I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this issue.  If folks
want to buy Sprinters that is fine with me.  I do see them all kitted out
for traveling when I am in Belize so I know from experience they can make
it that far south at least.  ☺.  I wish you safe travels with yours.

Ken

On Tue, Apr 28, 2015, 1:37 PM Karl <tdiguru@westyventures.com> wrote:

> I would say that was an isolated incident and there was more to the
> story than a mere dead battery. Think about it - if every early Sprinter
> owner who changes a battery had to go through this, no one would ever
> buy or keep one. Perhaps someone attempted a jumpstart incorrectly and
> corrupted things? I replaced the battery on mine (an '03
> Freightliner-badged 3500) as it was nearing the end of it's lifespan, no
> problem whatsoever.
> Brake parts are super easy to find in almost every brand you could want
> and for comparable prices to the ones I bought for my Vanagon. I sourced
> all of my new brake parts (to make everything new on the build) through
> Rock Auto. Even the discs were very reasonably priced. I bought the
> Mercedes parts catalog for the entire world (e-version) and parts are
> extremely well priced through Dodge dealers and even some Mercedes
> dealers online. I have yet to be shocked by any parts prices.
> For any faults or recoding, it is fairly easy to buy a clone of the
> Mercedes diagnostics system for under $500. With Sprinters sold just
> about everywhere in the world, I have no qualms about making it my
> choice for world travel. Diesel fuel quality is not a problem south of
> the border, filters are not expensive either.
> Karl
>
> On 4/28/2015 4:11 AM, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) wrote:
> > Karl, I am speaking from experience.  The early Sprinter (I think it was
> > an 01) battery went dead and it corrupted the coding in the ECU so the
> > immobilizer would no longer allow the van to start.  We went through all
> > of the rigamorole I described just to get it to start up again.  I wish
> > it wasn't true but I experienced that.  I also personally serviced my
> > brother's 2004 passenger Sprinter.  The brake parts all had Mercedes
> > emblems on them and they were expensive.  I have about 16 years worth of
> > sourcing aftermarket parts and I couldn't find any for the van.
> >
> > What year is the Sprinter you are dealing with?  Maybe parts have gotten
> > easier to get as time has gone on.  The biggest weakness I see is the
> > immobilizer system which requires access to MB via the internet to get
> > things back online and this can only be done by a very few locksmiths
> > around the country or the MB dealer.  I wish you the best with your
> > Sprinter, hopefully you will never have to deal with these issues.
> >
> > Ken
> >
> >
>
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