2000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter reviews

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 416CDI 2000

I imported my 416 CDI myself into the UK from Belgium in 2000. Back then that was before people had really begun to see how much the UK was being ripped off by vehicle manufacturers (I saved £8,000 - even my local main dealer couldn’t believe it). Since then I’ve done 786,000 kilometres in it, or almost 500,000 miles. The only stuff which has needed replacing has been what I regard as consumable given use: 3 sets pads, 2 sets brake discs, 3 turbos, 3 clutches and flywheels, a couple of injectors. It has been totally reliable with only one breakdown that has left me immobile in nine years (and that happened outside the house!). It has special order paint applied in the factory which still looks good today (people never believe how old it is or how many miles its travelled). It is so comfortable, you can do 1,000 miles in 24hrs in it. If you think this sounds unusual it isn’t: I’ve got two mates who have both done over 600,000 miles in theirs. My previous 410D did 450,000 miles. Nothing else on the market lives as long. People are quick to criticise the new model’s economy, but this looks to be in hand with the Euro5 ’09 face lift: revised gearing through model specific gearbox. It’s hard to imagine me moving away from Mercedes-Benz.