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[restorer]

I need to get a vehicle to replace my (278K miles) Volvo V70 T5. It needs tobe able to carry 5 people at times, and to carry a 6' x 3' dining table, or a double wardrobe at times (I'm a furniture restorer).
I think that a V Class V220 cdi looks to be ideal : 1999-2001, around £5000-£6000. However, an aquaintance of mine owned one for a year or so reasonably recently and he hasn't a good word to say for it. He says it needed repairs constantly, that the repairs were costly, that it was highly unreliable, that it used 2 sets of brake pads a year, had suspension problems, needed a new hub, all sorts of problems.
My question to you Merc experts is: was his experience to be expected, or was he just unlucky in buying a 'lemon'? Are they to be expected to be strong and reliable, or do they need constant repairs? What are that model's weak spots?
Any advice gratefully received as whatever I buy now has to last me probably 4/5 years. Cheers.

 

[BTB 500]

Hi & welcome. The V Class was based on the previous version of the Vito van (638), and has a pretty bad reputation. I really wouldn't recommend getting one.

The Viano which replaced it (based on the current 639 Vito) is much better, but probably out of your price range.

If you can stretch to a 639 vehicle, a Vito "Dualiner" (like mine) might be worth considering. These have either 5 or 6 seats (2 or 3 at the front, plus 3 in the middle which tilt/fold/lift out) and an empty 'load bay' at the back. These are physically the same vehicle as the Viano but have less plush trim etc. inside. and tend to be cheaper. There's also a Traveliner minibus with 3 rows of seats (like a Viano), but these are quite rare. I don't know what secondhand prices are like at the moment.

639 Vitos / Vianos were not galvanised till around 2004/5, so early ones can suffer from rust. This is one of the major issues with the 638 as none of those were galvanised.

 

[restorer]

Hi & welcome. The V Class was based on the previous version of the Vito van (638), and has a pretty bad reputation. I really wouldn't recommend getting one.

The Viano which replaced it (based on the current 639 Vito) is much better, but probably out of your price range.

If you can stretch to a 639 vehicle, a Vito "Dualiner" (like mine) might be worth considering. These have either 5 or 6 seats (2 or 3 at the front, plus 3 in the middle which tilt/fold/lift out) and an empty 'load bay' at the back. These are physically the same vehicle as the Viano but have less plush trim etc. inside. and tend to be cheaper. There's also a Traveliner minibus with 3 rows of seats (like a Viano), but these are quite rare. I don't know what secondhand prices are like at the moment.

639 Vitos / Vianos were not galvanised till around 2004/5, so early ones can suffer from rust. This is one of the major issues with the 638 as none of those were galvanised.

Thanks for your advice: will turn away from the old V Class. Looking at Vitos on Autotrader I found this one rather tempting......

Auto Trader UK - Mercedes Vito 123 V6 231BHP Dualiner .

Sadly more than I can afford atm, and anyway - 231bhp petrol V6? I'm supposed to be reducing running costs! There are some in my price range but not with auto box and/or cruise - two features I was hoping to have, as I spend a lot of time in Manchester traffic.

Am wondering about the E300 TD. Have been advised by SPR in Stockport (formerly of Macclesfield) that E300 TD might be a better bet at my price range than E320 Cdi (possible costly injector problems?). Maybe not big enough for the double wardrobes, but bigger than my V70 anyway.

Definitely want a diesel since a friend and I have built a small biodiesel refiner, which is producing very good quality bio (all the methanol - from the refining process - taken out of it, so no danger to the fuel system seals) for around 60p/litre. Trading bhp for economy: must be getting old!
John

 

[BlackC55]

Don't buy a Vito. They are horrendus. A E320CDI or E300TD is a better option.

 

[BTB 500]

Looking at Vitos on Autotrader I found this one rather tempting......

Auto Trader UK - Mercedes Vito 123 V6 231BHP Dualiner .

Sadly more than I can afford atm, and anyway - 231bhp petrol V6? I'm supposed to be reducing running costs! There are some in my price range but not with auto box and/or cruise - two features I was hoping to have, as I spend a lot of time in Manchester traffic.

The Vito 123 is an odd one, it's no quicker 0-62 than the 120 (3.0 V6 diesel - less bhp, but a lot more torque) and has much worse fuel consumption. So they are very rare ... not entirely sure why anyone would buy one . Both the 123 and 120 have auto transmission as standard (and alloys, and aircon).

Cruise control is a simple (and cheap) retro-fit, if necessary.

 

[BTB 500]

Don't buy a Vito. They are horrendus.

In what way? Ours has been great so far.

 

[restorer]

Don't buy a Vito. They are horrendus. A E320CDI or E300TD is a better option.

Theres an E300 TD Estate nearish to me, 98/R reg, 98K miles, FSH, 2 prev owners, apparently in excellent condition ( 1998(R) Mercedes-Benz E-Class E300 Elegance 3.0TD on eBay (end time 25-Jan-10 05:08:15 GMT) ). Advertised price £3695.
Thought I might go and have a look. Sounds rather cheap to me: makes me wonder why?
I understand these are prone to electrical problems, and that the cooling system can be problematical if it hasn't been maintained properly, and that engines on older cars can need (high cost) repairs. Any comments on what to be looking out for?
John

 

[rizzer]

To BlackC55, why do you say that? I had a Vito 112 for 10 years and apart from some warranty issues in the first year it was a fantastic van, never let me down, it was a great workhorse. I now have a new Vito and if it performs as well as my last one I will be well pleased.