If you are lucky enough to own a Mercedes van and it is a little old, when it breaks down don’t scrap it at a van breakers, get some second-hand parts and repair it. The life span of these vans, especially the Mercedes sprinter, is phenomenal. The engines seem to just go on and on. If you only drive ten to twenty thousand miles a year then it can seem like they go on forever.

The trick to making them last longer is to take a few preventative steps before things start to break down. One good tip would be to keep an eye out for other vans of a similar but older age and see where they are rusting. Usually it is the bottoms of the doors or around the wheel arches. Wherever the rust is, set out to prevent yours from doing the same. Wax oil is a great product and if sprayed or painted around areas prone to rust will stave off the inevitable for many years.

The other good plan is to keep up with the servicing at regular intervals. This should be set by the manual but if in doubt ring Mercedes and ask. Never skip a service. If you find the shock of the cost too much then after each service start a savings plan and each week put away a proportion of what you will need next time.

Finally if you need spare parts always use Mercedes original parts. I know that new they can be expensive but if you keep an eye out for places that have signs saying ‘Mercedes vans wanted‘ then you will be able to pick up second-hand parts very cheaply that will keep you going for longer. The Mercedes van reputation for reliability is built on regular servicing and original parts. Stick to this and yours will last for a long time.