Mercedes Benz Sprinter Service in Alaska

And so does Dodge. They got hold of the Sprinter design when Chrysler was under MB ownership and they replaced the old Dodge van with it. I think Freightliner is a MB subsidiary. Now that Chrysler is owned by Fiat, I don't know if they're still building Sprinters.

The story I heard was that FedEx fleets in Europe were updated with the Sprinter and they were so impressed with it, they asked MB to import it to the US. MB owned Chrysler at the time and said they'd rather it was made in the US. Chrysler weren't so sure, so Fed Ex said they'd buy 20,000 of them if they'd build it. QED.

When I was a transit driver, the agency's Dial-a-Ride program were using buses built on the E350 cutaway and were having a lot of reliability problems. The local Dodge dealer offered to demonstrate a Sprinter and brought one to a management retreat. There had been some misgivings about lateral stability when loading wheelchair customers, but the dealer said it wouldn't be a problem.

In the demo, they got one of the biggest customers they serviced (he weighed about 450 pounds) with a long-range 4-wheel scooter with lots of batteries and tried to load him. It almost lifted the vehicle wheels off the ground on the opposite side. No Sale! The agency bought Chevy van-based coaches instead.

mlts22 wrote:
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Were it up to me, I'd probably carry a small trailer or cargo rack with a few 5 gallon cans of diesel fuel in case as well, just in case.

Funny you should say that, here's a picture of our rig in Alaska, taken this summer:



Picture was taken in Chicken, AK after crossing from Dawson City YT via Top of the World Highway.

mlts22 wrote:
It is also flushing the DEF tank (the urea will crystallize after a while) and refilling it (since the Sprinter's computer only "credits" the DEF fill when it is completely filled up.)

Uh, no. I incompletely fill my DEF tank as standard practice so I don't have old DEF sitting in it.

When it gets low, the light comes on. When you put enough DEF in to get above the min level, the light turns off until you get low again.

Sprinters are pretty reliable, but the one weakness they have is service depots. M-B dealers and FL dealers are supposed to service them, but sometimes you might find the M-B place only works on cars, and the FL guys only handle the big rigs.

If going to Alaska, I'd definitely find an ERS service that will work on the whole trip, both in US and Canada. The Sprinter computer deciding to go into LHM can mean a 400-600 mile tow easily.

Also, don't forget to have a maintenance cycle done before the trip. This is more than changing the oil. It is also flushing the DEF tank (the urea will crystallize after a while) and refilling it (since the Sprinter's computer only "credits" the DEF fill when it is completely filled up.) If one has a T1N Sprinter, have the turbo resonator replaced with the aluminum one if you can. Another good idea might be to have a transmission cooler installed.

Were it up to me, I'd probably carry a small trailer or cargo rack with a few 5 gallon cans of diesel fuel in case as well, just in case.

sch911 wrote:
Sprinters are manufactired by Freightliner not Mercedes. So it's a Freightliner dealer you seek.

Like this one: Freightliner of Alaska

and who owns freightliner???? Mercedes (Daimler Benz). And NO they are made by mercedes, just also sold with a freightliner nameplate sometimes, but freightliner does not manufacture them. MB does. Same as when they had the Dodge label, they were mfg by Mercedes.

Alaska has one MB dealer, Anchorage. Look in the midwest and you'll find states with only one or two dealers. E.G. Montana two dealers, ND has one, SD has one.

Not like finding a chevy dealer, but doesn't stop me from driving my mercedes all other the country.

sch911 wrote:
Sprinters are manufactired by Freightliner not Mercedes. So it's a Freightliner dealer you seek.

Like this one: Freightliner of Alaska

INCORRECT. Look under the hood.

I asked because neither USA nor Canada Mercedes Benz Sprinter dealers are close to Alaska. It seems Freightliner did not sell a 2013 Sprinter, but is selling a 2014 model. My Sprinter is the 2013 Mercedes Benz.

http://www.mbsprinterusa.com/find-dealer/

http://www.thesprinter.ca/en/find-dealer/

Have one go into LHM just south of Cartwright, Labrador, just east of Clovis, NM, or just N of Minot, ND and you may also want to check service availability ahead of time.

I have a 2007 sprinter, not afraid to go any where in it. its most likly not to break down. compared to the others.

But to answer the OP, Freightliner of Alaska seems to be the only authorized service center in the state.

Freightliner of Alaska
1301 E 64TH AVENUE
ANCHORAGE, AK 99518

Phone: (907) 563-3238
Fax: (907) 561-4995

Website