Community Forums

Motor7 · 06-27-2018, 09:21 AM

Looking at 2006 Sprinter MH's as we are thinking about downsizing. We went fro a B, to 23' A and now have a 32'A and it's just overkill for the two of us.

I have a DEF aversion which might be unfounded(my 2003 D-Max has been great). But in the $30-40K price range I see a lot of 2005-2007's. I know many of you here owned during those years, and if so what are the drawbacks to buying one now with say under 100K miles on it? are parts readily available still?

Also looking at the Ram and Fusion chassis but they are a little out of our budget.

ByeTheWay · 06-27-2018, 03:02 PM

Our '04 is doing fine. Parts are not an issue.

Motor7 · 06-28-2018, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ByeTheWay

Our '04 is doing fine. Parts are not an issue.

Thanks...I'm going to look at the '06 today and will take it for a long drive. Having never driven a Sprinter class it should be interesting.

luvlabs · 06-28-2018, 08:45 AM

'06 and earlier have potential transmission problems. Fixes for these thing can set you back $5K or more. Other potential problems are the EGR system.

You might want to look for something 2010+ range. BTW, the latest chassis is dated 2016 and there are essentially no DEF, DPF problems as long as you follow Mercedes recommended service schedules. Depending on which state you live in, the emission system is warrantied for 5-7 years.

DEF engines actually run better, produce more horsepower, and get better fuel economy. Not sure what your fear of DEF is as these systems are well designed and have been in use for years before they came to the US.

Unplanned Tourist · 06-28-2018, 09:03 AM

I spent 40 years working on diesel engines, and there is no way I would spend my money on a rig with DEF or DPF!

Too complex and costly to troubleshoot and repair once problems start to crop up.

I will gladly pay the extra few dollars for fuel and stick to gas!

JMHO.
Happy Glamping.

Motor7 · 06-28-2018, 09:07 AM

Up, the pre 2008 Sprinters are all DEF free.

plmjim · 06-29-2018, 01:40 AM

We just had our Sprinter transmission replaced with a remanufactured for about $4,000.
2006 Winnebago View with 82,000 miles.

Motor7 · 07-03-2018, 06:08 AM

Well the test drive went well overall. I did not like the ride over large expansion cracks which made a 'bang' every time. Is that fixable with shocks and Sumo springs like on my current rig?

They were asking too much ($40K) for a coach that has sat outside in the weather and had not been maintained very well. I went up on the roof and the fridge vent cover was completely gone & the area got pounded with rain the day before. There was an inch of standing water in the fridge tray inside the access door & water rolled across the floor from under the fridge on the test drive. Front headliner was hanging and the foam on the roof was disintegrating. Several cabinet door latched were broken, so they slapped around the whole time on the drive. P/o had cobbed up some cheesy storage compartment in the overhead bunk....no cushion or filler piece found.

I asked why do dealers take a trade and not touch the thing until after someone makes an offer? He tried to tell me that it went through a "47,000" point inspection, but I said..."guess they never looked at the roof eh?"

For a 5 cylinder it was quiet and responsive, so I will have no issues finding one that is in better shape for a purchase. I appreciate all the responses and info and will narrow my search for a 05-07.

CharlesinGA · 07-03-2018, 04:28 PM

I assume you are looking at a View or Navion. The only other MH on the '05-'06 Sprinter cab/chassis (that I know of) was the Gulfstream Vista Mini Cruiser.

The transmissions are problematic. My best suggestion is frequent fluid changes and a trans temp gauge and keep and eye on it.

The rear shocks wear out almost before they left the lot new. I bought mine with 18K on it and about 20K I replaced the back shocks with Koni Reds and the airbags that would not hold air, and the difference was night and day. I replaced the 2012 dated Firestone Transforce HT tires in 2017 due to extreme sidewall checking (caused by the crappy tire blacking compound the dealers use, or so the tire people tell me) and I installed Michelin tires and it rode even better. Eventually put Koni Reds on the front and it made a minor improvement.

The Mercedes chassis is quirky and should you invest in one, join the Sprinter Forum and the Yahoo Groups forum for the View-Navion.

Take a magnet with you and check the metal trim piece at the top of the cab to the fiberglass cab over, If it is steel, run from it.

Charles

Motor7 · 07-04-2018, 04:47 AM

Good info Charles. As for that trim piece, were certain years steel and others aluminium, or is is pot luck?

Motor7 · 07-04-2018, 06:35 AM

Also, I had not found the Gulf Stream version(thanks)....it looks like it has a much better window system which tilt out and have the shades built in? The exterior also looks to be of a different construction and I do like the lines of it.

CharlesinGA · 07-11-2018, 11:13 PM

Generally the 2007 View has an aluminum transition piece (2006 chassis) and the 2006 View (on either a 2005 or 2006 chassis) has the steel transition, but some early '07 Views MAY have the steel piece, you need to check.

Unless you like climbing the ladder into the cab over bunk, you need to be looking for the J model and not the H. I have given up on the cab over, and use it for storage. I sleep on the jackknife couch. For one person, or possibly two, the bunk bed model (fairly rare) is a good choice as it does not have a slide, and thus lighter weight.

Gulfstream Vista Cruiser Mini is not very common, but you do stumble across them once in a while. Gulfstream used the Freightliner chassis and I think they did not order cruise controls on them. You want to look carefully at the options.

RV trader usually has a good number of early Views and Navions (exactly the same with somewhat different interior colors).

Charles

Motor7 · 07-15-2018, 12:00 PM

Ok, round 2.

Tomorrow I look at a 2011 coach, but the salesman says there is no DEF tank, so it could very well be a pre 2010 chassis. So does that mean it's a 5 cyl or did they make the 6 cyl version without DEF before 2010?

kendall69 · 07-16-2018, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motor7

Looking at 2006 Sprinter MH's as we are thinking about downsizing. We went fro a B, to 23' A and now have a 32'A and it's just overkill for the two of us.

I have a DEF aversion which might be unfounded(my 2003 D-Max has been great). But in the $30-40K price range I see a lot of 2005-2007's. I know many of you here owned during those years, and if so what are the drawbacks to buying one now with say under 100K miles on it? are parts readily available still?

Also looking at the Ram and Fusion chassis but they are a little out of our budget.

RUN don't walk away from the Sprinter. I had a 2007 and spent almost as much on repairs as I did buying the vehicle. I had a custom coach built and could have any chassis I wanted I went with a FOrd V-10 and never spent a dime on service and passed hundreds of dealers on the road. The Sprinter dealers are few and far between. A GOOD Sprinter mechanic is as rare as a bigfoot sighting.

It got to the point with the SPrinter that I couldn't trust driving it more than 100 miles from home for fear of breaking down.