Rusty Mercedes Sprinters
Discussion
Shieldsy94 said:
If the body is that rusty, underneath could possibly be rusty as well and would flag on an MOT?
My father had a Merc Sprinter and now on a VW Crafter. Both suffered bad rust on the doors and generally looked quite tatty but were all solid underneath. Shame they don't put as much effort into protecting the bodywork as they do underselling the main chassis. My Dad had a 2007 Sprinter, 256k Miles... New Gearbox under warranty at few months old, No other mechanical issues.
Passenger side painted due to rust beginning on edge of where the side panels join around 2012ish. (Done under warranty)
Replaced with a new 2014 Sprinter, No rust no issues.
Passenger side painted due to rust beginning on edge of where the side panels join around 2012ish. (Done under warranty)
Replaced with a new 2014 Sprinter, No rust no issues.
njw1 said:
Herbs said:
Bristol spark said:
TBH i really don't know why anyone would buy a van that is not a Transit of some description......
Because the LWB version isn't long enough 
You'll be needing a jumbo then.
I've had several Transits both privately and company and driven many other vans and always preferred the Transits. From experience I've found them nicer to drive, cheaper to run and more reliable. I really liked the old mk5 smilies but by f*ck, they could rust, and were slow, and noisy but you could give them absolute death and they would just keep going. My favourite Transit though was the early mk7 company one I had, it seemed a bit more refined and nicer to drive than the older vans but mainly because it had the 140ps engine so could keep up with most cars on the road.
Herbs said:
njw1 said:
Herbs said:
Bristol spark said:
TBH i really don't know why anyone would buy a van that is not a Transit of some description......
Because the LWB version isn't long enough You'll be needing a jumbo then.
I've had several Transits both privately and company and driven many other vans and always preferred the Transits. From experience I've found them nicer to drive, cheaper to run and more reliable. I really liked the old mk5 smilies but by f*ck, they could rust, and were slow, and noisy but you could give them absolute death and they would just keep going. My favourite Transit though was the early mk7 company one I had, it seemed a bit more refined and nicer to drive than the older vans but mainly because it had the 140ps engine so could keep up with most cars on the road.
t to lug my stuff around. Fast though. All autos tooStick Legs said:
If I ever need to own a van I'd love a rusty Sprinter. Something so brilliant about something that looks so shocking and is still quick!
Not aimed at you personally, but I love this urban myth that Sprinters are by their nature quick. If you look at the back (? - could be grille, I forget), they have a three letter code which denotes the model size and the bhp. So a 308, for example is the 3-series, i.e. the big one like the rusty pic above, with a stunning 80 bhp. Which will be desperately slow. 310s are a bit more common.
We looked at a 313 - that would have been fairly quick - but got a Jumbo Transit with 140 bhp instead.
Johnnytheboy said:
Stick Legs said:
If I ever need to own a van I'd love a rusty Sprinter. Something so brilliant about something that looks so shocking and is still quick!
Not aimed at you personally, but I love this urban myth that Sprinters are by their nature quick. If you look at the back (? - could be grille, I forget), they have a three letter code which denotes the model size and the bhp. So a 308, for example is the 3-series, i.e. the big one like the rusty pic above, with a stunning 80 bhp. Which will be desperately slow. 310s are a bit more common.
We looked at a 313 - that would have been fairly quick - but got a Jumbo Transit with 140 bhp instead.
Ive had W906 (newer shape 2006 onwards) sprinter's now for the past decade and apart from the discussed outside rust Issue's have been brilliant.
I've never had an advisory for any rust or rot underneath and even one that I bought (with only one previous owner that was the only driver) with 330,000 mile's carried one fine for another 110,000 miles without hardly a problem until I decided that It was better to buy another newer one than have a full respray.
It still drives around where I live now just with signwriting over the unpainted rust spot's.
I think the size of the 4m+ one's just mean's people clean them less often and then rust start's to creep In and get's left untreated to fester all over.
The sill's, back and side door's take the brunt of the rust just due to being nearer the ground and getting covered In crap off the road's constantly.
For me and the work I do they are "the van" to have at the moment.
I've never had an advisory for any rust or rot underneath and even one that I bought (with only one previous owner that was the only driver) with 330,000 mile's carried one fine for another 110,000 miles without hardly a problem until I decided that It was better to buy another newer one than have a full respray.
It still drives around where I live now just with signwriting over the unpainted rust spot's.
I think the size of the 4m+ one's just mean's people clean them less often and then rust start's to creep In and get's left untreated to fester all over.
The sill's, back and side door's take the brunt of the rust just due to being nearer the ground and getting covered In crap off the road's constantly.
For me and the work I do they are "the van" to have at the moment.
Willy Nilly said:
They also get driven with, err, a rather liberal approach to the legalities of driving. Often wondered if the rust was caused by the heat of re-entry
That's a one owner, single journey capsule - absolutely brown with rust. If NASA can't get coatings that tolerate Mach 7 right, how can we expect Mercedes to do better?
Willy Nilly said:
Brinyan said:
Willy Nilly said:
We get couriers in umpteen times every day and they don't half beat their vans to death.Some of them are spectacularly knackered with dents just about anywhere on the vehicle.
Sprinters do stand out as always being rusty, like they buy their paint from The Early Learning Centre. We bought one that was on about 250,000 when the previous owner bought it and about 350 when we inherited. It limped on to about 455,000 with most of the original components getting replaced. It went like stink though.
They may well rust, but they've certainly got some go in them. Don't think there's many times I've ventured into the outside lane and not had a Sprinter appear behind me.Sprinters do stand out as always being rusty, like they buy their paint from The Early Learning Centre. We bought one that was on about 250,000 when the previous owner bought it and about 350 when we inherited. It limped on to about 455,000 with most of the original components getting replaced. It went like stink though.
They also get driven with, err, a rather liberal approach to the legalities of driving. Often wondered if the rust was caused by the heat of re-entryWait Here Until Green Light Shows said:
Johnnytheboy said:
but I love this urban myth that Sprinters are by their nature quick.
Yes but around town, and once up to speed on the motorway even BMW drivers get out of their way. The accelerator is simply used as an on/off switch.
You need much more than a 3.0d BMW to keep a rusty LWB sprinter off your tail. Fact.Johnnytheboy said:
Stick Legs said:
If I ever need to own a van I'd love a rusty Sprinter. Something so brilliant about something that looks so shocking and is still quick!
Not aimed at you personally, but I love this urban myth that Sprinters are by their nature quick. If you look at the back (? - could be grille, I forget), they have a three letter code which denotes the model size and the bhp. So a 308, for example is the 3-series, i.e. the big one like the rusty pic above, with a stunning 80 bhp. Which will be desperately slow. 310s are a bit more common.
We looked at a 313 - that would have been fairly quick - but got a Jumbo Transit with 140 bhp instead.
If in doubt flat out is most appropriate for the drivers of these vehicles.
I started my gardening business with a 2004 transit T280 85PS SWB.
It was sold to me with 6 months MOT.
However - before I used it, I stripped the front end off the van, front light panel, wings, bumper - the lot.
And I removed the complete cab interior - seating, dashboard, floor mats - all of it.
I found the front inner wings shot, with rot.
Both Side steps - no longer existed, but they are hidden by the plastic step covers - so one would never know unless you give a good digging from underneath.
So I welded the inner wings up.
Fitted new steps, new inner sills, new outer sills.
Put it for MOT 6 months later - more welding needed on the rear chassis.
Back Cross member welded.
Box section welded near spring hanger.
6 months after that - more welding needed!
I was welding that every 6 months trying to keep the rust gremlins at bay until October 2017 - the garage told me - its going to cost £700 to £1000 to weld some more on an outrigger on the driver side. Too many points of contact with box section, inner chassis, outer body to contend with.
So I threw the in the towel.
It already had suddenly become scabby all over in those 18 months to 2 years.
I have been a mechanic for 27 years - and Transits are absolute rust buckets.
Underneath they are the worst for rot against any other van.
So I did my research, on Renault, Merc, Nissan, Toyota, Iveco, VW, Vauxhall, Fiat, Citroen, Peugoet & Ford Transit - I decided on a Mercedes Sprinter 313 LWB.
Renaults are crap for Gearboxes, engines & Electrics.
As are Vauxhall and Nissan which are just re-badged Renaults, and some Fiats now also.
Toyota - now too small, plus rebadged Pugs.
Peugoet, Citroen, & Fiat - front wheel drive and all belt driven engines.
I don't want a belt driven engine with added extra service costs and down time.
The same goes for IVECO - which were a possibility, but they have a belt driven engine, they drive like a tractor, and from local garages - tell me the parts are expensive, and slow to arrive in comparison to Merc parts! And they all rust just the same.
VW - same body as a Merc Sprinter - but having worked at a VW dealer - the engines are over rated junk - and once again - belt driven. The engines are just far too unreliable.
Ford Transits, whilst anything upto 2006 was a good engine in my view - Chain driven, but once TDCI came in - unreliable.
Both Ford & Land Rover Defender use these engines, - both suffer from EGR failures, Turbo Failures, Oil pump chain failures on the 2.4, and the later 2.2 seem to be blowing EGR coolers internally - which then causes consumption of coolant and then boils the engine leaving it unrepairable. All suffer with Engine ECU reliability, and injector failures.
And to top it off - all these Transits rust like mad - the worst of it is - they can look pretty on top but the underneath can be like a Flintstone car!
The Mercedes Sprinter, from what I keep hearing is galvanised heavily underneath and severely coated since 2006MY builds.
However - I do see some still having some rust spots on the body top side.
I spoke to a number of garages - and they tell me whilst they may look untidy on top - they never rot like a transit does underneath.
Like for like, year for year - Merc beats a Transit underneath hands down.
I would prefer to see my rust coming on top - so I can see when it needs fixing - ie paint, rather than unknowingly have my flooring rot from underneath me - like a Transit.
Plus - the Merc engine is chain driven.
Every other Merc Sprinter advertised has 250,000 to 450,000 miles on it, which means they seem to have no problem covering the miles, where as every other Transit advertised - is either a blown engine or just had a replacement engine. They all leak oil once they get passed 100,000 miles. Common as muck for leaks. The engine was used in Jaguar X Types, Mondeos, Land Rover Defenders, - all leak oil from the front oil filter housing area.
The Merc is a far superior drive to the Transits.
So I opted for a 114,000 mile, 2013MY, Sprinter CD313 LWB.
Had a tow bar fitted so I could pull my trailer.
It drives smoother than any Transit I have driven (although I must admit I cant account for the MK8 Transit to be fair and honest).
I always found the Transit a very choppy ride - and I have driven all them since the MK2 Transit up to the MK7.
The Sprinter pulls loaded up with all tools inside, a ride on, ride on trailer, chipper, ladders strapped inside to the roof, and a full 10 x 5 foot trailer stacked 4ft high with hedge clippings. I find I am getting frustrated with cars slowing my progress.
The room in the cab is also far superior to the Transit.
More leg room to enter the cab both for the driver or the passengers.
Transits seem to slam the dash up close to you.
More storage space by miles in the Merc over the Transit, in the doors, under the seats and above the head. Transits waste that space under the seats by building cheap tubular frames. Merc give you two storage boxes under the seats. And the doors have additional storage under the mandatory door pockets.
For me its a Mercedes Sprinter - later ones should not be as bad as early Sprinters.
They will last better on the underside, but easier to track rust on the top side, and repair.
Either way - you will be repairing - because a Transit will have you spending on welding underneath every 12 months at MOT in a panic, but a Merc may show rust spots on top - which you can plan into your maintenance schedule.
Alternatively - lease a new vehicle and change it every 3 or 4 years - get any make you want - as it will have warranty, but you cant avoid down time from your business whilst you have a van in for mechanical or electrical repairs even under warranty.
That's my opinion. Its not necessarily correct, but its from my experiences and info researched by chatting to local people I trust.
I may be incorrect - and I will have a bucket of rust in 12 months - watch this space.
It was sold to me with 6 months MOT.
However - before I used it, I stripped the front end off the van, front light panel, wings, bumper - the lot.
And I removed the complete cab interior - seating, dashboard, floor mats - all of it.
I found the front inner wings shot, with rot.
Both Side steps - no longer existed, but they are hidden by the plastic step covers - so one would never know unless you give a good digging from underneath.
So I welded the inner wings up.
Fitted new steps, new inner sills, new outer sills.
Put it for MOT 6 months later - more welding needed on the rear chassis.
Back Cross member welded.
Box section welded near spring hanger.
6 months after that - more welding needed!
I was welding that every 6 months trying to keep the rust gremlins at bay until October 2017 - the garage told me - its going to cost £700 to £1000 to weld some more on an outrigger on the driver side. Too many points of contact with box section, inner chassis, outer body to contend with.
So I threw the in the towel.
It already had suddenly become scabby all over in those 18 months to 2 years.
I have been a mechanic for 27 years - and Transits are absolute rust buckets.
Underneath they are the worst for rot against any other van.
So I did my research, on Renault, Merc, Nissan, Toyota, Iveco, VW, Vauxhall, Fiat, Citroen, Peugoet & Ford Transit - I decided on a Mercedes Sprinter 313 LWB.
Renaults are crap for Gearboxes, engines & Electrics.
As are Vauxhall and Nissan which are just re-badged Renaults, and some Fiats now also.
Toyota - now too small, plus rebadged Pugs.
Peugoet, Citroen, & Fiat - front wheel drive and all belt driven engines.
I don't want a belt driven engine with added extra service costs and down time.
The same goes for IVECO - which were a possibility, but they have a belt driven engine, they drive like a tractor, and from local garages - tell me the parts are expensive, and slow to arrive in comparison to Merc parts! And they all rust just the same.
VW - same body as a Merc Sprinter - but having worked at a VW dealer - the engines are over rated junk - and once again - belt driven. The engines are just far too unreliable.
Ford Transits, whilst anything upto 2006 was a good engine in my view - Chain driven, but once TDCI came in - unreliable.
Both Ford & Land Rover Defender use these engines, - both suffer from EGR failures, Turbo Failures, Oil pump chain failures on the 2.4, and the later 2.2 seem to be blowing EGR coolers internally - which then causes consumption of coolant and then boils the engine leaving it unrepairable. All suffer with Engine ECU reliability, and injector failures.
And to top it off - all these Transits rust like mad - the worst of it is - they can look pretty on top but the underneath can be like a Flintstone car!
The Mercedes Sprinter, from what I keep hearing is galvanised heavily underneath and severely coated since 2006MY builds.
However - I do see some still having some rust spots on the body top side.
I spoke to a number of garages - and they tell me whilst they may look untidy on top - they never rot like a transit does underneath.
Like for like, year for year - Merc beats a Transit underneath hands down.
I would prefer to see my rust coming on top - so I can see when it needs fixing - ie paint, rather than unknowingly have my flooring rot from underneath me - like a Transit.
Plus - the Merc engine is chain driven.
Every other Merc Sprinter advertised has 250,000 to 450,000 miles on it, which means they seem to have no problem covering the miles, where as every other Transit advertised - is either a blown engine or just had a replacement engine. They all leak oil once they get passed 100,000 miles. Common as muck for leaks. The engine was used in Jaguar X Types, Mondeos, Land Rover Defenders, - all leak oil from the front oil filter housing area.
The Merc is a far superior drive to the Transits.
So I opted for a 114,000 mile, 2013MY, Sprinter CD313 LWB.
Had a tow bar fitted so I could pull my trailer.
It drives smoother than any Transit I have driven (although I must admit I cant account for the MK8 Transit to be fair and honest).
I always found the Transit a very choppy ride - and I have driven all them since the MK2 Transit up to the MK7.
The Sprinter pulls loaded up with all tools inside, a ride on, ride on trailer, chipper, ladders strapped inside to the roof, and a full 10 x 5 foot trailer stacked 4ft high with hedge clippings. I find I am getting frustrated with cars slowing my progress.
The room in the cab is also far superior to the Transit.
More leg room to enter the cab both for the driver or the passengers.
Transits seem to slam the dash up close to you.
More storage space by miles in the Merc over the Transit, in the doors, under the seats and above the head. Transits waste that space under the seats by building cheap tubular frames. Merc give you two storage boxes under the seats. And the doors have additional storage under the mandatory door pockets.
For me its a Mercedes Sprinter - later ones should not be as bad as early Sprinters.
They will last better on the underside, but easier to track rust on the top side, and repair.
Either way - you will be repairing - because a Transit will have you spending on welding underneath every 12 months at MOT in a panic, but a Merc may show rust spots on top - which you can plan into your maintenance schedule.
Alternatively - lease a new vehicle and change it every 3 or 4 years - get any make you want - as it will have warranty, but you cant avoid down time from your business whilst you have a van in for mechanical or electrical repairs even under warranty.
That's my opinion. Its not necessarily correct, but its from my experiences and info researched by chatting to local people I trust.
I may be incorrect - and I will have a bucket of rust in 12 months - watch this space.
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