1999 Mercedes-Benz Vito 108 CDI Commonrail turbo diesel
Summary:
Looks and drives great, but fails miserably reliability-wise
Faults:
The handbrake never worked properly.
Uneven tire wear.
Rear wiper fluid pump doesn't work.
The ventilation fan is ineffective and noisy.
The Eberspächer diesel powered heater doesn't work.
An inner drive joint died, and the entire drive shaft had to be replaced.
Speedometer recently died. However, the odometer still works for some reason.
Rust here and there.
For some reason, one of the headlights points too far up.
General Comments:
The Vito is the best looking van so far, and it's great to drive. It is not too slow either, considering it has the 86hp base engine. The performance is nothing to write home about, though.
It's painfully under-equipped. No power windows, no adjustable steering wheel. Not even central locking, something you would expect a 1999 Mercedes to have. Locking four doors with the key gets really old really fast.
The interior is nowhere near the standards of MB passenger cars. Cheap plastics everywhere.
The manual gearstick is... well.. weird, but works. I would choose the automatic version if I'd get to pick again.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 20th May, 2004
4th Oct 2004, 14:24
The mercedes vito is a very good van.
21st Aug 2005, 16:47
The digital mile counter stopped working and my garage tole me that the ribbon cable had come away. The only way to repair this is to buy the whole clock unit which is very costly. I cannot find one in a breakers as they say it is always faulty.
11th Dec 2006, 03:34
I have a Vito 108cdi and it's a very good van, fast and quiet very very good van no problems with it.
10th May 2007, 11:07
I brought a 02 reg vito 108cdi a couple of months ago and so far it's been fine. nice drive.
18th Jul 2009, 19:37
My father had a Mercedes Benz Vito 108 CDI, and it worked fantastic, no problems with it. High quality plastic, nothing broken, riding fast, and engine was fantastic even after 10 years of use (1998 till 2008, till we sold it) and still working fantastic says the buyer.
24th Dec 2010, 05:39
My diesel 2000 Vito is perfect. Best ride ever, plenty of power and great fuel economy.
26th Jul 2014, 15:36
Wait till you got to do the hand brake cable. Mercedes say 7 hours. The front seat has got to come out, and so has the fuel tank. Good thinking Mercedes.
17th Jan 2019, 18:05
Vitos are well known for reliability and rust problems.
23rd Jul 2004, 15:29
I think you were far to hard. Treat cars with care!!!
Richard.