dodge sprinter van
 

I saw a dodge sprinter van on ebay with a 2.7 liter 5 cyl mercedes diesel. Is this the same engine as the 3.2 cdi minus a cylinder? The interior looks very much like a generic mercedes interior? I'm guessing this is just a mercedes utilitly vehicle with a dodge name slapped on it. 25 mpg is great for a van!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4546251898&category=6210

I believe its similar to the inline version of the 320cdi engine, just one less cylinder. However come this summer the inline 320cdi engine is being replaced with the new V6 style 320cdi that produces more power and is lighter/more efficient etc... I've heard the I5's on the sprinters and they sound cool! :D We have one sitting in the lobby of the theater I work at as a display car with all its advantages and such written on the side. Pretty cool! :D

Cool so are the euro e270's and vans like this going to get the new v motor or are they going to keep the I5 version for those models. I really prefer inline motors. I guess that will make the e320 cdi from this year unique. I suppose a V motor will allow them to put it in a smaller hood compartment and are inherently lighter because they need less metal. I also assume it is turbo charged. A 2.7 in a van would be a dog N/A/

I was also wondering about that, I'm not sure if they will put the newer V6 in the sprinters, as they have been using the 2.7cdi turbo in them for so long...I'm going to research it later today when I have some free time. Yes all of the cdi engines are turbo, they have the fancy turbos with the variable-vane technology and such. :D I also like inline motors....I love my 617 :D

I question that 25mpg number. My brother rented a "sprinter LXi" (power everything, rear air...) and drove it from Philadelphia to Cincinnati, he never got better than 18mpg. Maybe the odo was off ?

Anyone else have any real-life sprinter mpg numbers ?

-John

I have read 22 miles to a gallon. That is probably more realistic. You know ebayers always advertise high! Still 22 mpg or even 18 for a fairly large van is pretty good.

Yeah I think the average is around 20-23 depending on the lead content of the foot operating the vehicle.... :D I was reading an article on fedex's use of them and they were claiming around 21-22mpg average, which is certainly better than the V8 vans from ford and gm etc...those get less than 15! :eek: Not to mention the sprinters have a much greater cargo capacity etc....and less maintenance.

The next Sprinter and our current model
 

The Sprinter will indeed be getting the V6 engine and this with automatic will no doubt be the only option in N. America, just as the 2.7L/slushbox is now. The van itself will be new as well. I'm not sure if this will happen for the '06 or '07 model year.
In Europe you can get the following engines:
OM611 2.1L 4-cyl. natural 82 hp
OM611 2.1L 4-cyl. VGT 109 hp
OM611 2.1L 4-cyl. VGT 129 hp
OM612 2.7L 5-cyl. VGT 156 hp
M111E 2.3L 4-cyl. Benzinmotor (gas) 143 hp
In England you can get a natural gas M111E to let you into central London on weekends where the Loud Mayor has made "non-green" vehicles off-limits.
5-speed manual is standard with all engines. Autobox is rare and I don't think you can even get it with the small engines.
As usual, for the country (US) where you are forced to toodle along at a snail's pace, they offer the biggest, most powerful and thirsty engine with an automatic only. A nice engine it is, but I would prefer the OM611 with 5-speed for economy. The speed on N. American vehicles is electronically limited to 130 km/h (81 mph), so the unavailability of the OM 611 makes even less sense. This is because DC fear that tires of the higher speed rating, with which the van comes from the factory, will not be fitted as replacements. They fear litigation a la Explorer. Pity.
The OM612 is no slug. It accelerates very swiftly, has gobs of torque, and pulls like a freight train. It will tow 5000 lbs. with the automatic. I towed my Peugeot 405 on a dolly and didn't even know it was there.
The van has an 8550 lb. GVW, and 10,000+ with dual rear wheels.
Our '04 Freightliner short-wb 8-passenger Sprinter consistently gets 22 mpg, 20 or less in winter (winter fuel = lower heat content). But it is always either in traffic as Mom's taxi or steady 81 mph on the rare occasions when it is Dad's commuter on the rural Interstate. On our vacation last June we set the cruise in the Buckeye zone and got 27 mpg at a steady 65 mph, with 3 adults, 3 kids, and 500 lbs. of gear.
I suspect the 18 mpg rental van was a longer-wheelbase and/or high-roof model, and in the winter maybe?

On the whole, we love our Sprinter.
But I am concerned because it has EGR and I've seen the problems that Diesel EGR can cause on the intake side - nasty valve deposits and resulting engine damage. Maybe the engine-out particulates are low enough on this common-rail engine that it won't be too bad?

Snazzy MB emblem!

Looks like a sprinter and a light weight trailer might make a nice light duty pickup/utility vehicle. Now if I can trick my wife into wanting one!

If you wanted an actual pickup, there are Sprinter chassis-cabs available. You could put a utility locker body on or an aluminum pickup box. I think they only sell the dual rear wheel chassis-cab here with 3-seater cab. Europe gets a crew cab also.

Not really. A full size van and the ability to carry a light trailer would be great by itself.

You would love the Sprinter, Jim.
The only thing I can think of negative is the lousy traction in snow, which you probably don't get much of. But all vans are lousy in snow. Just load it up & carry a shovel.
Some are wondering about crosswinds. I've had 50 mph side gusts at 65-70 mph road speed and that can be dicey if the road is slick. I had to monitor the dashboard exterior temp. indicator (sensor below front license plate) as it was hovering between 31 and 33 F with damp road at the time. Temp. indicator was very helpful there, allowing me to reduce speed and be prudent.

Yeah the question is would the wife like it. She drives a lot for her job and that would probably be hers during the week since she won't drive my 300 SD

Ours is 90% Mom's taxi, 10% Dad's ride. My 5'4" wife was freaked about driving "that big thing". I told her that if her 5'4" lady friend next door can drive an Ford van full of kids every day, she would have no problem. She has since grown to love this van. Just today she thanked me for it and said it really is a handy vehicle for her and our three young ones. Our son said he likes all the room in the back. They were coming home from the nursery with a load of peat humus, flowers, etc. We love the gray vinyl flooring. With kids in Michigan carpet makes so little sense. We just sweep & mop it out.
I towed my Peugeot on a dolly (at least 3000 lbs.) last winter and I seriously could not tell that I was towing anything.
I think the Freightliner dealers are mostly getting out of selling them and it's going to be Dodge going forward. But the Freightliner sales & service have not impressed me anyway. We've had it in to Dodge a few times for recall (EGR valve upgrade & valve stems) & maintenance, and they don't seem much better, but I plan to do my own work anyway.