Hi just bought a 4x4 lwb sprinter

Craig4568

New member
Hi Guys just bought a 2013 4x4 camper conversion here in the uk its got a full great MB service history and just been MOT'ed ive had sprinters all my life in my business for 25 years around 50 vans in that time but never a 4x4 we plan on driving to Argentina in it this year once we ship to Canada if I take it to my local MB dealership what am I asking them to look out for and what must have limited space spares would you guys recommend I take with me.


Thanks in advance

Craig
 

borabora

Well-known member
If the van emissions system uses Bluetec (I don't know when or if Bluetec ever became mandatory in the UK) then you should discuss the use of low quality diesel with your mechanic and how to mitigate issues caused by such fuel in South America. Also what spares to carry and what and how much fluids to bring assuming spec fluids won't be readily available. I'd bring a full sized spare and equipment to change tires but wouldn't worry much more about tires.

Hope that you won't need repairs in North America because the prices will probably shock you. Some repairs might not be possible in some places in SA.
 

jasonconroy

🎵Everyone knows it's failman🎵
If you need 5W-40 or 10W-40 oil, bring some with you as it isn't always easy to find south of the border.
 
In reality, you bought an AWD. I know, picky, picky.

There is a difference in having locking differentials.

These vans, whether they are AWD or true 4 wheel drive with locking front and/or rear locking differentials will never be rock crawlers.

Having the advantage of a locking differential can get you out of a situation an AWD is not designed for. Therein lies the difference between an AWD and a 4wheel drive.

In my opinion. haha

Don't get stuck. Ramps can be a good thing when you most need them in AWD or 4wheel dr.
 

Ed463

Active member
One things for sure the spare that you need won't be the one you packed:)
We've not travelled to south America but have been through Western Africa a few times.
I take lightweight stuff such as:
Various relays.
Belts.
Crank sensor.
Plus "bodge it" type stuff such as liquid metal, zip ties, gas soldering iron etc.
A friend who works at a MB commercial dealer supplied the list below of his most common failure items.
Diesel quality in Africa is pretty variable but we had no issues. Maybe add a Racor secondary filter?
Also maybe get the Bluetec and dpf mapped out? But you're then running a non standard setup which I try to avoid. Purely from a reliability perspective.

OIL FILTER A642 180 00 09 £7.85
AIR FILTER A000 090 37 51 £11.76
FUEL FILTER A642 092 01 01 £22.70
BELT A001 993 38 96 21.36 X 690 £8.38
BELT A003 993 01 96 24.92 X 1969 £16.73
CRANK SENSOR A642 905 00 00 £24.73
FUEL PRESSURE RAIL SWITCH A006 153 65 28 £117.30
LEAK OFF PIPE A642 070 56 32 £63.32
WATER SWITCH IN FILTER A000 153 95 13 £44.19
THERMOSTAT A642 200 29 15 £40.63
BELT IDLER PULLEY A642 200 10 70 2 SAME FITTED £16.38
GEAR CABLES A906 260 17 51 PAIR £45.05
WHEEL BOLT A000 990 24 07 SIX REQUIRED £1.32 EACH
WIPER BLADES A906 820 11 00 PAIR £22.89
INTERCOOLER HOSE A906 528 22 82 £46.90
INTERCOOLER HOSE A906 528 03 82 £27.58
RADIATOR HOSE A906 501 05 82 £7.74
RADIATOR HOSE A906 501 04 82 £23.40
CLUTCH SWITCH A006 545 10 14 £8.41
BRAKE SWITCH A001 545 67 09 £9.92
BULBS AS REQUIRED

£567.18
 

Diver160651

170 ext 3500 4x4
In reality, you bought an AWD. I know, picky, picky.

There is a difference in having locking differentials.

These vans, whether they are AWD or true 4 wheel drive with locking front and/or rear locking differentials will never be rock crawlers.

Having the advantage of a locking differential can get you out of a situation an AWD is not designed for. Therein lies the difference between an AWD and a 4wheel drive.

In my opinion. haha

Don't get stuck. Ramps can be a good thing when you most need them in AWD or 4wheel dr.
Since you're being picky :)

Actually..

4WD does not have to have lockers between the left and right wheels, but usually a locked T-case between f/r. Usually, it's selectable, but not always, usually with various ranges but not always. True 4WD usually has less manners on pavement than AWD with it's center diff.

AWD is always engaged and usually has a center differential. You don't usually see extra low ranges in AWD or lockers, but some models will have the option to lock the center as well as others.
 

bytor

New member
To the OP - hi Craig. I'm in a similar position and based in the UK - have a LWB 516 4x4 (2014) model and shipping to Canada and then on to South America - hopefully all the way to Argentina.

I looked a lot into the fulel issues. Ours is a Bluetec (Euro 6) so has a DPF. You can get the DPF rmeoved but that would stricly speaking make it illegal in the UK from an MOT perspective - but once shipped.....

Saying that - fuel is improving and if you watch where you fill up - you might be OK.

These guys know more about fueling issues/driving in SA than just about anyone!!

Tucks' Truck - Overlanding the World in an Iveco Daily 4x4 (tuckstruck.net)

Good luck - hope to see you on the road!

Cheers
Dave
 

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