Motor home purchase for £30k - Merc616 Chassis.

[Californication69]

Reading up on the Mercedes 616 chassis.
I’m 54 so can drive with C1 licence.

Thinking about the future and what I’m after.
Really balk at the idea of spending £135k of retirement money on something we might only use 4 times a year.
I’m leaning towards finding a decent MH for around £30k then doing any work myself on the lesuire side: fridge/heating/ solar/ batteries/wiring/etc.

Apparently the Merc 616 chassis is the one to have.
2004 to 2006 model.
Hymer
Concorde
Niesmann & Bischoff -Arto & flair

Has any one else gone down this rabbit hole of research and what extra information have you found?

I’m West Midlands so have plenty of large garages to help with the chassis, engine, gearbox side of the MH.
Also trying to find a good guide to layouts.
Member of the FaceAche Classic hymers.
Read all of Ron’s information.
Ron Burgandy stay classy.

 

[sticky1]

My experience with any of the commercially built motor homes is that technology and materials have moved on massively since the pandemic.
Almost all vehicles with holes (windows, skylights wiring) in panels will leak eventually, particularly as they age. You just need to look at the yachting industry to see how they consider windows a maintainable item, unlike motorhome manufacturers.
I’d want to rip out pretty much all the electronics from a vehicle that age.
So if you really want that base vehicle you maybe best sourcing a flatbed and building a box on it.
However once you make that leap there are lots of other vehicles that come into scope.
I have a six wheel drive Bucher Duro Mowag with Cummins diesel engine and the Allison “million mile” gearbox, all easy maintenance without any of the crazy Unimog parts pricing scam.
There are loads of base vehicles and more and more options to build a habitation unit on the back.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

I di all this research and bought a brand new hymer derivative A Class for £88K, 3650Kg so C1 Licence. It will paid off before retirement and only 6 years old and I will know it's history.
The best machine is still crap if the last owner did not maintain it!