Help looking for a Lwb van, which? sprinter or crafter?

[welshsurferdude]

Hi all

Im looking to get a 2007 or newer van to convert into a camper

I have been looking into it and quite a few are around the 6-7k mark, and thats the big engined versions such as the sprinter 313/315cdi's and the crafter 136/163ps versions.

anything to look out for on these vans

which van is the better of the two? Merc or VW?

I'm quite interested in a 57plate 315cdi lwb sprinter with all docs inc original invoice etc. it has xenon lights with cornering function, cruise control, higher ratio axle diffs, rain sense wipers etc etc but mileage is 355,000miles has had a new engine from merc with receipt to prove under warrentry. he wants 5900+vat.

all the others are bog standard with E/L etc.

what you think?


Regards
Kenny

[951TSE]

These guys: http://auctioneers.co.uk/ sell a lot of Ambulance bodied vehicles that they say make great caravan conversions, might be worth a look and not too far from you.

[welshsurferdude]

I am looking to keep the exterior of the van standard looking as possible for low key parking up at night wherever I fancy! and also for easy cruising of long distances as I go to the french alps twice a year for mountain biking! :-) plus scotland/cornwall etc hence looking at high spec and big engined versions

My poor trusty land rover defender needs a break after 150,000 miles!


As for rust, as long any rust spots are rubbed back to good metal, treated and sprayed which I can do, its not a bother!

[BonzoG]

As above, RUST, you really need to keep on top of this. We don't own Sprinters any more, but we rent them and have seen otherwise well-kept (low mileage, clean, but subject to typical rental abuse) 10 plates with paint bubbling. I can't imagine the Crafter being much different, it's the same van from the doors back.


Any 4x4 319 Sprinters knocking around at that price range? All-terrain usefulness for those out-of-the-way surfing haunts and a V6 to boot.

[welshsurferdude]

I had a 2002 sprinter 313cdi camper previously which I covered 280,000 miles in and it did suffer from couple rust spots but thats only because it had a hard life! looked pretty tidy when I sold it! never missed a beat! only ever wear and tear items replaced.

I cannot find a 319cdi sprinter for sale in the UK!

[BonzoG]

Rare as hens teeth. Still relatively new as well so probably not within budget, I'm just daydreaming out loud about how I'd spec my camper if I won the lottery!

I think for the age you're looking at you might be overlapping the two engine ranges as well, I think the 311/315 are the old ones and the 313/316/319 are the new but I have no idea when exactly they got updated.

Edited by BonzoG on Saturday 7th July 22:22

[welshsurferdude]

I'm quite liking this 315

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320929135643?ssPageName=...

it's the highest spec one I've seen in my budget and it comes with all the paperwork since new!

[powerstroke]

welshsurferdude said:

I'm quite liking this 315

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320929135643?ssPageName=...

it's the highest spec one I've seen in my budget and it comes with all the paperwork since new!

latest Sprinter isnt good for diy! as its very electronic, things like needing injectors recoded if they need swaping and everything seems to have a ECU and needs to go back to main dealers, not like the simpler old sprinter and they dont seem as robust either and stupidly long service intervals seem to finish engines off sooner than later!! friends that have been involved with them arent that complemetary..

[welshsurferdude]

Yeah I seem to be getting this view a lot which seems to mean the older generation model seems to be the most simpler to DIY it.

[powerstroke]

welshsurferdude said:

Yeah I seem to be getting this view a lot which seems to mean the older generation model seems to be the most simpler to DIY it.

Yes but they are all getting old and tidy ones are like gold as people hang on to them.. Its a tough call the new stuff is nice to drive and a bit bigger but seems very pricey to repair I have a late transit as a service van hasnt been great fairly expensive to fix and some of the engine issues seem due to poor design all the vans seem to be getting lighter built and not made to last or be easy to fix..
..

[Mister3man]

A 2007-2009 crafter will have the 2.5tdi engine, which is not too sharp on fuel.

I had a 109bhp model for 5 years, fully loaded, and I managed around 15mpg, on a very gentle run I'd get 22mpg.

I had a lot of trouble with mine as well; turbos,egr valves, vacuum pumps etc.

The Mercs seem a lot stronger from what I have heard, and equally powered variants pulled much better than my crafter did.

As already said, they all rust though, so keep an eye out.

[Flanders.]

Had both as work vans. Crafter, rubbish. Slow, loud, fell apart and drunk fuel.

Sprinter, quicker, usesless fuel and needs servicing less. Likes to go through front tyres though.

[welshsurferdude]

Im only using this van for limited mileage a year and probably be lightly loaded so should be ok surely?

[minipete]

Sounds like you need a Transit! You can keep the crappy Sprinter for me,utter crap,rust as fast as they go in the fast lane of the motorway.

[philmots]

Same Van aren't they apart from the engines?

Merc did 311/313/315/318... Iirc the 318 is the V6

I bet the 319 is the new version of 318 hence why you're struggling to find one.