Which is the best engine for a largish motorhome?
Discussion
Sorry, a bit late back to this thread.
Not sure if it's much help now but my experience and research on Sprinters came to the following:-
- they'll potentially run forever. Keep on top of servicing and >500k miles easily doable with maybe the odd new injector over 200k
- they rust like billio so keep a good eye out on the usual places and pay attention if they've been filled at any point and see how rust has been treated.
- fuel filters need replacing every year rather than the scheduled every second/third service. Maybe a higher frequency on Motorhomes due to the dreaded derv algae.
- clutch release bearings can go at relatively low mile ages - mine had c 60k on the clock and a very rattly clutch when disengaged. Only a £12 part but necessitates gearbox dropping so ends up just being worth doing clutch at the same time. Note- sound only evident when warm so take on a good long run before sticking it in neutral and listening for rattle with foot off the clutch and at idle.
- due to the location of the exhaust (it sits in a low pressure area), it's not uncommon to get a good bit of diesel fume blowback into the cabin via open windows (mine didn't have aircon). Although it never pinged a carbon monoxide monitor, it was unpleasant and annoying. This is evidently a fairly known issue. I only found out after buying!
Other than that, the 316cdi pulls like a train, even heavily ladened and has a v decent turn of speed aswell as a not unpleasant noise!
IMO aside from its faults above, still my cab of choice if I ever go back to motorhoming. People say the ride is floaty / boaty, but I could hustle my Superbrig along at a decent lick in absolute control and comfort. Good tyres help, too! Conti Vanco's highly recommended.
Let's us know how you get on.
HTH
Not sure if it's much help now but my experience and research on Sprinters came to the following:-
- they'll potentially run forever. Keep on top of servicing and >500k miles easily doable with maybe the odd new injector over 200k
- they rust like billio so keep a good eye out on the usual places and pay attention if they've been filled at any point and see how rust has been treated.
- fuel filters need replacing every year rather than the scheduled every second/third service. Maybe a higher frequency on Motorhomes due to the dreaded derv algae.
- clutch release bearings can go at relatively low mile ages - mine had c 60k on the clock and a very rattly clutch when disengaged. Only a £12 part but necessitates gearbox dropping so ends up just being worth doing clutch at the same time. Note- sound only evident when warm so take on a good long run before sticking it in neutral and listening for rattle with foot off the clutch and at idle.
- due to the location of the exhaust (it sits in a low pressure area), it's not uncommon to get a good bit of diesel fume blowback into the cabin via open windows (mine didn't have aircon). Although it never pinged a carbon monoxide monitor, it was unpleasant and annoying. This is evidently a fairly known issue. I only found out after buying!
Other than that, the 316cdi pulls like a train, even heavily ladened and has a v decent turn of speed aswell as a not unpleasant noise!
IMO aside from its faults above, still my cab of choice if I ever go back to motorhoming. People say the ride is floaty / boaty, but I could hustle my Superbrig along at a decent lick in absolute control and comfort. Good tyres help, too! Conti Vanco's highly recommended.
Let's us know how you get on.
HTH
Edited by Spuffington on Sunday 4th January 13:35
Spuffington said:
Sorry, a bit late back to this thread.
Not sure if it's much help now but my experience and research on Sprinters came to the following:-
- they'll potentially run forever. Keep on top of servicing and >500k miles easily doable with maybe the odd new injector over 200k
- they rust like billio so keep a good eye out on the usual places and pay attention if they've been filled at any point and see how rust has been treated.
- fuel filters need replacing every year rather than the scheduled every second/third service. Maybe a higher frequency on Motorhomes due to the dreaded derv algae.
- clutch release bearings can go at relatively low mile ages - mine had c 60k on the clock and a very rattly clutch when disengaged. Only a £12 part but necessitates gearbox dropping so ends up just being worth doing clutch at the same time. Note- sound only evident when warm so take on a good long run before sticking it in neutral and listening for rattle with foot off the clutch and at idle.
- due to the location of the exhaust (it sits in a low pressure area), it's not uncommon to get a good bit of diesel fume blowback into the cabin via open windows (mine didn't have aircon). Although it never pinged a carbon monoxide monitor, it was unpleasant and annoying. This is evidently a fairly known issue. I only found out after buying!
Other than that, the 316cdi pulls like a train, even heavily ladened and has a v decent turn of speed aswell as a not unpleasant noise!
IMO aside from its faults above, still my cab of choice if I ever go back to motorhoming. People say the ride is floaty / boaty, but I could hustle my Superbrig along at a decent lick in absolute control and comfort. Good tyres help, too! Conti Vanco's highly recommended.
Let's us know how you get on.
HTH
Thanks for that mate.Not sure if it's much help now but my experience and research on Sprinters came to the following:-
- they'll potentially run forever. Keep on top of servicing and >500k miles easily doable with maybe the odd new injector over 200k
- they rust like billio so keep a good eye out on the usual places and pay attention if they've been filled at any point and see how rust has been treated.
- fuel filters need replacing every year rather than the scheduled every second/third service. Maybe a higher frequency on Motorhomes due to the dreaded derv algae.
- clutch release bearings can go at relatively low mile ages - mine had c 60k on the clock and a very rattly clutch when disengaged. Only a £12 part but necessitates gearbox dropping so ends up just being worth doing clutch at the same time. Note- sound only evident when warm so take on a good long run before sticking it in neutral and listening for rattle with foot off the clutch and at idle.
- due to the location of the exhaust (it sits in a low pressure area), it's not uncommon to get a good bit of diesel fume blowback into the cabin via open windows (mine didn't have aircon). Although it never pinged a carbon monoxide monitor, it was unpleasant and annoying. This is evidently a fairly known issue. I only found out after buying!
Other than that, the 316cdi pulls like a train, even heavily ladened and has a v decent turn of speed aswell as a not unpleasant noise!
IMO aside from its faults above, still my cab of choice if I ever go back to motorhoming. People say the ride is floaty / boaty, but I could hustle my Superbrig along at a decent lick in absolute control and comfort. Good tyres help, too! Conti Vanco's highly recommended.
Let's us know how you get on.
HTH
Edited by Spuffington on Sunday 4th January 13:35
Well I went ahead and bought it - it being a Pilote Galaxy 901 based on the 316 Sprinter. 96K Kms on the clock and in LHD spec with literally 2 carrier bags full of service history, manuals etc looks like every receipt for anything since it was new.
Loads of spec including a/con, electric windows/mirrors, sat tv/dvd, solar panels, 1kw invertor, air ride, cruise, Pioneer built in satnav, too much to list - the guy who owned it lasr loved his 'toys' and wasn't short of a shilling (as the saying goes)so anything he fancied was specced or retro fitted
Drove it back yesterday 180 miles, after a good test drive, and was mightily impressed with the way it pulled. Empty in know and it will never be that light again but after my old Pilote R850 (2.5td) it was so easy to sit at 70mph and just eat the miles and hills with plenty of poke to accelerate to overtake.
Engine ticks over like a watch and revs well, clutch has a good 'bite' point and no rattles. I need to change possibly a switch on the osf electric window, the window works from the 'other' switch but not from the one o the door itself and I blew a fuse to the cigar lighter when my phone charger usb lead went u/s on the way home.
Planning on a short trip asap just to familiarise myself with all the bits and wasn't that impressed with the headlights last night.
I'll post some photos when I get a chance and keep the thread updated.
Thanks for everyones input, much appreciated.
BB
BB - pleased to hear it. They look like lovely vans and I'm sure the 316 suits it even better for being an A-Class over my coachbuilt setup. Just get it on a weighbridge as soon as you can. The 316 lump can flatter to deceive on how much weight it's lugging around. Don't know what yours is plated it at but mine was technically 3.5t and I subsequently found out when I was in the process of selling it, that it was pretty much at 3.6t empty and mine wasn't full of fancy electric / solar gizmos so well worth keeping an eye on the weight.......the engine is very strong and will pull a good couple more tonnes happily, but that's no good if you're over your plate.
As you say, headlights are dreadful and I planned on getting some uprated bulbs put on mine, but didn't keep it long enough.
Hope you have a fab time in yours and everything runs nice & smoothly with it.
As you say, headlights are dreadful and I planned on getting some uprated bulbs put on mine, but didn't keep it long enough.
Hope you have a fab time in yours and everything runs nice & smoothly with it.
Edited by Spuffington on Tuesday 6th January 14:52
Spuffington said:
BB - pleased to hear it. They look like lovely vans and I'm sure the 316 suits it even better for being an A-Class over my coachbuilt setup. Just get it on a weighbridge as soon as you can. The 316 lump can flatter to deceive on how much weight it's lugging around. Don't know what yours is plated it at but mine was technically 3.5t and I subsequently found out when I was in the process of selling it, that it was pretty much at 3.6t empty and mine wasn't full of fancy electric / solar gizmos so well worth keeping an eye on the weight.......the engine is very strong and will pull a good couple more tonnes happily, but that's no good if you're over your plate.
As you say, headlights are dreadful and I planned on getting some uprated bulbs put on mine, but didn't keep it long enough.
Hope you have a fab time in yours and everything runs nice & smoothly with it.
I think off the top of my head (can't check atm) it has a 645kg payload as standard so even allowing for all the 'extra bits' it should have at least 400kg to play with. I will take it to a weighbridge as soon as I can though - thanks for the suggestion.As you say, headlights are dreadful and I planned on getting some uprated bulbs put on mine, but didn't keep it long enough.
Hope you have a fab time in yours and everything runs nice & smoothly with it.
Edited by Spuffington on Tuesday 6th January 14:52
BB
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