Tag Archives: Sprinter

New Sprinter promises to be safest, most connected van

The new 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter – available to order now for delivery from June.

The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is now available to order, for delivery from June onwards. Prices for the new Sprinter model will start from £24,350 +VAT.

The new van breaks new ground for Mercedes and also for the van industry, with a string of firsts:

First Sprinter available with front wheel drive
First van model fitted with 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission (FWD models)
“Most advanced connectivity solution ever fitted to a van” — Mercedes PRO will provide 18 connected services customers can choose from at the time of launch
Sector-first safety features, including Active Brake Assist with pedestrian protection
MBUX – Mercedes-Benz User Experience. Carried over from the firm’s cars, the new Sprinter will get a 7-inch touchscreen as standard with features including DAB radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and steering wheel touch pads.

Range & Powertrain

The new Sprinter will be available in three wheelbases, four vehicle lengths, three roof heights and chassis van models.

There will also be a tourer (minibus) and a tractor head model for motorhome converters. This is basically a cab + front wheels with no chassis or rear wheels, allowing for a purpose built motorhome chassis to be fitted to the rear. It’s a sign that Mercedes is trying to go head-to-head with FIAT, whose Ducato model dominates the growing motorhome market.

Buyers will be able to choose between four-cylinder and V6 diesel engines, in line with the current engine lineup. FWD models will be available with the firm’s nine-speed automatic gearbox, while RWD models will have the option of a seven-speed auto.

Safety, Comfort & Connectivity

The firm has also raised the bar in terms of comfort. Keyless Start, multi-function steering wheel, the Mercedes MBUX infotainment system and improved storage. Personally I like the look of the new cab and drivers choosing the automatic option will get plenty of walk-through space from the driver’s seat – great for motorhomes.

Inside the new 2018 Sprinter.

There are big steps forward on safety, too.

One of the flagship safety features of the new van will be Active Brake Assist with pedestrian protection. This can brake the van automatically to avoid rear-end collisions and pedestrian collisions.

Other new features include Attention Assist (drowsiness detection), an Emergency Call system that dials 999 in the event of a crash and Rear Cross Alert, which brakes the van if an obstacle is detected while reversing.

Features aimed at fleet operators include built-in telematics services such as Eco Monitoring (fuel consumption) and Theft Management, which monitors the alarm and pre-defined geofences. Location data and servicing parameters can also be monitored.

Still the best?

It seems very likely to me that the new Sprinter will remain the class of the field in terms of safety, performance and quality. It will be interesting to see how many front-wheel drive models are sold — will operators abandon rear-wheel drive to cut weight and lower the floor?

New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter unveiled – first pics

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New 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the latest generation of its popular Sprinter van. As promised, the new model offers a wide range of telematics and safety systems then ever before.

The new model also offers an incredibly wide range of configuration options — no fewer than 1,700 different versions can be specified, including panel van, minibus, pickup, chassis cab, bus or traction head only.

The company is making a bold move to maintain its position as the van of choice in the logistics and supermarket sectors, but also targeting a greater presence in the motorhome sector, currently dominated by the Fiat Ducato.

To this end, Mercedes will be introducing its first ever front-wheel drive Sprinter models. Rest assured, however, as the standard rear-wheel drive and popular all-wheel drive variants will still be available. As before, most models will be 3.5t, but weights up to 5.5t will also be available.

Technical details are fairly limited so far, but we do know that an all-electric model will follow in 2019. In the meantime, here’s a picture showing the inside of the new van:

Inside the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. I like the minimalist but functional appearance.

The new Sprinter will be available across the UK Mercedes-Benz van dealer network from June 2018, with the eSprinter to follow in 2019.

150,000 miles per year in a van: “buy cheap, you buy twice”

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Where vans are concerned, if “you buy cheap, you buy twice”.

That’s the view of RH Logistics Managing Director Richard Hindle, who operates 12 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters alongside six French-built vehicles, delivering high-value hospital equipment throughout the UK and Europe.

The company’s Sprinters are a mix of panel vans and streamlined Lutons featured Eco Box bodies supplied by Manchester’s Alloy Bodies. These are built on long wheelbase Sprinter 316CDI chassis cabs and are — according to Mr Hindle — returning 32mpg on long distance work that sees the vans clock up 150,000 miles per year.

That’s a lot of miles by any standards. Such a testing usage cycle has enabled Mr Hindle to sort the wheat from the chaff in the van market. He says that after giving into the temptation of buying vans with a lower upfront price, he came to regret the decision:

Where vans are concerned, ‘You buy cheap, you buy twice’. We’ve tried various other makes of van and found that we get two-and-a-half, maybe three years’ use out of them, then they die. Whereas after the same period a Sprinter is still fresh and good to go again.”

He’s also happy with the brand image provided by Mercedes vans, saying that even after three years (and perhaps 450,000 miles), “they still look new”.

Mile-munching Sprinters stay fresh with Reman engines

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Mercedes-Benz Sprinters have a reputation as being some of the most reliable vans you can buy. But when you run a fleet of vans each doing at least 100,000 miles per year, you’re bound to run into problems occasionally.

That’s the situation Flying Fish Seafoods finds itself in. Based by the A30 in Indian Queens, Cornwall, the company’s drivers spend the day collecting fresh seafood from Cornish fish markets, before making overnight deliveries throughout the south of England.

High mileages mean that the vans need routine servicing every couple of months. And while Logistics Manager Harry Squires is at pains to stress that “the vans are superbly reliable”, the company gets extra peace of mind by having access to Mercedes Reman engines in addition to standard warranty repairs.

What this means is that if a van suffers a fault that will require a time-consuming repair, the dealer has the option of fitting a Reman — or remanufactured — engine to the van instead. This means it can be put back on the road quickly and in a predictable timeframe. Essential for high-value, tightly-scheduled delivery work.

Use of a Mercedes-Benz Reman engine means that the vans’ three-year, unlimited mileage warranty is unaffected. Food for thought.

Mercedes-Benz says new Sprinter will deliver “leap forward”

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The first picture of the new 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van

Mercedes-Benz has released the first details of the next-generation Sprinter van, which is due to be launched “during the first half of 2018”.

The design sketch above is all we’ve got to go on so far, but it’s clear that externally, at least, the new model will be an evolution not a revolution. That’s no bad thing, given how popular and effective the current van is.

It seems the main changes will be under the skin, in terms of configuration choices and safety and telematics systems.

Merc says the new vans will offer “full-spectrum mobility solutions for different sectors”. One change will be a comprehensive range of “driving assistance systems and connectivity services in combination with new telematics”.

This will bring a “leap forward in efficiency for vehicle and fleet management”. I’d expect a new level of specification, combining the driving assistance systems previously found on luxury cars with advanced commercial telematics.

Not all drivers will like this, but I suspect transport managers and van operators will be very keen; the new systems should cut costs and improve safety and accountability.

Mercedes says the that new van will be launched in Europe during the first half of 2018, with other markets to follow. Further details should be available come over the next few months.

Super-clean drainage engineer rewarded with gold Sprinter

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Aquaflow’s two new Sprinters — a gold Sprinter 314 CDI and a replica of the firm’s original van, a 1999 Sprinter 310D

When long-serving Aquaflow drainage engineer Neil George returns his vans at the end of a three-year replacement cycle, they are — in the words of boss Keith Borrett:

invariably as clean as the day he took delivery, if not cleaner

As a reward for taking such good care of his equipment, Neil has been allocated a one-off gold Sprinter, which is the firm’s 100th Mercedes-Benz van. This striking vehicle is fitted with black alloy wheels and a personal registration, MY 100 TH.

The new van has been fitted with a high-performance jetting machine for clearing blocked drains.

To celebrate its long relationship with vans beating the three-pointed star, Aquaflow has also acquired and restored a first-generation 1999 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which is now an exact replica of the firm’s first ever Mercedes van.

Nearly 20 years later, the company now runs a fleet of 45 vans, of which 35 are Mercedes. Managing Director Mr Borrett describes the Sprinter as “the foundation stone on which we’ve grown the company” and comments that out-of-hours servicing and great reliability means the vans are “always available for work when we need them”.

Aquaflow operates from a head office in Canterbury and a depot in Erith. It provides a comprehensive portfolio of plumbing, drainage, pump, tanker and mechanical services, as well as undertaking excavations and CCTV surveys.

Iceland Sprinter fleet tops 1,000 as PSM tech cuts costs

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Iceland’s 1000th Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Four years ago, supermarket Iceland decided to switch its entire delivery van fleet to Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. The frozen food specialist has just taken delivery of its 1,000th van and is within a few months of reaching its 100% target.

The attractions of the Sprinter to heavy duty users are well documented. Its reputation for durability and reliability are especially valuable. But unfortunately even the best vans are at risk of damage and unscheduled downtime due to driver error and avoidable collisions.

For example, in 2013, more than 30% of Iceland’s Sprinter vans had a non-start incident due to a flat battery within six months of delivery. The cause was usually a simple error like leaving an interior light switched on.

Management also had concerns about the level of minor damage caused by low-speed incidents.

After approaching Mercedes about these concerns, it turned out that Sprinters can be fitted with optional Parametric Special Modules (PSMs) at the factory. These are electronic units that can be used to access and control various performance parameters.

The PSM system appears to be surprisingly flexible. Iceland’s Sprinter vans are now delivered with PSM modules which apply a number of settings to the vans, including:

Activate hazards when reversing
Limit forward and reverse speed
Monitor battery voltage
Switch off interior lights automatically if they’re left on

The difference has been impressive. Since the PSM programme was introduced, flat battery incidents have fallen to just 5% of the Sprinter fleet.

Although some drivers may bemoan the Big Brother tendencies of such technology, it’s ability to cut costs and improve safety is invaluable for busy transport operations.

Mega-mile van operators choose Sprinters for reliability

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One of Hurst Plastics’ new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters

The Sprinter has been viewed as the top choice for high mileage van operations pretty much since its introduction in 1995.

That situation looks unlikely to change anytime soon, judging from comments made by two high-mileage fleet operators who’ve recently taken on new Sprinters.

Door manufacturer Hurst Plastics is unusual among its peers in that it delivers more than 99% of its doors using its own fleet of vans. With more than 1,500 doors and 7,500 fire safety panels heading out of the firm’s factory each month, this policy of in-house delivery means that the company’s vans work hard.

Hurst has just taken on 15 new Sprinters which are each expected to cover 100,000 miles a year. The company plans to keep them for three years and then review their condition before deciding whether to keep them on the road.

Tiffin Sandwiches Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

One of Tiffin Sandwiches’ new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with driver Jon Pilkington.

It’s a similar story albeit with a different product at Tiffin Sandwiches. The company has become one of the UK’s top wholesale sandwich producers. But shipping this many fresh sandwiches daily to customers all over the UK requires some wheel time.

Tiffin has purchased 21 long-bodied Sprinters over the last 18 months, including five 314 CDI Euro 6 models which have just entered service. All of the firm’s vans are converted for temperature-controlled operation and are expected to do up to 2,000 miles per week — or 100k per year.

Unlike Hurst, Tiffin has only recently switched to Sprinters. Fleet Manager Steve Gadd explains why:

“Our previous supplier’s vehicles were struggling to cope with the rigours of our delivery regime, while its after sales service was poor. We therefore approached Northside, and trialled a Sprinter for six months. It slotted into the fleet very well and didn’t miss a beat.

“Not only is the Sprinter more reliable, but it’s also impressively fuel-efficient. We’d been getting 22-24 mpg from our established vehicles, whereas the Mercedes-Benz vans are returning 28-30 mpg. Given the high mileages they cover, this improved economy equates to a big saving on our fuel bill, so we’ve allocated Sprinters to our longest routes and also sent a few down to London, where they excel in the stop-start traffic.”

Mr Gadd intends to replace Tiffin’s entire fleet with Sprinters as soon as possible. Back at Hurst Plastics, Transport Manager Jon Brake has more experience of the three-pointed star and is just as keen:

The Mercedes-Benz package is unbeatable. I’ve been with this company since 1999, and since then we’ve tried vehicles by various manufacturers. The Sprinter has been the best by a mile. It’s a real workhorse, highly robust and with far superior build quality, as well as being really nice to drive.”

Both companies’ latest vans are 314 CDI Euro 6 models, which use both BlueTEC Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR or AdBlue) and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) to minimise emissions and comply with the latest pollution regulation.

Merc burger van is flipping tasty

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The Grazing Shed’s new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter burger van conversion

When Cardiff-based restaurateur Duncan Black decided to expand his award-winning burger restaurant, The Grazing Shed, he decided to take his business on the road with a burger van.

The Grazing Shed was voted the Number One Burger Joint in Wales at the British Burger Awards 2016. Duncan’s ‘Super Tidy Burgers’ use only locally-sourced beef, fresh-baked artisanal bread and homemade sauces and chutneys. Clearly his mobile unit would need to be able to sustain the high standard of cooking, service and presentation his customers are used to.

The team had been selling at festivals and events since 2014, but always from temporary stalls. So Duncan and his colleagues already had an accurate idea of the kind of volume, storage and cooking capacity they’d need.

“We can be doing anything up to 200 burgers an hour at a festival. As well as grills big enough to cook the food in these high volumes, we also needed a walk-in fridge with sufficient capacity for all of the burgers and accompaniments we might need for a full day.”

They were also already familiar with Mercedes-Benz vans, as the company already ran a Vito Dualiner as a general runaround. The desire to combine mobility with the efficiency and convenience of a permanent setup led Duncan to opt for a custom-built Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van conversion.

The solution was a 3.5-tonne Sprinter 313 CDI chassis cab with purpose-designed body built by Commercial Truck Bodies, of Cardiff, and Carrier refrigeration unit. The van has been generously specified and came with options including air-conditioning, a satellite navigation system, light and rain sensors, and electrically-adjustable door mirrors.

The fuel-efficient vehicle has opened the door to many new opportunities to meet and serve the public, for example at corporate events, parties and even weddings. Manned by up to six members of The Grazing Shed team, it has also fed supporters outside Cardiff City FC’s ground, and the crowds which have descended on the popular Barry Island resort on sunny days.

Mercedes-Benz provides security for cash firm Loomis

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Mercedes-Benz is more willing than most manufacturers to stand behind its vehicles after they’re sold.

Not only does the firm offer free, lifetime Mobilovan breakdown cover on all vans serviced within its dealer network, but it’s also willing to provide fixed-cost service contracts for older vehicles.

A Loomis Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cash van during a delivery

Cash-in-transit specialist Loomis added 105 Sprinter cash vans to its fleet last year as part of an acquisition deal. They had previously been serviced by a third-party repair firm, not by franchised Mercedes dealers.

Despite this, Loomis’ fleet management partner, Contract Vehicles Limited, was still able to negotiate an eight-year Mercedes-Benz servicing, repair and maintenance contract for the new vans, including MobiloVan roadside assistance.

One of Loomis’ Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans being serviced at a Mercedes-Benz dealer.

Loomis Technical Services Manager Howard Oakley observed:

“No other manufacturer to my knowledge — and certainly not the other, mainstream van supplier that we’ve also used in the past — would commit to a comprehensive repair and maintenance contract for such an extended period.

“The fact that Mercedes-Benz is prepared to do so demonstrates the great faith it has in the reliability and durability of its products, a confidence which our own experience of operating its vans for over 25 years has proved to be well placed.”

Loomis plays a key role in managing the flow of cash in society, providing solutions that save money, protect from fraud and attack, and assist customers to analyse cash flow. As well as managing and replenishing ATM machines, it supports businesses with coin collection and delivery services.

Mr Oakley said:

“Mercedes-Benz vehicles are exceptionally reliable, which is vital given the nature of our work. Meanwhile, the manufacturer’s repair and maintenance contracts provide all-important security and peace of mind, predictable costs being invaluable when it comes to budgeting.

“Our vehicles are looked after by factory-trained technicians fitting only Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts. The fact that so many Mercedes-Benz workshops operate on a 24/7 basis is also important in helping us to restrict downtime to an absolute minimum. It’s imperative that we keep our vans on the road and if we were limited to 9-5 on weekdays and Saturday mornings it just wouldn’t work because, of course, we can’t simply go out and rent a replacement.”

Leeds-based CVL manages some 23,000 vehicles, many of which wear Mercedes-Benz three-pointed stars. Chief Executive Doug Smith commented:

“We are one of the biggest customers for Mercedes-Benz repair and maintenance contracts, and this allows us to negotiate highly competitive prices on behalf of the operators we represent.

In addition to the total of 505 Sprinters operated by Loomis, Mercedes-Benz also supplies all but a handful of the operator’s 250 trucks. Most of its Sprinters are converted 3.5-tonne panel vans although the line-up also includes a substantial number of box-bodied 5.0-tonne chassis cabs. The Sprinters are specified with varying grades of security protection, reflecting their different roles.

Loomis and CVL have been working together since 1998.

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Tag Archives: Sprinter

New Sprinter promises to be safest, most connected van

Range & Powertrain

Safety, Comfort & Connectivity

Still the best?

New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter unveiled – first pics

150,000 miles per year in a van: “buy cheap, you buy twice”

Mile-munching Sprinters stay fresh with Reman engines

Mercedes-Benz says new Sprinter will deliver “leap forward”

Super-clean drainage engineer rewarded with gold Sprinter

Iceland Sprinter fleet tops 1,000 as PSM tech cuts costs

Mega-mile van operators choose Sprinters for reliability

Merc burger van is flipping tasty

Mercedes-Benz provides security for cash firm Loomis