My tips on buying a used Mercedes Sprinter van

I thought I would share some tips on buying a used Mercedes Sprinter van.
In 2006 I bought a 1995 Sprinter 208D. It had done 190,000 miles, and was in fairly rough condition. I converted it into a camper van, and then drove the camper around western Europe for 9 months. The only problem I had on the entire trip was a glow plug stopped working. Not bad for an old van.
Here are my tips if you are thinking of buying one.

1. Check the glow plug light lights up on the dashboard before starting the engine. If a glow plug is not working the light won't come on. All Sprinter diesel engines have glow plugs.
2. Check the headlights. If the reflective material in the headlights are wearing away or showing signs of green then the headlights will need replacing for the next MOT.
3. Check the propshaft bearings. Get under the van and grab the propshaft. It it moves from side-to-side the bearings are worn. The whole propshaft has to be replaced as its a single unit.
4. Check the engine stops quickly when turning the key to the off position. This is more important on the 208D with the 2.3l engine, as the engine stop is pneumatic, and can be problematic to fix.
5. Check the rear door hinges are tight and secure. They can rot at the door end.
6. Check the seal around the windscreen is clean and there is no rust. Rust here is a big problem to fix.
7. Check the rear differential for signs of leaking. Also check for noise when driving along. It is easy to neglect maintenance of the differential.

I hope this information helps anyone thinking of buying a Mercedes Sprinter. I highly recommend these vans.