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Old 08-01-2014, 11:52 AM   #1
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MB Sprinter vans & rust

Since my wife and I have been getting more serious about being SMBers we have been noticing rust issues on a lot of the delivery Sprinter vans (like FedEx) that are running around. Is this an issue with SMB? We plan to buy a new van for conversion through SMB Indiana in a couple of years. Has MB taken steps to correct this issue or does SMB take preventative measures?

I'm grateful for any input!

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Old 08-01-2014, 01:45 PM   #2
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Re: MB Sprinter vans & rust

I've read a lot of complaints about Sprinter rust issues - an SMB build won't change that.
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Old 08-01-2014, 01:50 PM   #3
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Re: MB Sprinter vans & rust

Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile
I've read a lot of complaints about Sprinter rust issues - an SMB build won't change that.
Yup, paint is apparently super thin, standard rock chips will take it down to bare metal. Buddy of mine has had to repaint his a couple times.
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Old 08-01-2014, 03:33 PM   #4
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Re: MB Sprinter vans & rust

Quote:
Originally Posted by rallypanam
Quote:
Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile
I've read a lot of complaints about Sprinter rust issues - an SMB build won't change that.
Yup, paint is apparently super thin, standard rock chips will take it down to bare metal. Buddy of mine has had to repaint his a couple times.
Read the many threads over in Sprinter forum for opinions on this. Some say paint has gotten better in the last couple-three years. I did have a minor scratch in the door frame area on my rig that had original factory paint, and it started rusting almost immediately. So I am not too impressed by the "improvement" claims.

My semi-beater BMW sedan lives a hard life, and NONE of the non-repaired scratches have rusted yet. It's an '08. The reason I call it the "semi-beater" is that although it's a nice car, it's our ONLY car, and it has to double in brass as a freight hauler on occasion, and sit third-chair on the percussion squad when parked and driven on San Francisco bay area streets! She has a hard life, the poor thing.
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Old 08-03-2014, 08:35 AM   #5
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Re: MB Sprinter vans & rust

Same here. My 215k BMW daily driver came from Michigan and has body rust (bubbles under paint) but they aren't getting any worse where I live. Underneath is where I think European cars/trucks shine. There is NO rust on mine or most I've seen. Perhaps they use better metal/treatment but cheaper paint?
As for delivery Sprinters, they get 'rode hard and put up wet' as the saying goes. They don't get washed in the winter and many stay parked outdoors. I think a privately owned one would fare much better.
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