2016-17 V4 vs. V6

Tower4pe

New member
Hello all...I am trying to decide which Sprinter to order.

I plan on a light build out for mtn. biking, camping, surfing etc.
Also plan on driving through the mountains Colorado etc. quite a bit along with retirement traveling around the States.

Any experiences shared would be helpful! Thank you!
 

Wrinkledpants

2017 144WB 4x4
I4, not a V4. It's an inline motor.

If you're choosing a 2WD van, go with the I4 - hands down. More fuel efficient, lighter, superior transmission (7-speed vs 5-speed) - there isn't much not to like about it. If you want a 4x4 Sprinter, then you only have one engine/transmission option - the V6 with a 5-speed trans.

The V6 only becomes beneficial for a small number of owners who have fully built-out Class C's and tow a 2nd vehicle. Even then, the I4 can still accomplish the task, just at a slower top speed when climbing big grades. You'll have no problem getting up and down mountains with a lighter build (relatively speaking) and Colorado elevations with the I4.
 

sailquik

Well-known member
Guys,
I totally agree that for the service described "a light build out for mtn. biking, camping, surfing etc.
Also plan on driving through the mountains Colorado etc. quite a bit along with retirement traveling around the States."
the 2016 OM-651 I4 2.143 liter 2 stage turbocharged Sprinter with the 7G-Tronic 7 speed fully automatic transmission
would be the better choice.
There are still some 2016 4 cylinder Sprinters on the dealers lots, but with an "off the lot" Sprinter you get whatever
options the dealer ordered and MB is very poor at adding any upgrades (trailer hitch/bi-xenon lights/back up camera) and
it's impossible to get any added "packages".
The ship has sailed on ordering a "build and equip" 4 cylinder 2017 Sprinter as the engines are still not approved.
Anyone have any idea how many Mercedes Benz sedans and SUVs also use the OM-651?
I'll bet there are a bunch of them, so are all those product lines also being held up for emissions approval on the
OM-651/7G-Tronic?
Guess we will just have to wait and see.
It seems totally ridiculous as the OM-651 was designed to be much "cleaner and greener" than the OM-642 V6 and
already meets Euro emissions standards significantly farther into the future and to higher standards than the OM-642 V6.
Guess maybe it's all the USA EPA Mandated junk (the DPF is only mandated in the USA I believe) that is actually causing the
OM-651 to be called into question here.
That's funny........engine is fine and meets or exceeds the standards in the Rest Of the World (ROW), but when the US EPA
mandated devices that will supposedly reduce emissions even further than the ROW specs are added they make a really
clean and green engine less clean and green.
It must drive the emissions systems engineers at MB in Germany completely nuts to have to redesign something that's
very clean to meet US EPA emissions requirements that are actually not as clean and green, but some vested interest
requires them to have the DPF.
Sure wish we knew who got to the politicians on this. They may be the real culprits here.
That's even funnier since I do not think any USA based companies make DPF's for Mercedes Benz to install in Sprinters
that are assembled in Germany and shipped to the USA.
Might get better in 2019 when the new Sprinter/Metris plant in North Charleston starts producing vehicles, but one
can only remain hopeful that smart/good things will ever actually happen with MB Sprinter USA/Daimler Vans USA LLC.
Roger
 

ENMeyer

Well-known member
I have an I4 and drive in the mountains of Colorado all the time (past few days, for example). No issues, unless you plan on drag-racing up the passes or towing something significant. You can maintain 70-75 mph up all the passes, but accelerating to pass takes a bit of time, on the steeper passes.

24 mpg is a very nice benefit of the I4.
 

Roadtripr

New member
Meanwhile I can buy a Ford superduty V8 diesel truck that gets 16mpg to commute in. It's likely to force costumers to by American produced vehicles. I doubt those will have the same restrictions on emission
 

Top Bottom