Mercedes Sprinter 906 4x4 World Travel Vehicle

Description

Hello,

We’re selling our Mercedes Sprinter 906 315 4x4, which we converted into a vehicle for traveling the world.

The vehicle was a faithful, beloved companion to us from Patagonia to Canada and back to Europe. You could almost say it was a member of the family. But life circumstances have changed, and it no longer makes sense for me to keep “our big girl.”

Looking for a good, loving home for it.

I hope the car will grow just as dear to its future owners’ hearts as it has to ours. I don’t want to lure anyone in with false promises—I’m being completely honest about its condition. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

THE VEHICLE

• Mercedes Sprinter 906 315 4x4

• First registered in September 2008

• Mileage: 264,189 km

• Oberaigner ZG3 all-wheel drive (selectable)

• Selectable low-range gear

• 6-speed manual transmission

• Reinforced front stabilizer bar

• Tow hitch (ball joint removed for legal reasons in South America—particularly in Argentina, so the ball joint would need to be replaced)

• OM646 engine

• Parktronic

• ESP

• Heated and power-adjustable exterior mirrors

• Hot-water auxiliary heater (“engine-driven auxiliary heater”)

• Heated rear window

• Semi-automatic Tempmatic climate control

• 3665 mm wheelbase L2H2 (standard length, high roof)

• 3.5 metric tons maximum gross vehicle weight

• 100-liter diesel tank

• Fog lights

• Driver's seat armrest

• Driver and front passenger airbags

• Grab handles for entry

• 270° rear doors

• Black tinted rear windows

• 245/75R16 BFGoodrich AT tires

We chose this vehicle for our round-the-world trip because it is the last generation before the introduction of AdBlue and similar systems

THE CONVERSION, MODIFICATIONS, AND EQUIPMENT

Plenty of space, unobstructed lines of sight, headroom and standing height even for someone 190 cm tall, comfort and coziness in a Scandinavian design, combined with long-term off-road capability: This means using materials of substantial thickness; no high shelves, as these shift the center of gravity unfavorably and can quickly rattle loose during vehicle movement on rough trails, etc. Instead, all storage space is located deep within the vehicle to maintain the center of gravity and allow plenty of room to move around. The conversion was carried out in collaboration with two master carpenters.

Weight kept as low as possible to stay under 3.5 T even when fully loaded. I recall once measuring just under 3 T on a CAT scale in the U.S., with luggage but no passengers. According to the Swedish vehicle registration, it weighs 3.1 metric tons with full tanks and the driver. Either way, there’s plenty of room to spare for everything you might want to bring on a trip lasting several months to several years.

An outdoor shower is installed at the rear. This maximizes the living space inside the vehicle.

The driving area and living area can be separated for privacy and, above all, to retain heat. This is useful both in winter for the living area and in tropical heat, so the air conditioning can focus on the driver’s cab. The partition is designed as a walk-through and painted with chalkboard paint, meaning the black surface can be written on with chalk and easily wiped clean.

The U-shaped seating area converts into a bed measuring approximately 175 x 200 cm in just two minutes. This provides ample sleeping length even for tall people. And during the day, it offers a very comfortable space for up to 6 people.

The tabletop can be mounted on the Frontrunner extension in the rear in just a few simple steps if you want to sit outside.

It was important to us to be able to draw fresh water from rivers and lakes without sacrificing space for long hoses and pumps, as is the case with permanently installed water tanks.

This living concept has proven itself perfectly during a 3-year world trip and subsequently as a vacation vehicle in Northern Europe—from two winters in Patagonia to freezing nights at over 4,500 meters in the Altiplano. From the heat of the Atacama or Death Valley to the cold of northern Norway in winter. From the endless expanse of the Argentine Pampas over some of the world’s highest mountain passes (over 5,000 meters) into the Brazilian tropics. From -30°C to +46°C.

COMPONENTS

• Underbody protection

• Fully equipped for round-the-world travel, including trips to high altitudes and regions with poor fuel quality!

• Rearview Camera

• Bilstein B6 4x4 suspension

• Starline alarm system, GPS-enabled with its own cellular connection (including remote deactivation, etc.), professionally installed at an authorized dealer

• Sliding door track, blackened

• Wheel well flares

• Lower vehicle section painted dark gray, similar to the Raptor

• Dometic S4 side window, 900x400

• Roof window should also be Dometic

• Insulation: Armaflex 19 mm (surface) & 9 mm (struts). Doubled on the large panels.

• Solid construction made of poplar plywood

• Solid oak countertop

• 200 LEDs integrated into the headliner (not just glued to the outside)

• Cooler: Dometic CFX 35W

• Magnetic window insulation in the rear

• Dometic sink

• Lilie water pump / Shurflo pressure water pump

• Frontrunner roof rack with tie-down straps and adjustable anchor points

• Frontrunner light bar / work light (incredibly bright)

• Mounting bracket for additional lighting (side and rear)

• Frontrunner heavy-duty drawers in the rear

ELECTRICS (professionally installed in collaboration with a motorhome electrician):

• Charging electronics: Votronic VCBS 45/30/350: 350-watt MPPT solar charger, 30A AC charger, 45A B2B battery booster alternator charger

• Displays: Votronic LCD Charge Control S & Votronic LCD Battery Computer with Smart Shunt

• 2x 155 W shingle-style solar panels

• Inverter: Victron Phoenix 12V/500W 230V with Bluetooth

• 200Ah LiFePo lithium battery

• 12V outlets in the front and rear cabins.

• USB outlets in the front and rear of the cabin.

HEATING

• Autoterm Air2D diesel heater (professionally installed by an authorized dealer)

• Elgena KB6 hot water boiler (currently not installed)

WATER

• 2x 30-liter fresh water tanks.

• 53-liter gray water tank

MAINTENANCE HISTORY

Purchasedin 2019 with 175k km. Former government vehicle.

• New glow plugs

• Anti-rust treatment

Service

• Engine oil

• Brake fluid

2021

• New Alternator / Generator

• New Brake Mount

• New rear leaf spring

• New steering gear

• Injectors replaced at Bosch Service

• New auxiliary 12V battery (engine-powered heater)

Service:

• Engine oil

• Rear differential oil

• Steering gear oil

• Wheel alignment

2022

• New thermostat

• Water pump replaced

• New windshield

• New viscous fan

• New Bilstein B6 rear shock absorbers

• New rear leaf spring mounts (left/right)

• 4 new tires: BF Goodrich AT 245/75 R16

• New front wheel bearings

Service:

• Engine oil

2023

• At 229,000 km, complete engine overhaul by an engine specialist in Germany following a leak (exhaust gases in the coolant):
  Cylinder head surface ground, new valves, gasket, etc. Possibly new intercooler (listed on the invoice, but I don’t recall ordering that)

• Air conditioning compressor overhauled

Service:

• Engine oil

• Coolant

2024 & 2025

• Complete restoration lasting several weeks Interior:
  All wood surfaces have been sanded down and either refinished or oiled.
  New floor.
  A relief map of the world was incorporated beneath the felt on the sliding door
  New kitchen countertop
  Completely new upholstery with heavy-duty cotton canvas.

• New sliding door rollers and suspension

• New rear door lock

• New starter battery

• New Autoterm Air2D diesel heater

2026

• V-belt and V-belt tensioner, new

• Bilstein B6 front shock absorbers (left/right), new

• A-arms (left/right), new

• Strut mount/shock absorber mount, left/right, new

• Driveshaft / propeller shaft, new

• Handbrake, new

• Brake lines, new

• Linkage rods, new

• Sliding door handle, new

Service:

• Engine oil

• Transmission fluid

• Transfer case oil

• Front differential oil

• Rear differential oil

• Brake fluid

• Wheel Alignment

KNOWN DEFECTS

• The classic Sprinter problem: rust.
  All around the entire lower section, especially the wheel wells and the lowest parts of the sliding door.
  A piece of sheet metal on the lower sliding door has broken off. A stone chip has punched a hole in the wheel well.
  The Swedish “TÜV” classified it as a cosmetic flaw earlier this year, meaning there are no rust issues on parts relevant to the TÜV inspection. All load-bearing parts and the underbody look very good to me, considering the vehicle’s age.
  Since this is a common Sprinter issue, to my knowledge, replacement panels are available for all affected areas (side door, sills, etc.), which a body shop could weld in if desired.

• The swiveling, height-adjustable, and retractable table has a bit of play in the aluminum.

• I wouldn’t rely on the parking sensors

• There are dents on the sliding door and the rear door (we were responsible for one of them, but not the other; both happened many years ago).

• The “Raptor paint” has developed cracks over the years.

• 1st and 2nd gears are difficult to engage, especially in cold weather

• One of the interior blower vents is broken.

• The sliding door could use readjustment again, but it works perfectly fine.

• The 200Ah LiFePo battery has reduced capacity compared to when it was new. During its last use (March 2026), it operated without any problems for 6 weeks in northern Norway during the winter, but the estimated original 5–6 days of complete self-sufficiency—i.e., no sunlight and no engine starts—are no longer achievable. In addition, there seems to be a voltage drop for half a second every few days (audible via the diesel heater). You can drive off immediately with the system; personally, I would probably invest in a new 200Ah lithium battery in the medium term.

• The driver’s cab’s automatic lighting isn’t working right now (lights come on when the door opens). It’s probably just a fuse; I’ll look into it in the next few days.

• The paint has a patina all over in the form of surface scratches from bushes, low-hanging branches, etc. I love it (especially in contrast to the super-stylish interior) and would be very reluctant to drive into poorer regions of the world with a new high-gloss paint job that screams “wealth.” But of course, that’s a matter of taste. In short: Just by looking at the vehicle from the outside, you can tell what it’s capable of and where it’s been.

• Greywater tank: Drain valve snapped off. A new drain valve should be glued in place.

• Every thousand kilometers or so for years now, the ESP warning light has been coming on briefly and then going off again. According to the repair shop, it’s probably a steering angle sensor (self-test error) that sometimes has a bad day.

INCLUDED (spare parts or existing components not currently installed)

• Lots of bulbs, lights, small parts, filters

• iCarsoft Mercedes-Benz OBD reader

• Spare tire 245/75 R16 steel rim with General Grabber AT tire (unused but from 2019)

• Underbody guards

• New cabin fan

• New heating/ventilation control unit

• New Lilie water distributor

• Elgena KB 6 hot water boiler (decommissioned since conversion to a pressure water pump. Would need to be connected with a pressure reducer, or better yet, replaced with a pressure-resistant Elgena Nautic Compact or similar)

• Stern shower
  

TÜV / HU / REGISTRATION

The vehicle was registered in Germany as a special-purpose motorhome until 2024. The large 245/75R16 tires are officially registered.

Since I have since moved to Sweden, the vehicle is currently registered there.

In February of this year, it passed the Swedish TÜV inspection without any defects. The next HU is scheduled for April 2027 (annual in Sweden).

According to my research, importing it to Germany should be straightforward, since it is an EU vehicle and the chassis number was already registered in Germany. The vehicle registration office stores this data, so an import inspection should not be necessary. No modifications have been made to the vehicle since then, meaning only a regular HU should be required.

Inspection and Test Drive

Viewing and test drive available at any time over the next 5 weeks near Gothenburg in southwestern Sweden.

Travel options:

Flight from any major airport (I can drive to the airport) or the Stena Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry; a 7-hour drive from Hamburg; or approximately a 10-hour train ride from Hamburg with one transfer in Copenhagen.

Of course, we’re also happy to set up video calls in advance if you have any questions.

The vehicle can be shipped immediately as-is to South America, Morocco, the North Cape, Cape Town, or along the Silk Road, and has more than proven itself in every situation.

Asking price: €40,000