How many miles...?!

[mean_in_green]

Hi,

Thought it worth typing a few words down in here after coming across the forum via yahoo group.

I've got a 2000 416 CDI, which I bought new in Belgium. Although I live in the UK, I travel all around europe in it. Im in Monaco at the moment, working on the preparations for the Grand Prix in a few week's time.

I can't tell you how impressed with the 416 I am. On the way down here the other day the speedo clocked 666666.6km. I don't reckon that's bad. It's on the original engine and gearbox. Infact, the head's never been off it and totally oil tight.

It's had, AFAICR:

3 clutches with flywheels
3 alternators
2 batteries
2 pulleys
2 injectors
1 high pressure fuel pump
1 glow plug relay
1 aircon condenser
2 exhausts

Not bad for a van that lives in the wet and salt that passes for normal here in the UK and Scandinavia (I remember getting new brakes fitted in Athens last year. The mechanics had never seen such badly corroded disks). It still looks mint. Last week one of my customers thought I'd bought a new van (justified the extra cost of non standard paint from the factory eh?)

Anyway, I'm glad to have found this excellent resource and look forward to contributing further.

Bye for now,

MIG.

[sikwan]

Welcome MIG!

Post pics of your Sprinter if you can.

I have a long ways to go. I only have 13000 miles on mine.

Seek

[mean_in_green]

Pictures? - my pleasure. See relevant place.

[BaywoodBill]

Thanks for the list of your repairs mean-in-green. I read your post over on Yahoo and asked you to tell us what you had done. The brakes you got in Athens -- you left them off your list. How many times have you had to redo the brakes?

Good to have you here and we do hope to hear more of your experiences.

[mean_in_green]

My apology if I didn't reply to your other message.

Brakes and disks - I seem to get about 125,000 miles out of a set of pads. The disks aren't worn to excess at that point, but wouldn't out last the next set of pads so I usually get them done all together when the pads are worn out.

I've found that the pad wear indicator light sometimes doesn't come on to let you know they're getting low. Guess how I found that out...

I was driving through the Brenner Pass in Northern Italy on my way to get a ferry from Venice when I heard a horrendous metal on metal noise from the front during braking. Not nice. Didn't want to miss the boat as there's only one a day. Managed to make it to the port, then onto the boat to Greece. Found a dealer in Athens and booked myself in using the internet on the boat, limped the 100miles or so into Athens and they sorted it nicely.

I also find the handbrake wears to a certain point fairly quickly, then doesn't really respond to adjustment on the cam underneath.

The only time I've ever been actually stranded in this van is when a pump failed on the gearbox. Actually I've just realised I missed that off the repairs list. It failed at only four months old strangely.

When I bought it Service Assyst was an option. I had it, and infact it quickly became standard equipment afterwards. I stick to the Assyst schedule for maintainence, but acknowledge my use is probably ideal for longevity.

[jdcaples]

Originally Posted by mean_in_green

My apology if I didn't reply to your other message.

Brakes and disks - I seem to get about 125,000 miles out of a set of pads. The disks aren't worn to excess at that point, but wouldn't out last the next set of pads so I usually get them done all together when the pads are worn out.

I've found that the pad wear indicator light sometimes doesn't come on to let you know they're getting low. Guess how I found that out...

I was driving through the Brenner Pass in Northern Italy on my way to get a ferry from Venice when I heard a horrendous metal on metal noise from the front during braking. Not nice. Didn't want to miss the boat as there's only one a day. Managed to make it to the port, then onto the boat to Greece. Found a dealer in Athens and booked myself in using the internet on the boat, limped the 100miles or so into Athens and they sorted it nicely.

I also find the handbrake wears to a certain point fairly quickly, then doesn't really respond to adjustment on the cam underneath.

The only time I've ever been actually stranded in this van is when a pump failed on the gearbox. Actually I've just realised I missed that off the repairs list. It failed at only four months old strangely.

When I bought it Service Assyst was an option. I had it, and infact it quickly became standard equipment afterwards. I stick to the Assyst schedule for maintainence, but acknowledge my use is probably ideal for longevity.

Good to know about the hand brake..... I've been to that ferry doc in Venice. I can't imagine driving a ~3 metre tall vehicle through what I remember being a pretty, tight, congested and crowded area. Then again, there was a lot of construction...

It must be nice to be able to find competent dealers so far from home that aren't afraid of your vehicle.

Good post!

-Jon

[mean_in_green]

It's chaos trying to get on a boat there isn't it?! No queues, just a mass of people and vehicles all headed for one ramp, one harrassed official with a whistle...

That was where I saw my highest indicated outside temperature to date: 40 degrees.

The lowest is -37, which was in Finland.

[jdcaples]

Originally Posted by mean_in_green

It's chaos trying to get on a boat there isn't it?! No queues, just a mass of people and vehicles all headed for one ramp, one harrassed official with a whistle...

That was where I saw my highest indicated outside temperature to date: 40 degrees.

The lowest is -37, which was in Finland.

It was the same when I was there.

How they've kept the water from swallowing up all all that masonary, all these years, has to be one of the world's miracles of accidental engineering.

40.... Richard, does your NT crew encounter much above 43-44?

I've only been in Helsinki once, and that was in June. My genetic configuration is not spec'd for minus anything.

Thanks for sharing, MIG

-Jon