Mercedes Benz Sprinter Warning Light (& more) Hell

‘The Best Or Nothing’ is This Homeless Advocate’s Ultimatum

A clearly stated standard on the wall of the Mercedes Benz showroom in Kansas City, MO. Photo Diane Nilan

Since 2005, I’ve traveled through 49 states, an estimated 400,000 miles, under my nonprofit’s banner, HEAR US chronicling families and youth experiencing homelessness. I live full-time in a Mercedes Benz van converted into a small motorhome. Here is the story about my Mercedes Benz “distraction.”

After wearing out my first motorhome, Tillie, I decided to downsize. Against my better judgement, but with no better choice seeming to be available, I purchased a brand-new 2014 Mercedes Benz Sprinter van in October 2014, converted into living space by Sportsmobile. Of the features that excited me — much better mileage, up to 20 mpg, and MB dependability. The dependability feature has proven to be a pathetic myth.

Me and my van in a Walmart parking lot on a blustry morning. Photo by Diane Nilan

My first encounter with my new Mercedes Benz Sprinter psychosis was traveling through the middle of South Dakota just weeks after I picked up this slick camper-van. My friend Pat and I were on a Babes of Wrath trip, Homeless on the Range, headed from CO to KS. The dashboard lit up, “ESP Visit Workshop” and ominous pictures of tires. Yikes!