1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188 
Sprinter ready for second life
Page 70
Page 71
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Every other week, CM will be dropping in on dealers to see what's on offer and taking a closer look at the stock.
This week we're taking a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter out for a spin. W723 URD comes with a desirable and versatile 11ft 3in alloy Luton body from Rohill.
The 3ft tall Luton head comes with a token aerodynamic front panel made from GRP,and offers a useful amount of extra volume compared with a straight box-van.The interior is well provided with lashing rails and ply bump panels.Access to the box is through a roller shutter and a lightweight DEL Slim Jim tail-lift with 500kg alloy platform and hinged edges. Mercedes' contribution is the single rear-wheel chassis powered by the middle one of the three 2.2-litre common-rail four-pot engines available. Transmission is the five-speed manual with its dash-mounted gearchange. The cab's spec includes dual passenger seat, Mercedes radio/cassette player and immobiliser.
Condition
The fact that Sprinter Luton had not yet been prepared for sale gave a realistic idea of its history It came direct to Rossetts from a local garden centre, where it was neither overworked nor over-cherished. The cab is dirty, but a vacuum and wipedown with a damp rag should restore it to 99% of its new condition.The only noteworthy fault inside is some unsightly fraying around the edge of the gear lever gaiter, although a sturdy heel has worn the floor mat fairly thin behind the clutch pedal and the driver's door panel needs relocating.
Outside is not quite so good.There are a couple of small but noticeable dings on the passenger door, while the extended mirrors and bumper corners literally bear witness to some close scrapes but little that wouldn't polish out. Both mirrors are missing the plastic covers over their mountings.There's a tiny chip in the screen and a couple of tiny stone chips at the rear edge of the bonnet. A patch of bare metal in the step-well, probably worn by the above-mentioned boots, needs attention before winter and rust set in.
The body is in generally very good order, free from any major dents, although the outline of the vinyl signage remains just visible. There is an externally tidy repair to the vulnerable top left corner of the body, and the roller shutter guides need tidying.The tail-lift functions correctly and quietly, but some surface cosmetic rust bubbling under the paint on the steel framework lets down the overall appearance.
Mechanically, everything looks clean, leak-free and as it should. The original type of Michelin Agilis tyres range from less than a third worn to virtually new.
Driving
These days, 53,300 miles is barely run-in, and the driving experience of W723 URD reflects this. It started first touch and really drove like a new vehicle, with no squeaks or rattles evident. Everything in the cab works properly.
Bottom line
This Sprinter comes with Mercedes' six-month Signature warranty, earned by passing a 160point inspection. Its MoT is current untilApril 2004, while its price seems a bit high compared with CA13's retail value of £10,695 for a lowmileage Luton.The tail-lift should appeal to the right buyer. With a decent valet inside and out, and a little paintwork rectification, W723 URD should have a productive second life with a buyer prepared to do a bit of hard bargaining. •