Advice on Sprinter MH

[slbjw]

We are considering purchasing as used 2013 Winnebago View (31000 miles) but are leery of the Mercedes engine. We read so many great things then we also read about all of the problems people had. We realize the upkeep is more than a gas engine. Any real world advice? We know next to nothing about Diesel engines so any input would be welcome.

[Old_Crows]

Stream of thoughts.... @ 30k miles the fuel filter needs changing if not done. Not difficult but it's buried under the air cleaner in the "valley" between the cylinders. There is one hose clip that everyone manages to break at least once... Or every time. Suggest taking to Mother and let one of her techs break it.....she'll have a bin full of clips. No! You can't use a Jubilee clamp (gear type)....

Views have either a diesel 3.2Kw or 3.6Kw LP Onan generator. More likely an LP. Generally they don't accumulate a lot of hours on these units. Should have had an OC @ 20 hrs. Depending on model... Every 150-200 after first OC. 100 might be a good change point depending on use.

Diesel wouldn't stop me from buying...but my preference is LP.

Last item....does it have a Coleman Mach 8 heat pump? As a '13 it very likely has the early "A" fan in the compressed unit. They are noisy....really noisy! There is a cheap fix.... The redesigned "D" model fan introduced this year will retrofit.

[slbjw]

Thank you all for the encouraging advice. We do plan to ask to see the service records and do a thorough inspection. We're really looking forward to downsizing from a Class A!

[Gonzo42]

No problems at all with ours. 6-cyl 3.0 turbo Diesel. If you observe the M-B specs and requirements for all the lubricants, etc. it can be more than average money. I do all my own maintenance so I don't pay the exhorbitant service rates.

There have been some minor problems which are attributable to the owners' ignorance (me). Could easily been the same on some other rig.

[Old_Crows]

A passing thought. I'd check the service records on your prospective purchase to be sure it has been serviced only with MB "approved" oil MB.229.51. Not an oil that "meets" the specification.

Also ask if it has been extensively fueled with > 5% bio diesel. Sometimes you can't help getting a > 5% biodiesel.... But a steady diet of more than 5% may indicate you need an early oil change.

[Old_Crows]

I think you will be pleased with a MB Sprinter based View. They are clean, quiet, efficient, powerful & comfortable. We. Had an 09 Class B and moved up to a 14 View Profile. The 3 liter, V6, direct injection, turbo charged diesel is a gem. They are coupled to a slick 5 speed automatic that you can manually shift if you wish.

Like all modern diesels they require diesel emissions fluid (DEF). There have been issues reported with DEF sensors. It's hard to determine if that is a serious problem across the Sprinter/Mercedes line up. Modern engines are very complex and sensor failures are possible on anything.

Concerns over failures didn't stop us from getting the first or second one. Between the first and second Sprinter we've logged about 15,000 trouble free miles.

They do have a 10,000 mile oil change interval. They DO require MB approved specification oil. Don't ever, ever use anything not MB 225.91.... Not even a spoonful.

What can you expect? Driven sensibly 15-16 mph. Plenty of performance from sea level to 7500'+ .Good handling. Comfortable cabin. Great HVAC. Solid construction.

The Winnebago end is also above average in materials and construction. But, like all RVs there are always small issues.

Also, check Sprinter-Forum.com .

[charlessfolly]

Had our citation 24sa for two weeks.can't stop grinning...drives like a sports car!turbo cuts in at 2200 rpm,vehicle surges forward with authority.climbs and accelerates up steep hills!corners on twisty highways and feels glued to the road.upshift/downshift by flicking gearshift on dash to left or to right.engine has noticeable compression downhill but the brakes work so well it doesn't matter.narrow body profile makes it easy to stay in lane-less concern when passing people,bicycles,etc. at side of road.easy to back up/park in malls and campgrounds.very sharp steering angles allow 3 point turnaround on narrow roads or at campgrounds.
Only one problem-when We get to campsite I don't want to stop....

[mlts22]

Nothing wrong with the MB chassis. There are a ton on the road.

As for upkeep, it isn't that much more than a gasser, other than to keep the DEF tank topped off. Every 10k miles, take it in for "A" maintenance or "B" maintenance, with them alternating.

I do admit I prefer the Ford chassis, but the Sprinter chassis is in no way a lemon, and there are many people with Winnebago Views that would buy one again (and that is as good a praise as a rig can get.)

[midnightsadie]

ours is a bit older a 2007 with the 5 cyc MB diesel engine, bought new ,now has 32k on it , and its never broke down, did have a brake caliper hang up, but thats not the motor, local shop does our oil filters . we,ve had class A,,B,, C .and this is the best. try siting in a coach with a ford,,chevy ,, dodge cab and your legs are cramped in and hot, not on a MB. and we get 20mpg. 17teen towing my boat.

[neschultz]

We have not had a minutes trouble with our 6 cyl Mercedes engine (2013 chassis). We like everything about the Mercedes and the Winnebago portions (we did add HWH automatic levelers). It has about 14,000 miles and I changed the oil myself at 10,000. We weren't having any problems but I did read there was a software update for the computer and took it to our local, 30 miles away, Mercedes dealer and they did it under warranty. I believe they started a new design that uses DEF in 2010 and there is not a bit of soot or smell in the tailpipe.

You will read about some complaints (some of them from the owners but I've noticed that a lot of them are from people that don't own one and aren't that familiar with them). In my opinion, there aren't many used ones for sale compared to the number out there on the streets....and that says a lot for customer satisfaction.

There are 3 View-Navion groups (General , Technical , and Mods) on Yahoo forums that may be worth looking at. This subject has been on there before and the general consensus seems to be that one is much more likely to complain about bad experiences than to write about good ones. I'll write a reply like this occasionally but have never just started a post about how happy we are with ours.

Good luck in whatever you decide.