Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus: 516, 519 and what to check

A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus is a Sprinter with a passenger body, usually for 8 to 22 people. The codes 516 and 519 indicate the Sprinter’s heaviest weight class (about 5 tonnes) and, roughly, its power. The 516 has about 160 hp and the 519 about 190.

Hotels, travel agencies, school transport operators and municipalities use Sprinter minibuses for routes with few passengers. Below you will find the generations, what the numbers mean, which versions exist, which licence you need and what to check when you buy a used one.

What Sprinter generations are there?

There are three generations: the first (W903, known as T1N) from 1995, the second (W906, known as NCV3) from 2006 and the third (W907/W910) from 2018. The second generation was facelifted in 2013 with new driver assistance systems and Euro VI engines.

Mercedes-Benz builds the Sprinter mainly in Düsseldorf and Ludwigsfelde in Germany. The minibuses, however, do not leave those plants finished. A specialist unit builds the passenger body, as we describe below.

What do 516 and 519 mean on a Sprinter?

The numbers follow a rule of thumb. The first digit shows the gross vehicle weight class and the last two show the power, approximately, in tens of horsepower. The 5 is the heaviest class, about 5 tonnes, and from June 2016 up to 5.5 tonnes.

This rule is unofficial, though it fits most models. For the second generation (from 2014) the figures are as follows.

For a fully loaded minibus on mountain routes, the 519’s V6 gives you more comfort in reserve. For city work and airport transfers, the 516 does the job with a simpler engine. In the third generation the numbers remain, but the engines have changed over the years, so check the engine code in the documents of the specific vehicle.

Which Sprinter minibus versions are there?

Mercedes-Benz sells the Sprinter minibus in four main families: Transfer for shuttle work, Travel as a small coach, City as a city bus and Mobility for passengers with reduced mobility. These bodies are built in Dortmund by Mercedes-Benz Minibus GmbH, founded in 2004.

Daimler Buses later sold the Dortmund plant to the Aequita group, and production of Mercedes-Benz-badged minibuses continues there. Sprinters with bodies from other manufacturers are also on the road. For these, pay particular attention to the body approval and the seat count in the registration document.

Which driving licence do you need for a Sprinter minibus?

For a Sprinter with up to 16 passenger seats and a length of up to 8 metres, a category D1 driving licence is enough. With more than 16 passenger seats you need a category D driving licence, under Directive 2006/126/EC.

Count only the passenger seats and leave out the driver’s seat. A “16+1” means 16 passengers plus the driver, so it stays within D1 limits as long as the length is up to 8 metres. This affects which vehicle you should buy. If your drivers hold D1, a 19+1 Sprinter is of no use to them, however good the price. For commercial passenger transport the driver also needs a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC, in Greece ΠΕΙ). If the vehicle has more than nine seats including the driver, the driving time and tachograph rules of Regulation (EC) 561/2006 also apply. There is more on the first steps in our guide to buying a used bus.

What should you check on a used Sprinter minibus?

On a used Sprinter, check the body and chassis for rust, the passenger door, the air conditioning in the passenger area, seats and belts, and on Euro 6 models the AdBlue system and particulate filter. Confirm that the seat count and gross vehicle weight in the registration document match the vehicle.

1. Rust: wheel arches, door bottoms, entry steps and chassis, especially around the rear axle.
2. Passenger door: sliding or hinged, manual or automatic, it must close and lock without effort.
3. Air conditioning: minibuses usually have a separate unit for the passenger area. Test it at full power.
4. Seats and belts: the same number as in the registration document, firmly fixed, with working belts.
5. Brakes and tyres: the Sprinter has hydraulic brakes and, in the 5-tonne versions, twin rear wheels. Check discs, pads and tyre age.
6. Euro 6 (BlueTEC): read the fault codes for AdBlue and the particulate filter.
7. Mileage: compare the odometer with service invoices, KTEO (the Greek roadworthiness test) records and the tachograph.

You will find the checks that apply to every bus, with what each finding means, in our pre-purchase inspection checklist. For keeping your Sprinter in good condition, see our maintenance tips for used buses.

Which Sprinter is right for your business?

The choice starts with passengers and luggage. For airport and hotel transfers you need room for suitcases, for excursions you need reclining seats and a separate luggage compartment, and for school runs you want as many seats as your drivers’ licences allow.

• Hotels and airports: a Transfer with luggage space at the rear or a trailer, and a door that opens easily many times a day.
• Excursions and VIP: a Travel with comfortable seats, roof-mounted air conditioning and luggage space.
• School runs: 16+1 seats if your drivers hold D1, or 19+1 and above if they hold D. Check what the contract requires for seat belts and year of manufacture.
• Low-demand urban routes: a City with a low entry and standing places.
• Mountain routes: choose a 519 or similar output, especially with a full load and the air conditioning running.

The Sprinter comes with a manual or an automatic gearbox. For drivers who make many stops in town, the automatic is less tiring. Also ask whether the specific vehicle has rear air suspension, because it changes passenger comfort in the rear seats.

Sprinter or full-size bus: which pays off?

A Sprinter pays off when you usually carry fewer than 20 passengers and the roads are narrow. It uses less fuel, is easier to park and can be driven by a D1 holder if it has up to 16 seats. A 12-metre bus pays off when it runs full, because the cost per passenger drops.

An excursion business can run both: a Sprinter for small groups and airport transfers, and a Tourismo coach or an intercity bus for the larger ones. If you do school transport with more children, an Integro or Intouro intercity bus gives you far more seats.

Where can you find a used Sprinter minibus?

The available vehicles are on our used Mercedes-Benz Sprinter page, with seats, year, mileage, gearbox and price. We own every vehicle, and they are at our premises in Litochoro, Pieria. You can come with your driver for a test drive before you decide, and if the vehicle is going abroad, we issue the export plates (Zoll) ourselves.

If you need a specific number of seats, for example 16+1 for drivers with D1, tell us and we will search for it. Call +30 23520 61222 or send a message on WhatsApp (+30 6977 400157).