VITO buying advice please

[Jimleach]

Hello everyone, Im new to this forum but would really appreciate some info and advice. I am currently considering buying a LWB vito, ideally a 111. I have a limited budget of about £5000 so will probably be looking at the older end / high mileage.
I have read certain things about big improvements being made to vitos at around the 2005 mark can this be qualified and is there a specific manufacturing date that the changes took place? and what did they actually change?

Also any other advice that maybe helpful in my search for a van would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Jim

 

[BTB 500]

2005 should be OK, check it has the 12 year bodywork warranty as that confirms it has galvanised body panels. Early 639 Vitos didn't - friend of mine has a 53 plate one that's rusting quite badly.

There are 3 sizes, only the largest (Extra Long) is actually LWB. The "Compact" and "Long" versions have the same wheelbase.

 

[CRASH67]

as above there was a facelift around 2006 it was noticeable improvments to dash cluster and cd player plus when new the warranty was up to 3 years unlimited milage.
altho the paint warranty is 12 years there are terms and condtions that apply which if not followed will make it hard for you to get anything from a dealer.
to be fair providing you get a good example you should have many worries as vito is realtivly trouble free 06 on wards

 

[nick mercedes]

Hello everyone, Im new to this forum but would really appreciate some info and advice. I am currently considering buying a LWB vito, ideally a 111. I have a limited budget of about £5000 so will probably be looking at the older end / high mileage.
I have read certain things about big improvements being made to vitos at around the 2005 mark can this be qualified and is there a specific manufacturing date that the changes took place? and what did they actually change?

Supposedly they tackled the rust, but at the weekend I saw a 55 plate vito with massive scabs down both sides, and I know someone with an 04 that's rusting on the inside (how?).

They're not the most reliable of vans either, so if you depend on a van for work I'd consider a Vivaro/Transit/Hiace/Boxer before looking at a Merc.

I know that's not really what's supposed to be said on a MB forum, but MB didn't seem to learn from the 638 Vito, and the 639 shares it's dubious build quality, mechanical issues and nightmare problems with rust.

They just don't seem to be able to make vans that don't rust.

 

[BTB 500]

No van is perfect, but I don't think the 639 Vito has fundamental reliability issues. Loads are used in London as cabs (those have the additional complexity of rear-wheel steering), and they are widely used by the Police too.

As a dog agility competitor I spend most weekends parked in a field with several hundred vans. Vitos are very popular, and I've got friends who do a lot of mileage that are on 2nd or even 3rd 639s now. I've never personally seen a later (galvanised) 639 with visible rust.

Wouldn't touch any 638 though.

 

[CRASH67]

Supposedly they tackled the rust, but at the weekend I saw a 55 plate vito with massive scabs down both sides, and I know someone with an 04 that's rusting on the inside (how?).

They're not the most reliable of vans either, so if you depend on a van for work I'd consider a Vivaro/Transit/Hiace/Boxer before looking at a Merc.

I know that's not really what's supposed to be said on a MB forum, but MB didn't seem to learn from the 638 Vito, and the 639 shares it's dubious build quality, mechanical issues and nightmare problems with rust.

They just don't seem to be able to make vans that don't rust.

im sorry but im i gotta disagre
Mercedes lernt alot for the first 638 and sprinter 903 CDI engines the early OM611s sufffered injectior issues which mercedes have sorted them the 639 vito were the first MB Vans with 646 engine and these to be have been pretty realiable.
as with all new models there were issues
but as said above aim for a 2005 (facelift) and you should go far wrong.
as we all vehicles you get the bad apple and speaking to many Vito customer the majority rave about it only a few hate it.

and on the plus side its one of the best looking vans in its glass.

 

[finisterre]

They just don't seem to be able to make vans that don't rust.

I have been considering painting my 638 brown.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Supposedly they tackled the rust, but at the weekend I saw a 55 plate vito with massive scabs down both sides, and I know someone with an 04 that's rusting on the inside (how?).

They're not the most reliable of vans either, so if you depend on a van for work I'd consider a Vivaro/Transit/Hiace/Boxer before looking at a Merc.

I know that's not really what's supposed to be said on a MB forum, but MB didn't seem to learn from the 638 Vito, and the 639 shares it's dubious build quality, mechanical issues and nightmare problems with rust.

They just don't seem to be able to make vans that don't rust.

I have to disagree....
I have had my fair share of Vitos for sale and can honestly say that, besides the rust problems on early 639s, they are the joint best smallish van on the road (Toyota Hi-Ace being the other)
The biggest problem that they suffer from is people buy them on reputation-bulletproof- and procede to miss servicing/not cleaning them/ driving them into the ground etc etc because they think the vans can stand it, which they do, to a point.
One last point- how many Transits/ Vivaros/ Trafics/ Boxers would you trust to do 300k+ miles as opposed to a Vito?

 

[CRASH67]

A Mercedes that well mantained it s sturdy van.
early one suffered from rust its not denied but what doesnt help is it not being delt with.
if you catch rust early enouogh it can be delt with, if you left the rust develope then it will look scabby lol.
Vitos are robust and pretty realiable. just need looking after

 

[nick mercedes]

im sorry but im i gotta disagre
Mercedes lernt alot for the first 638 and sprinter 903 CDI engines the early OM611s sufffered injectior issues which mercedes have sorted them the 639 vito were the first MB Vans with 646 engine and these to be have been pretty realiable.
as with all new models there were issues
but as said above aim for a 2005 (facelift) and you should go far wrong.
as we all vehicles you get the bad apple and speaking to many Vito customer the majority rave about it only a few hate it.

and on the plus side its one of the best looking vans in its glass.

But a 646 and a 611 are near enough the same engine and share the same tedious problems, it's not the engines that are the issue it's everything that attaches to them that seems to fail, or leak, or fail and then sieze in place...

Still MB are in bed with Renault now for LGVs so the next Vito will hopefully be a Trafic in disguise and will be a bit more durable.

 

[nick mercedes]

Vitos are robust and pretty realiable. just need looking after

Constant painting a bit like the forth bridge.

That said new shape Sprinters seem to rust well, so it's not just Vitos that are the issue.

 

[CRASH67]

new sprinters dont seem to be so bad.
sprinters on rust when the paint is scratched or damage then seems to open to alota rust.

 

[nick mercedes]

One last point- how many Transits/ Vivaros/ Trafics/ Boxers would you trust to do 300k+ miles as opposed to a Vito?

I've got a Vivaro which has done 97k in the last 12 months, and still looks good for it.

My Vitos/Sprinters rust the second they get a stone chip or a scratch, and always seem to have something that's leaking or needs attention.

I've got a Boxer which is a Fiat in disguise, and that does not rust when it gets scrapes and scratches.

If Fiat can build vans that don't rust away to nothing, why can't Mercedes?

 

[CRASH67]

I've got a Vivaro which has done 97k in the last 12 months, and still looks good for it.

My Vitos/Sprinters rust the second they get a stone chip or a scratch, and always seem to have something that's leaking or needs attention.

I've got a Boxer which is a Fiat in disguise, and that does not rust when it gets scrapes and scratches.

If Fiat can build vans that don't rust away to nothing, why can't Mercedes?

fair point well if you like you fiats so much youd be happy to know that the latest Mercedes 651 cdi engine is pretty much the same a a fiat engine.

 

[swannymere]

One of the first series Vito's has the title of being easily the worst vehicle i ever had the misfortune to own, unreliable, rusty and just plain crap even at only 3 years old. Do yourself a favour and buy a Transporter.

 

[CRASH67]

tbh i dont think many rated the 638 vito lol i hate them lol

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I've got a Vivaro which has done 97k in the last 12 months, and still looks good for it.

My Vitos/Sprinters rust the second they get a stone chip or a scratch, and always seem to have something that's leaking or needs attention.

I've got a Boxer which is a Fiat in disguise, and that does not rust when it gets scrapes and scratches.

If Fiat can build vans that don't rust away to nothing, why can't Mercedes?

If I could answer that, I would be a millionaire!

 

[BTB 500]

The 639 has plastic front wings and I'm pretty sure the bonnet is aluminium. As mentioned from approx. 2005 all the steel body panels are galvanised too.

 

[CRASH67]

2010/11 vito now has metal wings

 

[BTB 500]

2010/11 vito now has metal wings

Yup I saw that they were changing, but the OP is after a used van which would have the plastic wings.