Hymer S700 or B694 (1 Viewer)

[johnnerontheroad]

:thumb:I'm torn between an early 1990s S700 or B694. The S700 on a merc 410D(2.8) and the B694 on a Fiat 2.5 TD, could anyone help with the pros and cons of each van from a mechanical point of view, the insides are about the same. Any info would be great.

:thanks2:

Dave

 

[mearscat]

Hi johnnerontheroad,
We have a 1992 S700 and we love it. The merc engine is a 2.9l 5- cyl non turbo. Probably the best engine mercedes ever built. Reputed to be good for over 1/2 million miles. The one problem is lack of power (95hp). Very noticable on hills, but cruises all day at 50mph unless its a big hill. I have been down to 18mph climbing up to Beachy Head. The S700 is also a 4.6 tonne max weight, so check your licence. In standard trim it has over a tonne of payload(no need to run with empty water tank etc). This is also 'old' Mercedes not the newer computerised rubbish. We are full time in ours and it can sit on site for a month then start first time ,every time. No electronics, just a good, basic diesel engine. Our automatic does about 22 mpg.
You are also very unlikely to get stuck on wet grass etc. as you have 4 driving wheels on the back also a limited slip diff.

I can not comment on the Fiat as I have no experience but older italian electrics don't have a very good reputation. I think it is also front wheel drive.

Allan


QUOTE=johnnerontheroad;157354]:thumb:I'm torn between an early 1990s S700 or B694. The S700 on a merc 410D(2.8) and the B694 on a Fiat 2.5 TD, could anyone help with the pros and cons of each van from a mechanical point of view, the insides are about the same. Any info would be great.

:thanks2:

Dave[/QUOTE]

 

[pieterv]

You should also look whether the vans have a double floor. I know newer B-class (not classics) do. Not sure about the merc based vans.

A double floor gives better insulation and more storage.

Pieter

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[takeaflight]

You don't get double floors with Merc based Hymers, due to rear wheel drive.

Roy

 

[johnnerontheroad]

So do the older Fiats have a double floor or are they only in the later models and is that from 95 when they changed the shape?

:thanks2:

Dave

 

[pieterv]

You don't get double floors with Merc based Hymers, due to rear wheel drive.

Roy

So you have a difficult choice. Quite apart from a preference many folks would have for Merc, you have the rear wheel drive (more traction on surfaces like wet grass) in the Merc against the double floor in the Fiat (to be confirmed by someone more knowledgeable what age of vehicle has this).

Here Deepcar Motorhomes International - Specialists in Hymer & Westfalia Motorhomes
is an outline of Hymer history (with the full article as a download at the bottom. I haven't read through it all, but maybe that will clarify.

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[lady jann]

:thumb:I'm torn between an early 1990s S700 or B694. The S700 on a merc 410D(2.8) and the B694 on a Fiat 2.5 TD, could anyone help with the pros and cons of each van from a mechanical point of view, the insides are about the same. Any info would be great.

:thanks2:

Dave

HI we have the B694 tagg with the fiat and are very pleased with it !

its great to lie in bed with your feet on the cieling

regards rayval.....:thumb:

 

[johnnerontheroad]

Just had a word with nice lady at Deepcar the double floor came in in 2001 but the tanks are internal apart from the grey tank on the older models. She said there may be a problem on the older Fiats for spares like hand break cables and head lights has anyone found this?:Confused:

Dave.

 

[scotjimland]

Hi Dave ,

I've always admired the older Hymers, especially the Merc chassis models, twin rear wheel drive, strong reliable engine without all the black box nonsense, so for me it would be a no brainer .. One day I will down size, and they would be high on my list ..

a nice low mileage example here in LHD

Link Removed

good luck with what ever you decide

Jim

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[johnnerontheroad]

Hi Jim,

Had my eye on it and another I have seen with more miles. I think it will be a merc but it is good to hear others opinions.

Dave

 

[scotjimland]

Hi Jim,

Had my eye on it and another

Dave

This one perchance ?

Link Removed

 

[johnnerontheroad]

Jim,

Thats the other one.

Dave

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[JJ]

Mercedes for me every time... My 1987 660S is a thing of amazing beauty and quality...

Don't go anywhere in a hurry in it though....

JJ

 

[s700hymmerc]

s700 merc information!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

hi all ,
got to tell you ! pick the merc s700 the older merc say up to 92 by the end of december the s700 changed to a lighter look interiour and great look in side early mercs had the 2.9 617 engine and changed to the 602 engine no differance except horse,s not a lot . i worked in mercedes commercials for years and i can tell you now the merc based engine is second to none believe me this is a t/rex. it has a great long life make sure the history is with it , you can get your self an s700 in europe at a snip i paid no where near £20,000. i paid a lot less . the germans always sell thiers with all the papers history ect,ect, they take pride in it . go and buy over thier private is good just talk a little german , but they really are good not ignorant by any means nice i have to say plus you get all thier kit with it as they sell the lot , look in the internet www.dhd24.de and www. mobile.de but search this site in german not in english you will miss a lot of what you are looking for , strange but true i know . you find what you are looking for thier . you have heard a lot here also about the old timer as they are called slow , they are but thier are ways to help your self out on my s700 the wheels have now found 16" wheels on her this is an extra gear throws your speed out but not a lot , the fuel pump has been leaned as much as i can lean her this gives extra horse,s more rev,s ease of travel so she travels at about 70,75 thier is more as long as you have the road she is doing on the motorway 32 gallon , no lie,s either , find out changeing the oil is critical 45000 minles but i change at 4000. better !
Link Removed Hymer-Eriba S 700 Bar 18.000 EUR
EZ 6/1991

this is one !

the engine is also chain driven not belt driven , so no problems .

the walls are thick and made for winter use as the europeans like winter holidays as well , so brilliant they can be noisy but you could get sound deadner for this , mine works well , sorted this out as the wife did not like it so this sorted she is happy , plus the dog sleeps by the engine cover as we travel , would not before as the noise was too much , this will last you and see out your last days , sorry lol!

the fiat good again but they are engine problimatic if not looked after . but those belts , well put it this way when these have had enough , get another engine thier are plenty around but this wagon will not last as long as the merc , plus i think resale valueafter you are done with it , you will get more for your merc s700 than the fiat .

but it come,s down to your own taste at the end of the day , so good luck have fun ,

all the very best , denton.

p.s. it might help you also if you do decide to look accross the pond search in explorer when you find what you are looking for right click , translate english . i did mine accross to the germans myself used google to translate into german and every time they emailed me back in english , plus what ever price you see accross the pond take 2000, euros off as they will allow this because you are taking it back home and out of europe ,

catch you later ,
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Gebrauchtfahrzeug

Kilometerstand: 146.000 km
Kraftstoffart: Diesel
Klimatisierung: Klimaanlage
Farbe: Beige

Ausstattung:

Anhängerkupplung, Behindertengerecht, Festbett, Markise, Mittelsitzgruppe, Separate Dusche, Servolenkung, Solaranlage, TV, WC
Link Removed Link Removed

 

[johnnerontheroad]

:thanks2:
Thanks for your long very interesting reply, I have seen the S700 in germany it has been advetised for months. I also see it is adapted for wheelchair use (not required at the moment). I'am interested in how you leaned the fuel pump and would you have to change the wheels to get a similar MPG? The sound deadner, what did you use and was it just in the engine cover?

I have seen two S700 in this country but neather has a fixed rear bed

Link Removed a bit too much money I think but low milage was on e-bay but did not make reserve.

Link Removed a better price but 2x sofa and no fixed bed.

My head says a merc but I have seen this B694 again too much money but in great condition and good spec Link Removed

So the hunt goes on.

Dave

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[s700hymmerc]

an answer s700 hymer merc !!

hi dave !
the hymer in side layout is the same as ours , colours ect, this is the new layout from the old layout the old layout was changed in 92 , too dark i thought so did she , the one,s you are looking at here are a lot more than we paid ,
just read your say , can i say one thing first , we had our,s from accross the pond , we bought the s700 full servise history registered 4/12/ 1992 so it was the new interiour light all around , and a bar version and fixed rear bed , the germans keep their vehicles spotless and smack up to date . with genuine parts .
you do not have to put 16" wheels on these 410d t1 mercedes , i just decided i needed a little more speed this means less throttle less noise same speed on the bigger wheels 16" wheels from the mercedes 609 , tyre,s 215,65,16". this helps to keep down fuel consumption , leaning the fuel is tricky fuel mixture and timing and valve,s smack on will not damage the engine at all , the early mercedes 2.95 cylinder 617 engine , was bullet proof and the engine life is phenominal if looked after
my model s700 has the same engine but is now the 602 a little more horse,s .
sound deadner i relaid the front carpet but used underlay same as in the house and used agood carpet on top with carpit grip , the engine cover , mine has the leather cover so i used expandinding foam to cover it completely and shaped it again and put the leather cover back on , nice snug but tight fit but worked out well ! the dog sleeps well and keeps real warm , have to say with the mercedes hymer the engine heater keeps the whole place like toast while we travel .
my wfe was set on the very model you mentioned in your reply , BUT!! the mercedes will get your money back for you , that is one of the reasons why i decided against my better half , plus i know these old girls these engine are granite , in the workshop we never split these engine,s strong as ever and ours were on the road day and night and revved flat out as the speed well not very fast , we traveled from south wales on the coast all the way to deep scotland not on the motorways as we travel coast to the m56/m6 . my tank is a 70 litre tank it took 1,1/2 tanks their and back .
in germany if you ahve the nerve not a lot of people have , you will find what you are looking for if it is the s700 92 i reckon for around 13,500- 14000, i took the guy down 3000, off mine , i would have paid him what he asked but i thought what the hell you can only try , so i did . and then well you know the rest i think , it cost me extra 70 euros for insurance and plate,s this was for 22 days , he made sure i had full gas bottle,s and all his kit , we bought blankets while out their was a bit cold lol!! it had a valid TUV , this an mot , no good in ours back home retest flew through ferry cost 79 euros , but what ever price you have seen out their you will knock a couple of grand off for sure . but the price here is way out , my camper i bought i got just before the dealer had a chance to get , i was a bit mad as the dealer here who was going to buy it new he had missed it so he asked the german for my phone no, he rang me and asked me if i wanted him to import it for me , i asked him how much , choke he told me he could do this for me £2000, i said no thanks , and good bye .
oh got to say as well the german filled the tank up for me as well , good start i thought lol!!
well dave , think well , have fun . and save some cash .
we have not regreted buying this in any day of the week yet , and it is GGGGGGREAT !

DENTON. p.s . if you need help just shout ,

 

[staging lady]

An interesting thread.
Have any of you come across the problem that we may shortly face with our 19 year old Frankia that insurance companies are not willing to give breakdown cover abroad on 20 year old Motor homes?



We thought of paying ourselves on the future until we broke down in France were told it would have been £400 to get the MH from the side of an N road in France onto a loader and to the garage a few miles away. Then we were glad we had the cover. How does everyone else manage?
Lucille

 

[s700hymmerc]

insurance abroad !!

we have a gold account with loydds , we have a 18 year old hymer , before we had another hymer older still , we broke down in belgium could not be repaired ! and we were taken all the way home to wales , good job we were on the way home any way , dear old wales , and our insurance cover is free with our account , nothing is free or is it :Blush:. got to say this old campers you can fix , you will always find parts some where , new campers , when they break down they cost an arm and a leg to fix , and your average guy can do it , the new one,s you will need a degree in computers , and the software to repair it we had a citron a few years ago petrol it was missing a beat , we new it was fireing wrongly but we were anot allowed to fix it of or new how to fix it , we were told by citron to gain internet access and hook the program up to the car software and they will do the rest , and they did , they down loaded a patch and it ran perfectly , now thy said they had a certain time frame for them to fix this so you had to take the car to them to repair it , see how they get you with modern technoligy , not me and you will always have to wait for the part to get their , i will never buy a new camper , never even if we won the lottery , still get myself a quality old girl , built to last and their is not that much plastic in them to squeak , not like these old built to last and they just moan , a bit , good is,nt it !.
met a guy then in peterborough 2 years ago he had a mercedes 820 beuatiful camper but all night the alarms were sounding off , so i was speaking to him one day when i came accross him looking at my hymer , he asked me if the hymer was mine , i said yes , it was all i could afford right now , but i did like his hymer merc , he said he was 90 grand short for this model , , i thought god !!. but do you know what he said to me , he had one of these old hymers to start with years before he was getting on a bit !, but he said after 2 years of use that is all his camper does is sqeak all the bloody time where ever he goes , waste of money if he had his choice again he would buy an old girl , they don,t sqeak , but the hymer he bought cost to much to go back because he would lose to much ,
i will always remember this ,
good luck have fun , denton.

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[funkyronster]

Does anybody know......

Does anybody know this guy this guy Denton who has posted on this thread? Would love to talk to him about his S700

Ron

 

[alfandM]

:thumb:I'm torn between an early 1990s S700 or B694. The S700 on a merc 410D(2.8) and the B694 on a Fiat 2.5 TD, could anyone help with the pros and cons of each van from a mechanical point of view, the insides are about the same. Any info would be great.

:thanks2:

Dave

HI Dave, you wont go wrong if you pick the merc, ourss is the merc 309 model , a 5 cylinder 3liter, strong as the lord, it has a Hobby living area, marianne me and the dog have traveld all over scandinavia, german, belgium and france with out a hiccup! we changed the back diff to a coach diff, great kph,mph and a diesel return of 1liter for every 10km, the merc you seen is a grat choice for you for many happy travels, Dave keep us all posted, and as another funster said have a look in germany good values for your money, cheers Alf:thumb:

 

[funkyronster]

coach diff

Coach diff? That's a new one on me! Would love to know more about that, and if I could do it on my 410D - it's high revving, small wheeled and very thirsty - but same engine as you, altho my van is over 4 tons.

Ron

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[wasp]

This thread is 3 years old

 

[Snowbird]

This thread is 3 years old

Thats as maybe............But still relevant and interesting for me .

 

[funkyronster]

boo

I have had many result from stirring up old threads!

You never know what will happen.

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[Snowbird]

Coach diff? That's a new one on me! Would love to know more about that, and if I could do it on my 410D - it's high revving, small wheeled and very thirsty - but same engine as you, altho my van is over 4 tons.

Ron

One on evilbay now. I too am running the 410 4.6 ton chassis.

 

[funkyronster]

well i can't find it!

 

[Snowbird]

well i can't find it!

261091150871 From a 609 bus.............Looks the same to me and the studs are the same as the 410. Bit pricey but obviously exporters.

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[alfandM]

Coach diff? That's a new one on me! Would love to know more about that, and if I could do it on my 410D - it's high revving, small wheeled and very thirsty - but same engine as you, altho my van is over 4 tons.

Ron

HI RON, Ref to your question about the coach diff, yes the diff came from a merc 310 1989/90 model 20 seater coach ,the ratios are different to a comerciel trucks, it gives the coach better top speed at lower Revs on faster highways, the differential fitted straight in place on our axle no difference in the fittings, it makes our 5 speed box like a 6speeder, and good fuel consumption at the same time, and gear 1 is still like a crawler, i dont think they exported to the Uk, but have seen them in Belgium and a few in France, i hope this answears your question, Alf:thumb:

 

[haddy]

Hi johnnerontheroad,
We have a 1992 S700 and we love it. The merc engine is a 2.9l 5- cyl non turbo. Probably the best engine mercedes ever built. Reputed to be good for over 1/2 million miles. The one problem is lack of power (95hp). Very noticable on hills, but cruises all day at 50mph unless its a big hill. I have been down to 18mph climbing up to Beachy Head. The S700 is also a 4.6 tonne max weight, so check your licence. In standard trim it has over a tonne of payload(no need to run with empty water tank etc). This is also 'old' Mercedes not the newer computerised rubbish. We are full time in ours and it can sit on site for a month then start first time ,every time. No electronics, just a good, basic diesel engine. Our automatic does about 22 mpg.
You are also very unlikely to get stuck on wet grass etc. as you have 4 driving wheels on the back also a limited slip diff.

I can not comment on the Fiat as I have no experience but older italian electrics don't have a very good reputation. I think it is also front wheel drive.

Allan


QUOTE=johnnerontheroad;157354]:thumb:I'm torn between an early 1990s S700 or B694. The S700 on a merc 410D(2.8) and the B694 on a Fiat 2.5 TD, could anyone help with the pros and cons of each van from a mechanical point of view, the insides are about the same. Any info would be great.

:thanks2:

Dave

I have B694 twin axle fiat ducato 2.5 ltr engine but never go on names
1 Fiat made crap Diesel engines but brilliant gearboxes
2 the ducato is a Peugeot 2.5 turbo with a fiat gearbox
3 like the merc there are problems with pulling a full tank plus water tank plus fully laden if the turbo is not cleaned and not many folk do that
4 I’ve regularly gone from uk to spain over the Pyrenees no problem
5 would I swap to a merc - no chance the guy who sold me this bought a merc and asked to buy it back a year later
6 like anything though it comes down to personal preference though a lot of people think they’ve ’stepped up’ when they get a merc

 

[jongood]

I have B694 twin axle fiat ducato 2.5 ltr engine but never go on names
1 Fiat made crap Diesel engines but brilliant gearboxes
2 the ducato is a Peugeot 2.5 turbo with a fiat gearbox
3 like the merc there are problems with pulling a full tank plus water tank plus fully laden if the turbo is not cleaned and not many folk do that
4 I’ve regularly gone from uk to spain over the Pyrenees no problem
5 would I swap to a merc - no chance the guy who sold me this bought a merc and asked to buy it back a year later
6 like anything though it comes down to personal preference though a lot of people think they’ve ’stepped up’ when they get a merc

last post 8 years ago??