External – Front View

FRONT VIEW

Click Link for More Information:
1 – Carefree Awning
2 – Radio and GPS antenna
3 – Camera system
4 – Vin Number location
5 –  Engine vents
6 – Headlights
7 – Fog Lights
8 – Forward Distance Sensors
9 –  Bumper Step
10 –  Front License Plate
11 – Forward Radar
12 – Front tires
13 –  Tow Loop Mounting Hole
14 – Mirror Turn Signals
15 – Side Mirrors
16 – Windshield Wiper Blades

TIP#208: Wet Wiper Blades (16) – are a feature on newer model sprinters. The wiper arms of these blades include water spray nozzles spaced approximately an inch apart. This is a far better system than a spray nozzle mounted on the hood. Wiper blades can cost as much as $130 from Mercedes dealers, but you should be able to find them for as little as $60 per pair from other Mercedes dealers on the web.

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1 – External – Front View
2 – External – Passenger Side

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Carefree Awning

Emergency Retraction – If there is ever a problem retracting the awning, it can be manually retracted using a 3/8 square drive socket wrench handle and short extension. The cover on the front end is held in place by a single screw and a couple tabs on the outboard edge of the cover.  (Collapsing ladder or door step is helpful reaching the cover)

Radio and GPS Antennas

AM/FM antenna and GPS receiver.  The wire portion of the antenna can be unscrewed and removed when covering the van for storage.

Camera system

Forward Camera system is used for lane keeping and reading speed limit signs. In addition, it will record events to document accidents, critical traffic incidents, or insurance crash fraud.

TIP: Quckly turn off Lane Keeping: Press VAN button, Lane keeping OFF.

Vin Number location

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is stamped on a metal plate located on the dash, under the windshield glass.

Engine vents

A passenger-side vent is located over the environmental air intake.  The driver’s side vent is solid, non-functional, and for display aesthetics only.

Headlights

Options: Halogen or LED (shown)

Fog Lights

Option: Fog lights are an option available on some sprinters.  They are usually combined with the LED headlight option.

Forward Distance Sensors

These sensors will detect obstacles as well as cross traffic in front of the vehicle.

Bumper Step

The front step may be a bit high to be useful, especially on the 4×4 chassis.  It may come in handy when cleaning the windshield or checking the wiper blades.

Front license plate

(This is our RvXplor.us license plate with a QR code block)
Above the plate in the square block is the front radar.  If it is out of alignment, you will get an error and the cruise control, radar and other features will quit.  They usually start working again after a hour or two.

Forward Radar

Forward Radar measures the distance and relative speed of any vehicle in front of you. 
Occasionally, for unexplained reasons, the system will shut off and disable cruise control, active brake assist, and active distance assist.  After an hour or two, it will start working again. (A mind of her own!). This is extremely common with sprinters, and Mercedes shops will claim they have never heard of this. Heavy rain can also deactivate the radar, while the thought among sprinter owners is that it turns off if it doesn’t see any vehicle ahead of you for a while.

Front tires

Our Galleria recommends 61 PSI pressure for the front axle weight loading.  Tire pressure is calculated by the amount of weight the tire carries.  To get an exact tire pressure for your vehicle, have it weighed when fully loaded and use a tire pressure chart from the tire manufacturer.  If you change tire brands, be sure to double check the pressure chart for the new brand since it may vary from one manufacturer to another.

NOTE: Alloy rims and steel rims use different lug nuts.  Torque nuts to 133 ft lbs.  Tire and rim weight is approx. 75 lbs.  Our dually uses 215/85R16 tire size.

Tow Loop Mounting Hole

Removing the plastic cover exposes a threaded hole for installing a heavy duty tow loop.  The tow loop is stored in the tool kit under the passenger floorboards.

Mirror Turn Signals

These lights increase the visibility of the turn signals for the driver and passenger, as well as for the vehicles next to you.

Side Mirrors

The large mirrors on the Sprinters are adjustable from a small control panel on the driver’s door. The mirrors also can display a warning if a vehicle is in your blind-spot.  They may also have mirror heaters to remove dew.  The mirrors can be folded in if desired, but ours sounded like they were breaking when we tried folding them in.  Keep pushing – they do fold in.

Windshield Wiper Blades

The blades for our 2020 Sprinter are 24 inches long (passenger side) and 26 inches long (driver’s side).  Our windshield wash sprayer is incorporated into the blade arms, while older vehicles may have spray heads mounted under the edge of the hood.  It is recommended that blades be changed once per year. (MB Part No 9108240100). When in storage, you may want to raise them off the windshield glass to reduce them from deforming.  (Some people place tennis balls under the wiper arms to raise the blades.)

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