Looks good, drives OK but very flawed

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Mercedes Benz VITO 111CDI LWB Extra Long
★★☆☆☆
2.1
30.0% of users recommend this
  • Performance

  • Practicality

  • Reliability

  • Value For Money

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ruddlittle's review of Mercedes Benz VITO 111CDI LWB Extra Long

“Looks good, drives OK but very flawed ”

★★☆☆☆

written by ruddlittle on 08/12/2011

I Bought a pair of 111 vans in 2009 having been very happy with a 2001 Vito 110. The new van looks the part and drives more like a car but I should have suspected something when I paid the same amount for an equivalent van after 8 years....how do they do that?....by skimping on everything, that's how.

There's no temperature gauge and no warning when the washers are getting empty. The dash display panel would make a mobile phone feel cheap. The comfort seat has less padding. The metal body is made of thinner sheet and dents really easily.

The radio aerial is printed on the windscreen and a) is rubbish and b) breaks almost straight away. Mercedes dealer don't have access to proper aerials to attach to the body or din plates to upgrade the radios - unlike our local hifi place that keeps them in stock - "a lot of Vito owners buy them..."

I had a slight accident when someone reversed into me and we at first thought it was just the bonnet...how wrong we were. The radiator, grille, headlamps, air filter etc. etc. are plastic mouldings held in place with lugs. One tiny knock and all the lugs break off meaning you have to change all the parts!! The other car bill £250. Vito £3000. All for the sake of saving a few quid at the design stage.

Vito 2 leaked from new. After 14 months and many complaints Mercedes finally tracked down the problem to a faulty body weld in the roof. I asked for some 'goodwill gesture' and was told that Mercedes (despite having not welded the car properly) had no liability - my contract was with the dealer.

Unlike the humble Citroen Berlingo there is no catch to hold back the sliding doors - as I found to my cost when nearly decapitated after parking on a hill and leaning in to pick my daughter out of the back when the door self released from the lug that is meant to hold the door open but not at more than approx 5 degrees. Again, a fiver's worth of catch would make this much safer.

Come the snow, borrow a VW. Unlike the old VITO this new version is RWD and drives as well in the snow as my old Ford Capri. With little weight in the back it's lethal and that goes for wet roads and corners too.

My top tip. Don't be fooled by the badge. This is an expensive cheap van, not a cheap expensive one. There are far better ways to spend your money.

  • 2009

    Year Manufactured

  • since new

    Length of ownership

  • 5

    Doors

  • Performance

  • Practicality

  • Reliability

  • Value For Money

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Powerclocks's Response to ruddlittle's Review

Written on: 20/03/2014

I fell for the name also, The three Pointed Star, Mercedes should Share the emblem with the Proctologists Guild.

I can say without a doubt my 1999 108cdi Vito Van was one of the Best to Drive vans I have ever Driven (I have to qualify that comment, that is when it was running) This is the Great Deceit. You think, Drives Great, Sucker!!!

So Far I have Replaced the Glow Plugs, Glow Plug Relay, Full Set of Injectors, Fuel Lines and Now the Computer, it continues to go into limp home mode, (who devised that scheme to keep you coming back to the workshop) all this after the previous owner replaced the motor at 140,000k, It has rust in the roof and 90% of mechanics politely say, "I don't not want to work on it, take it somewhere else!" Way to go Mercedes, product Recognition in the Industry!

Grand total so far $5500.00 in six months not including the motor swap done by the previous owner, I removed the Water Bottle to get at some hoses and when I applied just a little pressure to the Water Bottle it crumbled in my hand, Bio-Degradable Plastic? looks like Mercedes are on to something? made to last 10 years then crumble to dust!

p.s The computer had a faulty capacitor, it leaked and burned the case and motherboard, Mercedes takes no responsibility, just put out the hand for $3000.00 for a new one, I had a second hand one cloned to match mine (against their advise) and had them refit it, this is still being done as we speak so I cant add that cost yet to the tally, so it's $5500.00 + Motor (second hand $4500.00) $250.00 for a replacement computer + $300.00 for reprogramming + whatever Mercedes Charge me, probably another $1000.00 knowing how they operate.

I should have known after I saw no end of Mercedes Vito Vans on e-Bay selling for under $1000.00, all around 10 years - 14 years old and only around 240,000ks Is that pathetic or what? Even 2007 Vans can be snapped up for around $4500.00, Tax Losses Galore! Someone needs to get a Class Action Going against Mercedes, tell them to stop pouring mega millions into F1 and start making quality product again. Is it any wonder Kia, Hyundai and Renault are expanding their market at Mercedes expense. Mercedes 100 Years Gone! Learned Nothing. Once comedians get a hold on them and the Champagne set go somewhere else for their Glitz Fix it will be Sionara Mercedes and Good Riddance!

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Jeff-Of-Vito's Response to ruddlittle's Review

Written on: 26/01/2015

You are so right !!

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