Vito advice

[Bob55smith]

I'm afraid I'm not even a newbie but as there is no 'not yet a newbie' category, here is my introduction.

I'm viewing a 2009 Vito this weekend ,over 100,000 miles.

Are there any corrosion, rust issues to look out for?

I know I'm just looking for some free advice but, you never know, if I buy it, I might become a regular.

This would be my very first Mercedes BTW.

Thanks in advance.

 

[m80]

Unless it's an import it is likely one of 2 engines, both diesel.
The 2.1 will be the more agricultural but generally less problematic that's the om646 lump.
The V6, 3 litre om642 is more powerful, smoother and quieter, but can have inherent issues, and will have a DPF, and can use 20% more fuel.

Vito's don't have a good reputation rust wise but the later models a less prone. Look for bodywork repairs that may have been due to rust. With a torch go under the rear and look at the sub frame, that can attract rust worm.
If there has been ingress of moisture to the inside that can sit under the matting and slowly eat at the floor. Finding that isn't easy as you will only see it by lifting out the matting, unless it's really eaten in. Around the driver and passenger foot well look at the bolts of the seat bases and into the under seat storage take the carpet out.

The spec of the Vito can vary wildly. They may be a basic van, that still has a good level of equipment, to be more inclusive of extras. Most extras don't cause issue, on e or two can.

The link might give you a bit more insight into some differences.
6 seater Vito internal length | Interior

 

[Bob55smith]

Unless it's an import it is likely one of 2 engines, both diesel.
The 2.1 will be the more agricultural but generally less problematic that's the om646 lump.
The V6, 3 litre om642 is more powerful, smoother and quieter, but can have inherent issues, and will have a DPF, and can use 20% more fuel.

Vito's don't have a good reputation rust wise but the later models a less prone. Look for bodywork repairs that may have been due to rust. With a torch go under the rear and look at the sub frame, that can attract rust worm.
If there has been ingress of moisture to the inside that can sit under the matting and slowly eat at the floor. Finding that isn't easy as you will only see it by lifting out the matting, unless it's really eaten in. Around the driver and passenger foot well look at the bolts of the seat bases and into the under seat storage take the carpet out.

The spec of the Vito can vary wildly. They may be a basic van, that still has a good level of equipment, to be more inclusive of extras. Most extras don't cause issue, on e or two can.

The link might give you a bit more insight into some differences.
6 seater Vito internal length | Interior

Thanks for the brilliant info. Yes, it is the 2.1 and

 

[Bob55smith]

Thanks for the brilliant info and link. Yes, it is the 2.1 and looks a basic white van, compact length. I'll definitely be a little more confident when I view.

 

[m80]

The greatest issue I would have with a compact is that there isn't room for the underslung spare wheel at the rear. If you want to carry one it must go inside.

Both long and extra long have the spare underslung, the downside of extra long is that some garages can't get it on their ramps, so limited to commercial vehicle repairers for some issues.

If this is early days of looking and you aren't set on this Vito I / we can list the sort of 'extras' you might prefer. Eg for us it must be tailgate and not barn doors. It wants to be heated seats, if it doesn't have leather it will do as I sail, jump in with wet bum on the slipway, because leather and we live High Peak they want to be heated.
Elgin must have cold bum issues.

I may well be repeating much of what is in the link??

 

[m80]

Possible extras.
Leather seats, Viano seats are softer than Vito leather.
Heated seats, not always both.
Electric and memory front seats, more common on imports but occasionally fitted here.
Auto lights, as BTB500 that also means rain sensing wipers.
2 front captain seats or maybe bench if 3.
Rear can be clip in floor receivers or for such as traveliner might be long floor rails, more adaptable for seats.
Auto or manual, auto can have hill start assist.
Folding door mirrors, not so common on the Vito.
Auxilliary heater, not common.
Electric boost heater, good as provides early warm air on cold mornings.
Residual heater that can provide for 30 minutes of warm air from an already warm engine when parked, common.
Mercedes nav system 'Comand', not as good as an after market Android system.
Comand would mean steering wheel controls and improved dash clocks.
Phone pack, as can be seen by a unit on the dash left of steering wheel, largely redundant these days, especially with an android HU.
Sunroofs, front is possible on a Vito, the rear for passengers only if rear such like the Traveliner.
Front and rear parking sensors, if you fit Android a reverse cam is then possible, as would be a dash cam.
Electric sliding doors, not so common on a Vito and problematic with age.

Mind if you just want a van to lug stuff all that is anelephant.

 

[m80]

More thinks,
2.1 Vitos come in different power outputs, and that means different diff ratios.
Some are more suited to around town stop start, delivery type scenarios.
Others are better suited to cruising with their lower revs in top gear.

I stand to be poo poo'd but I believe the manual's have the one diff ratio.
They are reported to respond well to remaps, but that doesn't change the final revs of the diff.

And you only asked about rust, and that's the easy extra to find

 

[BTB 500]

I would avoid the 109 engine as that came with a low ratio back axle (to get up hills with just 94 bhp ), so fuel economy is actually worse than the more powerful 111 and 115 versions.

There were four diff ratios used:

3.727 (109)
3.455 (low ratio option for 111 and 115)
3.273 (standard for 111 and 115)
2.923 (120)

 

[Bob55smith]

Fond memories of cycling through the Peak District.
Bakewell, Hathersage, Edale , having to get off at Winnats Pass and push the bike
the rest of the way to the top.

Those were the days.



This one has barn doors, cloth seats. I'm not expecting many extras. Also. I'm not so sure
it's a compact now as there isn't a full side view. I can't see a spare wheel inside in
the rear view photo.


Anyway thanks for all the advice.

 

[BTB 500]

Also. I'm not so sure it's a compact now as there isn't a full side view. I can't see a spare wheel inside in the rear view photo.

I think quite a few people with Compacts just carry a can of sealant rather than having a dirty great wheel inside the van. The difference in length between the Compact and Long isn't great so the Long makes more sense IMHO unless the size is really critical to you. Incidentally Longs are often wrongly advertised as "LWB", which they're not - only the Extra Long has a longer wheelbase. I did this picture a while back to help people tell the difference between the three lengths:

 

[m80]

You can't go on not seeing a spare wheel, if it were me I would remove it prior to taking photo's.
I've seen a few ads where the seller doesn't know which length they are actually selling.

Sellers are reluctant to provide the VIN, for no good reason. But with it and this you can interrogate the Vito type and equipment content

Mercedes VIN Decoder | Decode Your Mercedes-Benz VIN

Want to know the specifications of your Mercedes? No problem! Our free Mercedes VIN decoder retrieves detailed information about your Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

www.lastvin.com

Another for you to consider is if it's a van it should be registered as N1 tax category, so cheaper.
Dualiners and traveliners (with rear seats) can be either N1 or M1
This also good for looking into the history.
Latest V5 in the link might mean a change from private plate though.

Vehicle Smart - UK Car Check from £2.99 | Stolen? Written off? Financed?

Check any UK vehicle to see if it has been stolen, written off, scrapped, exported, has outstanding finance or log books loans, plate changes or colour changes

www.vehiclesmart.com

Very difficult for you but I prefer to travel south to buy a motor, Scottish cars have an increased risk of rust.

 

[Bob55smith]

Yes, this one is not only Scotland but also near the coast. I'll have a good look underneath but I'm starting to think maybe treating this viewing as a dry run and spend more time searching.
Lots of interesting stuff here though. The thing about different diff ratios was really out of left field ; not that clear in the photo but I think the number on rear door is 109. Cheers.

 

[BTB 500]

Up to the 2010 facelift the front wings are plastic btw, so you don't have to worry about rust there The first shape Vito (the FWD W638) was diabolical for rust and W639s up to about 2005 weren't great. After that they got galvanised body panels (which came with a 12 year warranty) and were pretty good, although from what I've seen the ones with metallic paint seem to be the best. Not sure why that would be though!

There are a lot of 109s around ... the diff ratio is just something to be aware of, particularly if you're planning on doing much motorway mileage. It is possible to change the diff (and remap the engine of course) but many van insurance companies aren't keen on any modifications, assuming you declare them. Easier to just get a 111 (114 bhp) ... I doubt there's much of a price difference. 115s (148 bhp) do go for more I think. They all have basically the same engine.

 

[m80]

Yes, this one is not only Scotland but also near the coast. I'll have a good look underneath but I'm starting to think maybe treating this viewing as a dry run and spend more time searching.
Lots of interesting stuff here though. The thing about different diff ratios was really out of left field ; not that clear in the photo but I think the number on rear door is 109. Cheers.

If you look at BTB's list simply put the lower the ratios the lower the revs when cruising.
The higher the ratio the easier to pull away, so advantageous around town . But more power, from the 115 for example, can compensate that, and then there is mapping. if desired.
The 115 in van form doesn't seem so common.
The manual has another ratio, I think.

For me it's a 115 auto, in long but not against the ex long, checking it doesn't have the higher ratio diff. So the 3.273 ratio.

Really sorry about this bit, but all that is before you start looking for vibrations that are annoying and feasibly expensive.

It's not so easy getting your head round this Vito / Viano stuff.

Drive as many to get the feel so anything unhealthy is more easily recognised.

 

[Bob55smith]

Had a look at the Vito this morning and I'm just trying to piece together all the info at the moment.

Before I got there I checked that it was not damaged or written off, i.e. registered by insurance.
Also , MOT history showed an advisory about excessive smoke ( make mental note ).

It is 2009, a 109 long, 139000 miles. 5 previous owners including present guy.

Got there early and had a good look underneath which
really looked sound, subframe looked sound, no rust, no oil leaks.

Bodywork had a couple dings, rear nearside cluster broken, zero rust on body. Needs new tyres all round.

Popped bonnet. On right side of engine bay, I fished out a half used roll of that brown parcel tape? On left side there was a rubber glove material plugging up a breather hole. When I pointed this out he started talking about a leaking injector he'd ordered and was going to have fitted. He took this rubber thing off and reconnected the pipe.

Anyway, started straight away from cold. There was no smoke apparent. We both jumped in (wearing facemasks, blxxdy hxll !), him driving about 2 miles, 3 point turn and and back.

Then I drove same route, gearbox positive, checked all gears, no funny noises. Got a decent turn of steering wheel during the turn around, no noises).
I could not for the life of me see where the temp indicator was but there was alot going on and I'm crap at multitasking (is it on the digital display somewhere?? )

By the end of my test drive, the engine light was on ( not sure exactly when this came on , see above about multitasking). Left running after we stopped and still zero smoke.

Chap said he had an injector on order and was adamant that when he gets this injector replaced that the engine light will not come on.
He was suggesting that there was occasionally white smoke because this injector was leaking and that a sensor detects this and triggers the engine light. Then said he'd been told that, as the smoke was white, as opposed to black or blue, that it was not a serious fault anyway.

As I'm writing this down now, it does seem ridiculous to say that I thought the chap was quite genuine. He said he drives the van every day which I believe. Also, he didn't come across as desperate to offload the van.

So basically I left saying I had to think about it.

Thoughts anyone ? ( after you've stopped pxssing yourselves laughing! )