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Mercedes-Benz V-Class V 230 Turbodiesel Ambiente common faults.

1996–1999, MPV, diesel, 98 HP.

The fault list covers: OM601D23LA engine.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

1 fault write-ups. Important. No recall on the list.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

1 important faults

V-Class W638: corrosion, electrical faults, weak brake system

expensive

The quality problems of the first V-Class (internal code W 638, 1996 to 2003) cannot be narrowed to one part: according to the German technical press the series suffered from several kinds of quality problem through to the end of production.

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  • Widespread corrosion. On a twenty to thirty year old MPV the question is how far the rust has gone.
  • Vehicle electrics, and within that the electronic level control (ENR) by name.
  • The maker introduced comprehensive revisions even in 2003, the last production year, which means an early and a late car are not the same vehicle.

In its 2014 used car report the DEKRA singled out the brake system, and rated the quality of the series poor overall.

On the W638 the condition of the individual car decides, not the model.

What to check

  • Go over the underbody, sills, wheel arches and rear suspension mounts on a lift: the corrosion was widespread
  • Open every door and the sliding door rail: the lower edges and the rails rust first
  • Try the electronic level control (ENR) if fitted: does it rise, and does it hold the height after standing
3 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Mercedes-Benz V-Class V 230 Turbodiesel Ambiente

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

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Faults of this model

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Engine and transmission

OM601D23LA

72 kW (98 HP) · unknown

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
V 230 Turbodiesel Ambiente
Body
MPV
Fuel
diesel
Transmission
manual
Engine size
2299 cc
Power
72 kW (98 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
1996–1999

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)
All W638 versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms