No NO No! You have not made a mistake!!. Theses Mercedes vans are the best campers you can own. I bought a 1970 L406DG camper conversion 25 years ago, in a pretty ropey state bodywise. I still own it and it has seen regular use every year. They are one of the easiest vehicles to maintain that I have ever owned. Spares are readily available, and because of the generic construction of these vehicles in the late 20th centuary, many later parts fit or can be adapted .Mercedes like these rarely break down ( usually due to poor maintenance) and when they do- often they can be fixed on te side of the road. Mine does 20mpg on a run, not bad for a 4tonne vehicle ,its only a 60hp engine and will cruise all day long at 55mph. Never fails to start. The bodywork is easy to repair and many panels are still available. I have no idea what mileage this vehicle has done, it was used up till 1982 as a post delivery van in Germany. So it must be coming up to 500.000 miles!! They simple dont wear out. I have done little maintenance on the chain driven 2179cc ( 220 D) engine, other than change the oil & coolant regularly and adjust the tappets. Inside is comfy, spacious and at 1.9m hieght I can stand upright in it with ease. It is an absolute pleasure to drive long distance ( bottom of Spain and back from uk). I prefer driving it to any car I owned Stick with the 508 -- and drive it, you will soon learn to love it !
I once bought a Mercedes-Benz with that dreadfully slow OM616 engines. The bugs flew into it from behind. Zero to 60mph in 14 days. BUT: she taught me to adapt to her laid-back style. It had made me a more relaxed person. Like the old Merc, I learned to plan ahead for more traveling time, to arrive rested. A good thing, as 🇿🇦 is a beautiful country. It doesn't have to zip past. I sold the old bird at 768 000km, still as original as from the factory, except for fluids, filters, brake pads and some light bulbs. Never touched mechanical bits with my socket set. Oh, I sold her maybe 1997, that divorce was a mistake. Every day, I still long for her comfort, her pliant ride, her gruffly engine tone, the eager vibration at traffic stops and that momentary jerking when you cut the engine. She was a 1976 babe and, given her rate of decay, easily would have seen 2076, by which time I'll be long gone. Never disrespect an old Diesel Mercedes-Benz. Legends come with the original invoice.
I bought one in 1998. Sold it and bought a 609 in 1999. Still have it . Keep your crappy sprinters ivecos transits etc. I pass plenty of them broken down.
Amen. My family is trucking on with our - 1981 508 4liter d. We keep her well maintained and enjoy the world with these old school reliable work horse.
I think it's more commonly referred to as complete lack of knowledge. You're on about all kinds of modern amenities.... a vehicle like this deserves a better owner. That's the kindest think I can say. @@bardwithwings2950
Some other positives of this van, you have a true million mile engine which was produced during the hayday of Mercedes, this van also is the number 1 van for running on vegetable oil due to a precombustion chamber and when running on veg oil is much quieter. And best of all as you own it, it appreciates in value every year unlike any sprinter. Important to keep weight down on conversion not too much heavy wood.. lightweight ply.
I got you, but these are all beginners feelings. Everyone does mistakes. When you will drive it for a week, you will get the habit of it, the size won't be a problem anymore. Regarding the engine, you can swap a 130HP in it, no problem. Moreover, instead of complaining it is too slow, why wouldn't you try the other way and live your life a little slower? It's just my 2c, no judgement here.
Amen. I got an -81 508 4 liter d me and my wife love all about this old school work horse. We love the simplicity and reliability of it. We are never in a hurry just soak up the scenery as we go.
Dont take to heart his negativity. He talks like a spoiled kid. You need old school attitude with these. When on the road reliability and fixability are the most important factors. These trucks are driven all over the world high up on Afghanistan mountains goat paths to Indian roads. They are built to work and by god they will work. When I want a rest from the noise I drive with bluetooth earprotection so i can listen to anything or talk with my spouse via that. Where is the hurry? On vacation Im never in a hurry just soaking up the scenery. 80-90kmh is well enough. Although I have the big 4liter diesel engine so she doesnt slow down much at all in hills. Dont be scared by this boys defeated feelings. These old hard working vans are diamonds.
Wir haben einen 709d ehem.Verkaufswagen zum Womo umgebaut,bei mir war es liebe 💓 auf den ersten Blick.Bei meiner Frau 👩 hat es lange gedauert.Jetzt würden wir nicht mehr eintauschen. Ja er ist laut und nicht der schnellste,aber dieses Tackern macht süchtig,wir lieben 🥰 ihn….
Ich werde mir demnächst einen mittellangen 508 D kaufen. Ein guter Bekannter verkauft mir seinen für 4000€. Wenig Rost und den guten 3,8L Motor mit 86PS. Bisher lebe ich vollzeit in meinem VW LT28 von 1978. Diese alten Fahrzeuge finde ich einfach super und die Punkte die dich so stören, stören mich überhaupt nicht. Eher im Gegenteil, ich finds geil :D.
so you bought a t2 today, 1st job is rust hunting , second job swap the engine, third look into sprinter brakes then the rest is up to you. This goes for all olv vans by the way.
Really its slow no freaking sh.. but they are so nice to drive i would never trade the one i got. Indestructible engine. i got 1,778.000KM on the mark now
I'm sure many are thinking, what an idiot. But it's honest and certainly helps others. If you want to drive a lot and fast, you won't be happy with a car like this.With a lot of material and work, the noise level can be significantly reduced, but the 79 hp remains, plus the lack of power steering and air conditioning. It is also no wonder that the old but newer Mercedes T2 or Vario models with 95, 110 or 140 hp are far more expensive.
lol I actually thought about exchanging the engine (basically the only thing I didn"t like about the rig) with an electric drive 😅🙈 I know it's considered kind of a sacrilege with a lot of people but I still think it's the perfect fit. You get all the old-timey charme with basically none of the drawbacks. 😎 But it would have cost me somewhere about 50k Euros that I simply don't have atm. 🤷♂️
80kmh top speed is a lie, it makes 88 the slower model up to 97kmh the one with faster differential. 508/608D Best vans ever, have them for 10years, now i have 1 and had another 3already but kept on selling to scale to bigger size. You don't know what you are looking at bro, that engine drives on anything and all the mechanics are the most reliable thing ever :) years ahead of any T5 :))
I have a 508d from 1977 I love them and I'm restaurated this one for 2 years only the car outside and under the car. It's hard work but I love this car
If you made a bad choice is your fault not the model. Best model made ever. Sprinters will rot and 508d will last for ever even full rust. Who buys a van without testing it or learn about it?
i own two 1967 309d buses, a shorty 2950mm with sliding front doors and a 3500mm with hinged swing out style front doors, both high tops. as for the width you refer to they're always felt nimble to me at slower city speeds. the longer one is about 18' which allows for parking with cars in most lots. they are very large vehicles and can feel like a truck with old-fashioned brakes. your statement that this series 309.xxx series is the forerunner to the Sprinter is incorrect. Mercedes made the 319.xxx series in Bremen-smaller different sized vehicle. the 309 was made in Düsseldorf, therefore their nickname, Düsseldorfer or Dodo. im attaching a link to the pov video clip the previous owner made prior to the sale to me. fyi-we traded even up for my fully restored 1972 220d with a certified factory remanufactured engine. Düdo pov: ruclips.net/video/qzL0hytXXPw/видео.html enjoyed your video. sorry about your circumstance. gonna check out your channel for your next vehicle. good luck always 🍀🍀
Wow! yes thx. 🙏 I kinda put RUclips in pause for now, since I feel overwhelmed, creating videos AND building my Sprinter at the moment (sorry) but I plan on posting more stuff, thats more travel and music related agan, beginning April.
WHAHAHAA.. it's the strongest most reliable van you can buy!! You can isolate the noise! Only thing i agree, you never need to be in a rush. I traveled the world without a problem with a even smaller engine in it. The starting noise at the end.. there is something wrong!! Never had a noise like this!! Good luck you modern guy, not a real traveler or 'hippie' i ques.. more a hipster pretending to be??
Haha, nice. 😅 Da braucht man dann auch den Motor nicht für. 😎 Seriously though: I wouldn't really call it a misadventure. I was a bit naiv and not very well informed when I made the purchase. Now i know better and it has been an experience to drive for sure. ☺️ I personally couldn't live with that engine but I totally get why people like these vans so much.
mate that was the most whinging boring rant I've heard. How difficult is it to put a vent in? 1 hour of work? Sounds like nothing will ever do the job for you... everything is a compromise in life. If you want to eat the miles, buy a little Diesel kombi.
No NO No! You have not made a mistake!!. Theses Mercedes vans are the best campers you can own.
I bought a 1970 L406DG camper conversion 25 years ago, in a pretty ropey state bodywise. I still own it and it has seen regular use every year. They are one of the easiest vehicles to maintain that I have ever owned. Spares are readily available, and because of the generic construction of these vehicles in the late 20th centuary, many later parts fit or can be adapted .Mercedes like these rarely break down ( usually due to poor maintenance) and when they do- often they can be fixed on te side of the road.
Mine does 20mpg on a run, not bad for a 4tonne vehicle ,its only a 60hp engine and will cruise all day long at 55mph. Never fails to start. The bodywork is easy to repair and many panels are still available. I have no idea what mileage this vehicle has done, it was used up till 1982 as a post delivery van in Germany. So it must be coming up to 500.000 miles!! They simple dont wear out. I have done little maintenance on the chain driven 2179cc ( 220 D) engine, other than change the oil & coolant regularly and adjust the tappets.
Inside is comfy, spacious and at 1.9m hieght I can stand upright in it with ease. It is an absolute pleasure to drive long distance ( bottom of Spain and back from uk). I prefer driving it to any car I owned
Stick with the 508 -- and drive it, you will soon learn to love it !
I drive with bluetooth earprotections. Slow speed doesnt bother me at all. These trucks are not for the weak.
I once bought a Mercedes-Benz with that dreadfully slow OM616 engines. The bugs flew into it from behind. Zero to 60mph in 14 days. BUT: she taught me to adapt to her laid-back style. It had made me a more relaxed person. Like the old Merc, I learned to plan ahead for more traveling time, to arrive rested. A good thing, as 🇿🇦 is a beautiful country. It doesn't have to zip past. I sold the old bird at 768 000km, still as original as from the factory, except for fluids, filters, brake pads and some light bulbs. Never touched mechanical bits with my socket set. Oh, I sold her maybe 1997, that divorce was a mistake. Every day, I still long for her comfort, her pliant ride, her gruffly engine tone, the eager vibration at traffic stops and that momentary jerking when you cut the engine. She was a 1976 babe and, given her rate of decay, easily would have seen 2076, by which time I'll be long gone. Never disrespect an old Diesel Mercedes-Benz. Legends come with the original invoice.
I bought one in 1998. Sold it and bought a 609 in 1999. Still have it . Keep your crappy sprinters ivecos transits etc. I pass plenty of them broken down.
Amen. My family is trucking on with our - 1981 508 4liter d. We keep her well maintained and enjoy the world with these old school reliable work horse.
You buy an old 508d and the realise it’s slow and loud... that my friend is very poor research. What did you expect?
Ya, I know. I guess that's what they call 'rose tinted glasses' 😅
bard with wings 😆
I think it's more commonly referred to as complete lack of knowledge. You're on about all kinds of modern amenities.... a vehicle like this deserves a better owner. That's the kindest think I can say.
@@bardwithwings2950
i had two 407d pickups, still love them. you have the slow back axle. there where two different axles. mine drove 110.
Some other positives of this van, you have a true million mile engine which was produced during the hayday of Mercedes, this van also is the number 1 van for running on vegetable oil due to a precombustion chamber and when running on veg oil is much quieter. And best of all as you own it, it appreciates in value every year unlike any sprinter. Important to keep weight down on conversion not too much heavy wood.. lightweight ply.
I got you, but these are all beginners feelings. Everyone does mistakes. When you will drive it for a week, you will get the habit of it, the size won't be a problem anymore. Regarding the engine, you can swap a 130HP in it, no problem. Moreover, instead of complaining it is too slow, why wouldn't you try the other way and live your life a little slower? It's just my 2c, no judgement here.
Amen. I got an -81 508 4 liter d me and my wife love all about this old school work horse. We love the simplicity and reliability of it. We are never in a hurry just soak up the scenery as we go.
These vans are awesome and now very collectable 👍
You've a lifesaver!. Hadn't thought of half of these. Best of luck to you. Peace & harmony man.
Paige
Dont take to heart his negativity. He talks like a spoiled kid. You need old school attitude with these. When on the road reliability and fixability are the most important factors. These trucks are driven all over the world high up on Afghanistan mountains goat paths to Indian roads. They are built to work and by god they will work. When I want a rest from the noise I drive with bluetooth earprotection so i can listen to anything or talk with my spouse via that. Where is the hurry? On vacation Im never in a hurry just soaking up the scenery. 80-90kmh is well enough. Although I have the big 4liter diesel engine so she doesnt slow down much at all in hills. Dont be scared by this boys defeated feelings. These old hard working vans are diamonds.
Wir haben einen 709d ehem.Verkaufswagen zum Womo umgebaut,bei mir war es liebe 💓 auf den ersten Blick.Bei meiner Frau 👩 hat es lange gedauert.Jetzt würden wir nicht mehr eintauschen. Ja er ist laut und nicht der schnellste,aber dieses Tackern macht süchtig,wir lieben 🥰 ihn….
If it’s a good one, it’s probably outlasting any spinter..
I am driving one since 1987, still have it, and there is no thought of ever getting rid of it.
Ich werde mir demnächst einen mittellangen 508 D kaufen. Ein guter Bekannter verkauft mir seinen für 4000€. Wenig Rost und den guten 3,8L Motor mit 86PS. Bisher lebe ich vollzeit in meinem VW LT28 von 1978. Diese alten Fahrzeuge finde ich einfach super und die Punkte die dich so stören, stören mich überhaupt nicht. Eher im Gegenteil, ich finds geil :D.
Is it still for sale? I am interested..... / Ist es immer noch im Angebot? ich bin interessiert
sorry. as you might have guessed it didn't take me too long to sell it again.
@@bardwithwings2950 I did'nt expect anything else, but is was worth the question..... hahaha. Thank you
Can you an early sprinter engine from a 312d in one of these?
WHERE i can buy one?? iam from portugal
so you bought a t2 today, 1st job is rust hunting , second job swap the engine, third look into sprinter brakes then the rest is up to you. This goes for all olv vans by the way.
Love it ,or hate it.I love my van with all his troubles!
yo, do you wanna sell it?
Problem alot of people find is it's not a car is a tiny old lorry
Really its slow no freaking sh.. but they are so nice to drive i would never trade the one i got. Indestructible engine. i got 1,778.000KM on the mark now
WOW, now that's something !!!!!!!!
I'm sure many are thinking, what an idiot. But it's honest and certainly helps others. If you want to drive a lot and fast, you won't be happy with a car like this.With a lot of material and work, the noise level can be significantly reduced, but the 79 hp remains, plus the lack of power steering and air conditioning. It is also no wonder that the old but newer Mercedes T2 or Vario models with 95, 110 or 140 hp are far more expensive.
Best van ever...
you can swap the engine and rear axle and vastly improve the performance
lol I actually thought about exchanging the engine (basically the only thing I didn"t like about the rig) with an electric drive 😅🙈
I know it's considered kind of a sacrilege with a lot of people but I still think it's the perfect fit. You get all the old-timey charme with basically none of the drawbacks. 😎
But it would have cost me somewhere about 50k Euros that I simply don't have atm. 🤷♂️
@@bardwithwings2950 50 thousand euros 😯 wow!
What engine and rear axle would you recommend?
@@nosequiters OM364(L)A and the HL0/6 36:11 axle is a great combination.
Recommend a old american van with v8 on petrol. Lots of power cheap parts and also simpel andd no noise
It's not a van. It's an old mini truck!
80kmh top speed is a lie, it makes 88 the slower model up to 97kmh the one with faster differential.
508/608D Best vans ever, have them for 10years, now i have 1 and had another 3already but kept on selling to scale to bigger size.
You don't know what you are looking at bro, that engine drives on anything and all the mechanics are the most reliable thing ever :) years ahead of any T5 :))
Those cars are for professionals and for rough men
I have a 508d from 1977 I love them and I'm restaurated this one for 2 years only the car outside and under the car. It's hard work but I love this car
@@hatemono i know the feeling mate
it's a nice van! it is much better than ours
If you made a bad choice is your fault not the model. Best model made ever. Sprinters will rot and 508d will last for ever even full rust. Who buys a van without testing it or learn about it?
should read Düdo
Definitely the right Mercedes for the right person.
Man quit crying that's a bullet proof car
I hope it all worked out for you?
i own two 1967 309d buses, a shorty 2950mm with sliding front doors and a 3500mm with hinged swing out style front doors, both high tops. as for the width you refer to they're always felt nimble to me at slower city speeds. the longer one is about 18' which allows for parking with cars in most lots. they are very large vehicles and can feel like a truck with old-fashioned brakes.
your statement that this series 309.xxx series is the forerunner to the Sprinter is incorrect. Mercedes made the 319.xxx series in Bremen-smaller different sized vehicle. the 309 was made in Düsseldorf, therefore their nickname, Düsseldorfer or Dodo.
im attaching a link to the pov video clip the previous owner made prior to the sale to me. fyi-we traded even up for my fully restored 1972 220d with a certified factory remanufactured engine.
Düdo pov: ruclips.net/video/qzL0hytXXPw/видео.html
enjoyed your video. sorry about your circumstance. gonna check out your channel for your next vehicle. good luck always 🍀🍀
Hi kinda is right though, the Sprinter replaced both T1 Bremer and T2 Vario
Have you sold the van now?
10 subs wooo !
Wow! yes thx. 🙏
I kinda put RUclips in pause for now, since I feel overwhelmed, creating videos AND building my Sprinter at the moment (sorry) but I plan on posting more stuff, thats more travel and music related agan, beginning April.
referring to your last words, the same goes for woman.
The moral of the story is actually think before you act. Simple.
Nice van though.
WHAHAHAA.. it's the strongest most reliable van you can buy!!
You can isolate the noise!
Only thing i agree, you never need to be in a rush.
I traveled the world without a problem with a even smaller engine in it.
The starting noise at the end.. there is something wrong!! Never had a noise like this!!
Good luck you modern guy, not a real traveler or 'hippie' i ques.. more a hipster pretending to be??
Dude. Wtf. And you didnt know this before buying?? 😂
underestimated the gravitas of those things I guess. 🤷♂️🙈
The problem is not the car belive me
Sorry about your misadventure ! alte Lieferwagen machen wunderbare Hühnerställe
Haha, nice. 😅 Da braucht man dann auch den Motor nicht für. 😎
Seriously though: I wouldn't really call it a misadventure. I was a bit naiv and not very well informed when I made the purchase. Now i know better and it has been an experience to drive for sure. ☺️
I personally couldn't live with that engine but I totally get why people like these vans so much.
mate that was the most whinging boring rant I've heard. How difficult is it to put a vent in? 1 hour of work? Sounds like nothing will ever do the job for you... everything is a compromise in life. If you want to eat the miles, buy a little Diesel kombi.
keine Ahnung was der für ein Problem hat
Hihi kanns auch ni nachvollziehen
good luck ;) bye bye MOUNTIE
Those are absolute shitboxes