprinter owner:

• I find it amusing that people claim Mercedes dealers (or Dodge/Freightliner dealers for older Sprinters) are required for any service. Warranty, yes but we had little need for warranty service. I have had alignment done at a tire store with no qualms on their part. I have had a turbo resonator (admittedly a simple job) replaced at a Goodyear tire store that had access to online shop manuals.
  
• Listen to Sprinter owners regarding their experience, good or bad. Discount any others.
  
• As others have commented, we chose a Sprinter based on both the tall, all metal base van for floor plans we liked and the expected Sprinter reliability and fuel economy. We have not been disappointed in any of these expectations.
  
• We have only used Dodge dealers (due to our model Sprinter) for the 10K service intervals but have never experienced any of these outlandish charges. Mercedes dealers are beyond my experience level.
  
• Dealer service costs are increasingly expensive for all vehicles. Informed decisions on what is really required and pertinent as opposed to all they would like to do should always be the case as should be considerations of alternative service sources.
  

BudJ wrote:
Hi Papa O,

There appears to be some Questionable Stuff and BS:

"and the MPG is about double for a diesel"
THE biggest exaggeration I have ever read on any B forum!
Bud

Bud, if you're basing this on the previous post I made please note that I said it was an assumption. But I don't think it's far off based on my experience. My previous gas B got 11.5 MPG and I have friends who have a Sprinter B that gets 22. That's pretty close to double.

You can run some other scenarios with lower MPG ratios and fiddle with the price differences, but in almost all cases the costs come out about the same for gas vs diesel.

I do fully agree that the biggest determining factor in purchase is the floor plan though.

BudJ wrote:
Hi Papa O,

There appears to be some Questionable Stuff and BS:

"The US is also Mercedes's #1 customer for Sprinters"
Please prove it, thanks.

"and the MPG is about double for a diesel"
THE biggest exaggeration I have ever read on any B forum!

After reading class B forums for about 10 years, no one buys a Sprinter based on reliability or reduced cost, period. It is other stuff like floorplan.....

Have fun shopping.

Bud

I guess I'm the exception to your 10 year experience.

I bought my Sprinter for reliability; mpg (Dodge PW Excel gasser = 12 mpg; Sprinter PW Plateau diesel = 22.5 mpg); longevity; and interior ceiling height. The floor plan was the last of my considerations because they are all basically the same... (major difference being which side the galley is on. I prefer the passenger side galley).

Hi Papa O,

There appears to be some Questionable Stuff and BS:

"The US is also Mercedes's #1 customer for Sprinters"
Please prove it, thanks.

"and the MPG is about double for a diesel"
THE biggest exaggeration I have ever read on any B forum!

After reading class B forums for about 10 years, no one buys a Sprinter based on reliability or reduced cost, period. It is other stuff like floorplan.....

Have fun shopping.

Bud

bob_nestor wrote:
I own a gas Class B, but I think in the end the costs of a gas and diesel will come out about the same.

If you assume diesel costs on average 10% more than gas and the MPG is about double for a diesel, then the money saved on fuel alone should more than cover the costs of the "A" and "B" services.

For instance, if gas is $3.50/gal and you get 15 MPG, diesel is $3.85/gal and you get 30 MPG you should be about $1,000 ahead at 10,000 miles and $2,100 ahead at 20,000 miles with diesel. (Unless I screwed up the math that is!)

unless it's an Imperial gallon i know of no modern sprinter van that gets 30 miles a gallon

Here is the KEY issue regarding Sprinter ownership, from a recent convert from Ford/Chevy-based Class Bs to a Sprinter: Repairs. If your Sprinter breaks down or has an urgent repair issue while on the road, you have a very serious problem. Do a Google search on authorized MB Sprinter repair facilities in your area or in the area(s) you intend to visit. You will likely find very few. We discovered this issue on a recent camping trip to North Carolina (we live in Virginia). In all of NC there TWO authorized MB Sprinter repair facilities. In SC there is ONE. We eventually had to return to Virginia in which there are four MB Sprinter facilities in the entire state. They may not break down often, but if/when yours does, know where the nearest repair facility is.

We've had 2 Sprinter RV's. Both have had front end issues from the start. Alignment on both was terrible from the factory, (not RV caused), one of them had a bad steering rack and a bad out of spec front wheel. Finding an alignment shop that can do an alignment on one here in the Kansas City area, with a population of 1 million plus, was the pits, as neither the single Mercedes Sprinter, or the Freightliner Sprinter dealer(s) could do an RV. Ended up having to have a Ford dealer do it. By the way, the closest Sprinter dealer to me is 40 miles away.
If you let the dealers do your services, it will be very expensive. I do my own oil changes which is VERY easy on a Sprinter, and keep all receipts.

Alot of Sprinter owners never have a problem with one. Many do. I'm 2 out of 2 with issues.
Our next RV if, there is a next one will be on a Ford Transit chassis or van....

I own a gas Class B, but I think in the end the costs of a gas and diesel will come out about the same.

If you assume diesel costs on average 10% more than gas and the MPG is about double for a diesel, then the money saved on fuel alone should more than cover the costs of the "A" and "B" services.

For instance, if gas is $3.50/gal and you get 15 MPG, diesel is $3.85/gal and you get 30 MPG you should be about $1,000 ahead at 10,000 miles and $2,100 ahead at 20,000 miles with diesel. (Unless I screwed up the math that is!)

You will read things going either way. If you want it from the "horse's mouth", I'd go to the Sprinter Source forums for news either way. Same with the Ford Transit and the RAM ProMaster.

As far as I read on the owner's manual, each 10,000 miles, you have an "A" service, then a "B" service, alternating between the two.

As for reliability, none of the vans sold are garbage. There are a lot of miles on each van. The US is also Mercedes's #1 customer for Sprinters, so they are not going away anytime soon.