Flipping German rubbish Sprinter

[knighty]

all van side doors are rubbish once they've had a bit of abuse - mostly stuff in the back sliding into them

back doors are a bit better but not great, especially tall ones


I'd prefer big heavy handles you turn to open etc. less sprung bolts and more big leavers!

 

[fizzy]

"Flipping German rubbish Sprinter"

Pretty stupid xenophobic title

Sense of humour required

 

[pawsnizzy]

"Flipping German rubbish Sprinter"

Pretty stupid xenophobic title

Accurate though

 

[fizzy]

all van side doors are rubbish once they've had a bit of abuse - mostly stuff in the back sliding into them

back doors are a bit better but not great, especially tall ones


I'd prefer big heavy handles you turn to open etc. less sprung bolts and more big leavers!

Van is about a year old 44000 miles just me driving it. They have all been the same. Mates old Fiat Ducato has been fine. I borrowed it loads of times. 2006 I think and taken loads of abuse. Transit hire vans never been a problem either but every Sprinter has been the same. Nice to drive though.

 

[Gragson]

Sense of humour required

True, its how you tell em, genius

 

[knighty]

Van is about a year old 44000 miles just me driving it. They have all been the same. Mates old Fiat Ducato has been fine. I borrowed it loads of times. 2006 I think and taken loads of abuse. Transit hire vans never been a problem either but every Sprinter has been the same. Nice to drive though.

I think the sprinters have bigger doors?

maybe that's the route of the problem

I've always thought they should have two runners on the back not just the one, it would take all the twisting stress off the other runners

 

[fizzy]

I think the sprinters have bigger doors?

maybe that's the route of the problem
I've always thought they should have two runners on the back not just the one, it would take all the twisting stress off the other runners

I now have the SWB one - same width and same height as the LWB but nippier and can carry 1600kg v 1300kg. Even on the SWB one you can hear and feel the body flex as you drive over a bit of uneven road.
They are very nice to drive but I would never buy one. Virtually no rust proofing or seam sealing. 2 of them have had water leak through the doors into the seatbelt mechanism resulting in soaked seat belts. Side door contacts keep going and often get engine management lights coming on only to go off again a few days later.

 

[fizzy]

Well I have fixed it for now. Back doors still jammed but side door works!. Driving into Tesco late last night heard the side door unlock! Made sure it won't lock again
Glove fits perfectly!

 

[nickk]

Enterprise are not known for being very quick to do anything. Rang the local Mercedes depot - most unhelpful bunch I have ever spoken to.

This attitude has turned a lot of pensioners off German vehicles onto Korean/Jap for their renowned customer service,the others have become arrogant and complacent,beware,that was part of the cause of the downward slide of British manufacturers.

 

[mtt.tr]

I know these door contact well

 

[minimutly]

This attitude has turned a lot of pensioners off German vehicles onto Korean/Jap for their renowned customer service,the others have become arrogant and complacent,beware,that was part of the cause of the downward slide of British manufacturers.

Well that and letting the bean counters have their way and making the cars less reliable...

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Well that and letting the bean counters have their way and making the cars less reliable...

Also, not helped by being overly complex and built using unitary assembly, although designers have a hand in the latter too.

 

[nickk]

Designers should be made to do a spell as mechanics/roadside breakdown before they create impossible access fitments.

 

[Robotstar5]

Designers should be made to do a spell as mechanics/roadside breakdown before they create impossible access fitments.

I watched how they build Range Rovers for years, you would need to dismantle most of the car to get to some parts, example: the windscreen has to come out to get the roof lining out.

 

[Misterg]

Glove fits perfectly!

Like a glove?

 

[minimutly]

I watched how they build Range Rovers for years, you would need to dismantle most of the car to get to some parts, example: the windscreen has to come out to get the roof lining out.

That was the same as all cars between the late 60’s and early 80’s. I couldn’t believe it when I first saw it.

 

[fizzy]

That was the same as all cars between the late 60’s and early 80’s. I couldn’t believe it when I first saw it.

Still the same now. Worse in fact. Whole front end off to change a headlight on some cars.

 

[Robotstar5]

Still the same now. Worse in fact. Whole front end off to change a headlight on some cars.

I noticed that when I had the front end off my Freelander to change the radiator, the bottom headlamp fixings were obscured by the part I had taken off.

 

[Turbo]

I've heard about a few engine/gearbox issues with sprinters. Local tyre place had 2 as breakdown vehicles, they spent a lot of time being broken down themselves! One was on its 2nd engine, the other on its 3rd gearbox! Eventually got rid of them & went back to Fords.

 

[knighty]

I'm not really in love with sprinters... but they're miles ahead of ford reliability wise

for all my vans, limiting them to 70mph has been the best reliability improvement by a mile, stops the drivers revving the nuts off them flat out (helped the transits more than the spinsters)