416 sprinter/sprintshift

[citroennut]

hi all,
this is probably directed more towards the commercial folks.
i am considering a new motorhome this is on a 416 chassis 4900kg with sprintshift, i know the 312 are very reliable but what about the 416 and how good is sprintshift. the m/home has 101k miles on it and the gearbox was replaced by mercedes at 76k because of an oil leak. 101k is high for a m/home but not for a van any problems to lookout for?
cheers
simon

 

[Cnics]

Hi Simon.

there's a couple of *16 users here who can tell you more specifics about the engine as my Sprinter is a 311 and is manual.

You don't say what year this vehicle is. 101k is high mileage for a 56plate But not for a 51. that said. the engines seem to wear well if looked after. Injectors are an issue (though whether thats the same on the 5 cylinder engine or not i'm unsure).
Have a search on here about sprintshift, there have been a few issue's with the boxes.

Also, is it 4900kg or 4600kg?

 

[citroennut]

hi cnics,
it's a 4900kg on a 2001 plate with full mbsh

 

[Cnics]

Then it is far from high mileage for one of those, I can't really tell you much more i'm afraid, i'm surprised nobody else has been here to say a few words.
Bottom ball joints are prone though often go un-noticed on MOT's particularly around here.

 

[citroennut]

no sprinter owners out there?

 

[dava]

Going for a pint then I'll put a few words down.
Ray

 

[citroennut]

many thanks ray. it's strange how many 'toons' there are, i used to live in 'the Toon' as well though probably a different one!
simon

 

[dava]

Right I'm back fed and watered. There's only one real 'toon' in this kneck of the woods.
More important matters, Sprinter 416CDI, ah, music to my ears. There good for 350/450k if you treat them well, we average 250/450k and they are hamered and I mean hamered 24/7. Thing is we service well, way way above recomended, so they last well, unless some thing stupid happens filled with petrol or water leaks and ran untill they stop, when they get petrol in them it leads to high pressure pump problems and also seems to accelorate injector faults, injectors seals are also an issue, they chuff and carbon up, messy job to sort out. Bottom ball joints, yep they go, about £30 each and we do them in 1/12 hours so it no big shakes, but they last 40k ish so not a big deal. Diffs are prone over the 300k, injectors, glow plugs odd turbo, but so what they are still the best van on the road at the moment and the new version looks even better, specially if you have a v6 cdi. Big body vehicles are prone for wearing anti roll bar bushes, also on heavy 416 the front composite spring after some time gives up and either sags or splinters, possibly exagertaed with hitting speed humps at speed. Heavy 416 are prone to wearing discs and pads quicker than the rest.

Not a big fan of the sprint shift, not as good as the normal auto five speed, saying that we have a few and no real problems and if it's got history then any faults should have been sorted by now, as above keep it serviced and all should be ok, I know the early one's were troublesome, I'll speak to MB about them and get a better picture on the reliablity of them, as like I say most of ours are mans and they ok.
All in all a great van, if looked after will clock up as many miles as the SS Enterprise.
Hope it helps.

 

[RMS Gareth]

Hello,
I have a 311 CDI with sprintshift with 165000 on the clock and it has been a lot of trouble it was one of the first sprinters to have as my van is now 6 years old.
The hydrolic pump has has been replaced 3 times loads of sensors have failed. Just this weekend it has gone wrong again it wont go into auto nor will it manually shift passed 3rd unless i flick into N and back in to auto it then jumps to 6th but I can shift down so ill be able to get it back home.
All that said I do like it very much when its working and the van does get punished.

 

[dava]

I know the early ones were troublesome and to be fair the later ones wernt good, thats why MB stopped the production of them. The few we have are all 2004 so the last of them. They have now changed to normal 5 speed autos, so that says alot. A lot of the trouble we found was that drivers got in them and thought they were at Monaco, using it to jump up and down the box, if there put in auto and left it, they seem to work. Personally I love auto boxes, and MB make the best, manuals in sprinters are good and give good service, although the clutch and flywheels are prone, but like all vehicles look after them and drive them well, they will return good service.

 

[RMS Gareth]

As you say MB have gone for a traditional auto in the new range which as you say, says quite a bit about it. You can still get sprintshift as VW are selling it on thier crafter range.
I would hardly ever use the box in semi auto I dont see whats the point other than when you are on a steep hill to lock it in gear.
We have another van with sprintshift (2004) and that has given no problems as yet and has 60000 on the clock.
I will be staying with MB for my next van as we have just ordered me a 120 vito.