- May 10, 2020
- 1,529
- 6,686
- Funster No
- 70,459
- MH
- Hymer ML-t 580 4x4
- Exp
- Getting there!
Just a quick report with some brief observations ..
Nearly 29,000 miles on the clock and over the last two years we’ve spent around 250 nights in it.
It’s comfortable, extra long bed for me, shower room is a bit tight for the larger chap, but usable.
Storage a bit lacking - really miss the double floor of my previous van.
Hymer Battery system is a bit restrictive for upgrading but actually has worked fine. It’s very rarely on EHU, just occasionally at home with low sun in the winter not giving any solar gain.
Diesel hot water and heating boiler means never worrying about gas - one 6KG bottle lasts over a year,
It’s great to drive, it’s narrow with a short wheelbase and excellent ground clearance so it’s very manoeuvrable. It will go most places and of course the AWD system will get you further down the track than is probably wise.
Fuel consumption averaging around 24 mpg.
Dealer after-sales service has been fantastic - it’s just a bit of shame they are 900 miles from me.
The full lowdown is on my thread here, if you can bothered to read through 38 odd pages ..
www.motorhomefun.co.uk
Specification ….
Issues to Date ...
All in all - no major issues. Hymer build quality a bit inconsistent but OK. Dealer Service fantastic.
We had a good look around Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf the other day but apart from a Rohn Camp Rebel XL nothing else really appealed. I actually think I could talk Mrs ABGS into that, she was properly smitten with it!
Nearly 29,000 miles on the clock and over the last two years we’ve spent around 250 nights in it.
It’s comfortable, extra long bed for me, shower room is a bit tight for the larger chap, but usable.
Storage a bit lacking - really miss the double floor of my previous van.
Hymer Battery system is a bit restrictive for upgrading but actually has worked fine. It’s very rarely on EHU, just occasionally at home with low sun in the winter not giving any solar gain.
Diesel hot water and heating boiler means never worrying about gas - one 6KG bottle lasts over a year,
It’s great to drive, it’s narrow with a short wheelbase and excellent ground clearance so it’s very manoeuvrable. It will go most places and of course the AWD system will get you further down the track than is probably wise.
Fuel consumption averaging around 24 mpg.
Dealer after-sales service has been fantastic - it’s just a bit of shame they are 900 miles from me.
The full lowdown is on my thread here, if you can bothered to read through 38 odd pages ..
Modding the Hymer ML-t 580 4x4
Inspired by LennyHB … I thought I’d start a post to details various mods and upgrades. I have a brand new Hymer Mlt 580 sitting on my drive waiting for a DVLA to assign a registration number. In the meantime, of course I’m going to take take it apart, fettle and modify it ….. Firstly …. Hymer...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk
Specification ….
Factory Extras Fitted.
The MLt was a dealer stock unit but came with pretty much every Hymer extra and Mercedes option fitted apart from; solar, a towbar and a heated steering wheel.
Options that get very little use are; the satellite system, oven and electric heater element. I am pondering removing the satellite and oven and reclaiming the space for more solar and storage.
Aftermarket Extras ....
Amplo Levellers
This is the cheapest Hydraulic system suitable for the 4x4 Sprinter Chassis. Works perfectly and is so worth having.
Uprated Suspension Dampers front and rear.
A huge improvement and the first suspension upgrade I did. Supplied by Marquart in Germany but a similar set up is now available from VB Suspension in the UK. I rate this as a bigger improvement than rear air assist.
VB Rear Air Assist.
Great for levelling up the rear under load. Doesn’t feel as big an upgrade as the replacing the dampers but I’d recommend doing both.
Wolfbox Triple Camera Mirror system.
I’d say essential especially if you are LHD in the UK. Makes motorway lane changes so much easier.
Front Audio Upgrade
I already had the kit from a previous Sprinter. Replaced door speakers, dash tweeters and added a bass sub speaker.
Solar
Three roof panels totalling 350 watts with Victron Controllers plus a 200 watt folding panel.
Wheels
Fitted set of Rhino Atlas Alloys. Went for the 16” rather than 18” as I already had the tyres…
LazerLamps
Front grill driving lamps. The MLt has excellent LED intelligent headlights but the driving lamps transform night into day. Have so far resisted fitting an overcab light bar as found on the Crosstrail/Crossover and Eura Mobil Xtura models, because we don’t want too look like we’re trying too hard!
Miscellaneous
SOG, external gas socket, MaxxFan, various 3d printed shelves, brackets, hydraulic bonnet studs, uprated noisy horn and front mudflaps.
Issues to Date ...
Mercedes
- EGR valve failed at 24,000 miles in Catalunya. Limped over to Perpignan Mercedes who replaced it under warranty the following morning.
Hymer
- Shower Duck Board cracked - known issue. Hymer now supply a stronger version. New item being obtained under warranty,
- Freezer floor panel catch snapped. Have superglued it back together and the repair is not noticeable. New item being obtained under warranty.
- Bathroom Wall squeaked on rough roads. Repaired under warranty.
- Skylight window winder mechanism snapped. Replaced under warranty with redesigned part.
- Minor recall works - seals around battery compartment door, front skylight seal and some cable rerouting,
- Inverter remote switch failed. £10 for a replacement from Just smiffy !
- Cable on the over table pendant light failed - repaired by me.
- Many squeaks and rattles fixed by me. A lot of sound deadening and anti rattle tape has been fitted. Wall panels have to be re-glued to their fixings. Cables attached to cable clips etc. It’s pretty quiet now
Aftermarket Parts
- Amplo levellers fluid leak at valve. Replaced by mobile engineer on my drive, under the three year warranty. New part has been redesigned.
We had a good look around Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf the other day but apart from a Rohn Camp Rebel XL nothing else really appealed. I actually think I could talk Mrs ABGS into that, she was properly smitten with it!
