I'm baffled. I've never seen such a well composed, perfectly balanced, documented, informational, entertaining car review in my life! I was looking for this information because I've seen an ad for a ex feuerwehr T1 310. THANK YOU a thousand times for all this useful information!

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this accolade :)

@RoofRack2

9 ай бұрын

@@CubeofCars It's a very good video. I had a 1979 308D motorhome, 4 speed, and I drove it from the UK to the Pyrenees and I took the toll roads through France and at times on some of the hills I was in 1st gear. It got over the mountains but pretty much in 1st all the way. I did really enjoy driving it though. Difficult to know if there was something a bit wrong with it or if that was just how it was. I also found that it made life a lot easier to carry a grease gun and just do the kingpins pretty much every time i got in it - two minute job - but if you did it regularly and only turned the wheel whilst moving, even 1 or 2 mph, then you didn't miss the power steering.

The T1 van simply put is the greatest workhorse ever built, as a truck/plant fitter i had two of these in the late 80s/90s a 307D and then a 310D built like a truck with a beam axle and king pins, a leaf spring at each corner, but still very comfortable, and after all these years i now have a 1990 208D Autotrail campervan ,so good to be back behind the wheel of these ultra reliable vans.

I own a 1994 310D. I would not give it for a brand new Sprinter. Hardly any rust below, have power steering and a cover with a key for glove compartment. The mileage is 426000km. I am in Croatia, people tell me that with this mileage it is still a baby. It is converted to a camper and registered as a camper. The mileage I get is about 10.6-10.7. Absolutely love it. I have a 210W solar + 2X 80Ah lead acid batteries + Efoy 900. My consumption of electricity is not great, but I can be off grid indefinitely, even in the winter. 10L of methanol lasts more than a year.

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

A T1 will more or less last forever as long as you take care of rust issues in time. I would also never change the T1 for a modern Sprinter ;)

Thanks for your Video,Extremely informative.

Thanks for the great review!

I love youuuuuu and all your 310 Videos

I started my working life in the early 90ties as a mechanic for MB and worked a lot on them. A fantastic and incredible reliable van. Same with the T2 ( and basically all the cars MB made in the 80/90ties ). Well designed (but old-fashioned) and there was not a lot to repair. After the cab rotted away after years of abuse , the engine would be taken out and put in a boat. There are also quite some very exotic camper conversions made with the 207 as the basis vehicle. I like how the styling of the T1 and T2 was very similar and also more or less the MB100. I remember a clip from a Dakar rally way back, the driver bivak was full of big 4x4's because of the remote desert location. And then a local 207D drove through the campsite , loaded with goats

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

In Africa there are still many T1 on the road and seem to have an eternal life despite being abused. I would love see that clip with the 207D from the Dakar Rally. If you ever find it somewhere on KZread, please send the link! ;)

Thank you for explaining the details and differences between models, I own a 310D for a restoration project and was very interesting to see your van in such preserved and good condition

@CubeofCars

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! :)

Great video, thanks

Very good format!

@CubeofCars

9 ай бұрын

Thanks! :)

I am in the process of getting a beauty of an 207D, from 1980, with low mileage. That was a great vid for to prepare me for this fantastic car. I think, this is the best choice to get a big enough camper, with style, and I also love the "old way" of driving, as I grew up with it... Thank you!

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Have fun with your van! :)

Klasse Bericht. Vielen Dank.

thank you for good video

Great review and thanks for all the information. The model names and wheels bases were a real mystery to me. Looking for one for a camper here in Ireland but they were rare here vans even when they were new.

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Good luck finding one! :) RHD T1 are super difficult to find unfortunately.

Tolles Video, sehr guter Einblick in einen T1 im tollen Zustand! Wie andere schon schrieben - einfach super gemacht. Tolles Auto, pass bitte gut drauf auf!

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

Danke! Das werde ich machen! Diesen T1 werde ich sicher "für immer" behalten :)

I have the 208D 1991. Mileage 327 000km. Same length and wheelbase as yours. Max speed 95km/h but that's not so comfortable pace. Very loud. 80-85 is reasonable. Rust rate - would say manageable. Doing the bodywork right now. But as you said that car has a really nice look to it! Always makes me smile when I look at it. I have the power steering and it manoeuvres SO well! Just unbelievable. I also enjoy that you can and have to really feel the car when you drive it - the pedals, the noise and the nice wide and high view from the cockpit. It immerses in the experience. One reason I bought it was the ability to feed it old frying oil......which seemed to be a good way to go considering the current upcoming economic crisis. If you are curious then I will (hopefully) upload some renovation videos soon to my channel.

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah.... would like to see your videos! You are absolutely right, driving the T1 is a special experience. Modern vans just cannot give this feeling and travelling in a T1 is so much more exciting ;)

A much more charismatic design than the Sprinter. I always liked driving them - nice big steering wheel....a proper commercial rather than pretending to be part car!

Gotta love a bremer 😎 😁 I bought a 1980 207d James Cook and love it… great standing height and suitable for a family with two kids easy

@urosrozman1116

2 жыл бұрын

Oh and btw…I get around 10l/100km

Had one,rust is a hugh problem,sliding door hinge is weak,loved it though.

Mám 207D s velkou kabinou + valník. Nejlepší dodávka na světě. Nyní čeká renovaci

Love IT

Super Video, freue mich, dass es weiter geht! Grüße vom Diesel Kamel

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

Hallo Eugen! Wir freuen uns jetzt auch, dass wir endlich wieder am Van arbeiten können. Als erstes kommt nun das Thema Gas für die Küche dran. Leider müssen wir uns demnächst dann auch mit der Elektrik befassen, was ich bislang immer schön weggeschoben habe... LG, Mike

@eugenws38

2 жыл бұрын

@@CubeofCars Hallo Mike, Gas ist bei mir gerade das nächste... Sollte aber relativ machbar sein, wenn ich mir da die Anforderungen ansehe. Elektrik habe ich aus der Hand gegeben, da auch 230v . Grüße Eugen

I bought the shortest version with high roof (aftermarket westfalia style) last year. It's 1978 207d with 48kw. The car had everything what you need including solar panel. I made few trips with friends. But its old car and the conversion is from 1991 so I want do it my way with new modern equipment. This year I want repair the body and paint it. And I have to say I love the T1

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! That's great. If you take care of rust, a T1 is really a van for eternity. Make your T1 ready for the next 40 years and enjoy your trips! :)

I have 310d, 2.9 diesel. Short and hight. When I was driving home with eco driving he took 6.9liter per 100km!!!! But it was empty and my travel speed was 80km/h. In future I will convert it for vegetable oil=travel for free. Thank you for your Chanel. I enjoy it very much

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

6.9l is record low! :)

@mdybos

2 жыл бұрын

@@CubeofCars Yes, but sure because I put full tank before travel and after. It is record. In city it takes about 10liters...I will never sell it. Everything I am making for my self. I am 42. Hopefully 310D will stay with me til end :)

I have a hymer campervan built on a 1993 t1 with the 2.9 diesel, it does about 24mpg (UK)

Your voice sounds like pilot talking to tower from a Lufthansa Airbus 😜 But nice car, interesting project - quite inspiring 👍

Hopefully buying the motorhome version. Subd.

@SussexBricklayer

Жыл бұрын

Would that be a 2.3 petrol motor home ? I’m also considering buying a 2.3 petrol engine motorhome long wheel base. I’m curious about fuel economy/efficiency

I have a 1992 310 imported from Germany, ex fire dept. I love the simple to operate controls. I did install an automatic tranny and wish I had power steering. It has the roll up door in the rear which I do not like at all but having to live with it as parts here in the US hard to find. Thanks for this..

@karim1968

Жыл бұрын

Did you lose any power with the automatic transmission?

@robmasson1

Жыл бұрын

Is it tough to get parts in the US? I am in Canada and I am looking to buy a German firetruck but the parts thing scares me up.

Our 409D we have in Western Washington gets looks and we make friends wherever we take it. For a 1984, it has a low 82,000 miles on her with only a touch of surface rust. Here in the US, it’s hard to find anyone with knowledge of sourcing parts.

@CubeofCars

9 ай бұрын

That's cool! They are so rare in the US. Have they ever been imported officially or is your van a private import? I would love to ship my van to the US for a road trip up and down the west coast :)

Think I had a 1982 - 309D with a high roof, converted to a campervan. It had the 240D engine, with maybe 68hp. Top speed was 90 km/h and that was a challenge.

@protestagain

2 жыл бұрын

It was a challenge to drive, because I was already defined as a wheelchair user twenty years ago. Used the hands to control the legs. Yes, the pressure on the legs to use gas and brake, the clutch was a slightly bigger challenge, but it worked too, but then I took it out on a winter trip on the first snow with bad winter tires. Had to go as it went. Got spinning on a hill, sling, and I was not so fast to lift my legs with my hands exactly right, so it went wrong and I ended up in the ditch. Ended up on the side, hanging in a seatbelt while I laughed. Got called a tow truck, a friend of mine, who got me out and then towed the car home. There were some dents and the front was not straight, so then the car got one last rest as a heating cabin on a private shooting range. There it is still.

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

Cool story! Good that the T1 got at least a second life and not just scrapped ;)

mine 310D does 11 liters loaded and less than 10 empty. After i rebuild engine ill check again

M102 low roof long version. Did not get better than 13-14l/100km but have a slow/long back Axel. Maybe i will change it in the future....

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

On our first real road trip, 6000 km to Greece and back, fully loaded and with lots of mountain roads on the way we got an average of 14.5 l/100km... still ok, I think.

Thanks for explaining the different models/types. I have a (rusty) 207D. I have a question about the turn knob above the pull knob (pull knob is preheat and starter motor). But the turn knob, how should it be used? Too far left or right, and the engine starts to shake wildly. But there's a pretty big range in which the engine runs smooth so wherein this range should the knob be? in the middle, or as far to the left as possible with a engine still running smooth? or as far as possible to the right with a smooth running engine? Also, does this knob affect mileage (does it make the engine run rich or lean I mean)? Thank you for the video and for a reply.

@CubeofCars

2 ай бұрын

My van doesn't have this idle speed adjuster knob. It's meant to increase idle speed when the engine is cold (by turning it left). When the engine is warm, idle speed can be reduced to a level that the engine runs smoothly.

Great content! Im thinking about 1994 310D James Cook version as a family camper :) Do you have any experience with this model? Cheers from Portugal!

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

The 310D is a good engine and the James Cook was a good conversion. You can't make anything wrong with this choice, just be careful with rust, so there are no bad surprises later!

Hallo Cube of Cars, danke für deine tollen Videos mit der T1 310 Feuerwehr. Diese helfen mir gerade sehr bei der Restaurierung und dem Ausbau meiner T1 308 Feuerwehr 🚒. Ich hätte eine kurze Frage zu den Versicherungskosten, Wie hast du den zugelassen ? WoMo und Saisonzulassung? Meiner ist aktuell als Lieferwagen (LKW)zu gelassen, weil er noch leer ist und noch einige fahrten zum Mechaniker bzw. später noch zum TÜV anstehen. Da habe ich gerade eine sehr unangenehme Versicherungsgebühr 😅 von der ich schnellstmöglich wieder runter möchte. Wäre cool wenn du mir da einen Tipp geben könntest wie man die Fahrzeuge am günstigsten zulassen kann 😌. Grüße aus Altötting 👋🏻

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! Ich habe meinen T1 als Wohnmobil mit H-Zulassung und Saison 03-11 zugelassen und versichert. Billig wird die Versicherung bei mir aber weder durch die Wohnmobilzulassung noch durch die Saison, sondern einzig durch das H-Kennzeichen. Ich hatte zuerst LKW-Zulassung mit H-Kennzeichen und das waren bei mir die gleichen Versicherungskosten wie jetzt als Wohnmobil. Falls du noch kein H-Kennzeichen hast, dann versuche das unbedingt zu bekommen und dann suche dir eine günstige Versicherung für Oldtimer. Mit zusätzlichem Alltagsauto ist das dann ganz leicht, aber es dürfte auch vertretbare Tarife ohne Alltagsauto geben. Und hinsichtlich der Reihenfolge würde ich auf jeden Fall empfehlen, erst (noch als LKW) das H-Kennzeichen zu machen und erst im zweiten Schritt später die Umschreibung zum Wohnmobil, nicht umgekehrt oder gleichzeitig. Altötting ist ja gleich um die Ecke.... vielleicht sieht man sich da mal! Viel Spass mit deinem Umbau! :) LG, Mike

Hello, I purchased a 310D camper van about a year ago that I have been having some trouble finding parts for, currently a starter. The van is located in the US and local suppliers are few, far between or simply non-existent and Mercedes dealerships here seem very reluctant to service or supply parts. Do you have any recommendations for a dependable supplier? Thank you in advance for any assistance. Loved the video(s), you are a first class content creator and wealth of information.

@CubeofCars

7 ай бұрын

Hi! Here in Germany any Mercedes dealership would supply a part like a starter without problems. But such a part is also available at internet dealers. I would suggest to check the part number and then do an Google search, maybe using the German word "Anlasser". Not sure though, if all German dealers would ship to the US. Here's a result of my quick search: eurostarter.de/1x-anlasser-2-10kw-neu-oe-nr-0001218110-fuer-mercedes-t1-208d-210d-310d-408d-410d.html

@jamesstringfellow7439

7 ай бұрын

@@CubeofCars Thank you for the prompt and informative reply, I sincerely appreciate you doing a little detective work on your end and pointing me in the right direction. Its kind of a bummer its not the same with Mercedes dealership here but I will keep checking with them. It looks like the right one and I will double check the part number to ensure a match. Thank you again! I look forward to more of your content and maybe see you down the road someday as I plan to take my rig worldwide. I am the third owner; the original owner bought the van and had the camper built by Kaiser Motorhomes with the intention of doing the PanAm. He made it as far as Guatemala and met his future wife. The second owner has a bicycle tourism business there, bought the van and drove it back to his home in North Carolina but decided the space wasn't good for his family of four and sold it to me.

@CubeofCars

7 ай бұрын

@@jamesstringfellow7439 Hi James, what a cool history of your van! Do you maybe have photos of your Benz on Instagram? Cheers, Mike

Hi, I own a Hymer 310d diesel 2.9 5 cylinder motorhome in the U.K and regularly achieve 23mpg imperial taking into consideration it is always fully loaded and I generally drive about 55-60 max I don't thing that is to bad

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

That's really ok, would be about 12l/100km in our way to calculate... :)

Where did you source your roof rack? Or is it custom?

HI, YOU DID COVER WHOL VERY WELL.... JUST NEED TO KNOW CAN WE PUT power steering,,,??? IF YES WHICH WILL BE SUITABLE FOR THESE MODEL???? MERCI

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

There was an original power steering option for the T1. So maybe try to find second hand parts. I was also thinking about it, but got used to the steering already.

@aliaalija4788

Жыл бұрын

@@CubeofCars thanks for reply , actually i have some physical health issue that is why ....

@gerrymulroy2545

8 ай бұрын

Opel Corsa b electric power steering is being retro fitted to many vehicles these days . Google and KZread will throw up plenty of information on this .

Im planning on buying a 1985 german fire truck T1. One question, Is there any asbestos in the van inner linning. Thanks

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Hi! We did not find any asbestos, so I don't think Mercedes used any. There was just some foam plastic.

I have a T1 1080 James Cook, 307D, fully built. We have been looking for a reputable repair shop in Southern Germany, as we do not have space where we live, to help us. Does anyone have any suggestions on where we could take our beloved van. Thank you in advance.

@CubeofCars

2 ай бұрын

It would also like to know any shop specialising on our T1...

hi , nice car . Can i ask which foots keeps the roof-rack ? U can send me a link . I will appreciate your answer , thanks !!!

@CubeofCars

2 ай бұрын

sklep.tygrys.syncro.pl/en/mercedes/214-mercedes-mb-t1.html

A friend of mine wants to get rid of an old T1 bus. It's got 150k km and plenty of rust, but the frame seems to be in pretty decent shape and the engine runs like new. He's asking €1500 for it, but I'm not 100% sure if I should buy it. Should I just go for it?

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

I would only buy it if you are skilled in welding or you search an object to practise and learn welding. If you can't do it yourself, it's surely much better to search for another T1. But the price would be ok, if the T1 still runs well.

Know of any sites on where to buy something similar to this? All EU sites I know of have very few advertised :( I'm planning an around the world trip for 2024 and one of these would be the perfect base vehicle I think!

@CubeofCars

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah... good idea :) Unfortunately there are not many good T1 on the market, but sometimes you can find one on www.mobile.de/ or www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/

Guten Tag T1 Freunde. Kann mir hier vielleicht jemand sagen, wie die Schräge nach unten zulaufende Spannschraube heißt, die den vorderen Keilriemen auf Spannung hält? Bin schon seit Tagen am Suchen und finde weder Nummer noch Schraube. Grüße. Olli

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Kennst du die T1 Whatsapp Gruppe? Bei solchen Fragen kann dir dort schnell geholfen werden.

Ich bin seit mehr als 20 Jahren im Besitz eines 309 D James Cook. Ich kann durchaus alles bestätigen was hier gezeigt wurde. Allerdings muss man bei den großen Diesel mit Hochdach und Campingausbau bei voller Beladung (Urlaub halt) mit 12 - 13 Liter Diesel rechnen. Darunter geht bei den 5-Zylindern nicht viel. Der Motor ist unverwüstlich wenn man ihn einigermaßen pflegt. Die Sitzposition ist leider nicht so toll, man sitzt halt wie auf einem Küchenstuhl. Ich habe mir damals einen Wako Tempomat eingebaut, denn man bekommt Krämpfe bei langen Fahrten auf der Autobahn wegen der einseitigen Fußbelastung. Leider ging hier die Steuerelektronik kaputt und Ersatz für Waeko ist etwas teuer, also fahre ich wieder old school. Was noch grottig ist ist die Elektrik. Ich habe monatelang gesucht warum das Ding manchmal nicht ansprang und alle möglichen Teile getauscht die man üblicherweise hier verdächtigt, bis ich darauf kam, dass es das Zündschloß war. Die haben damals doch wirklich den kompletten Magnetschalterstrom über das Zündschloss geschaltet. Seit ich hier ein Relais einbaut habe ist alles in Ordnung. Rost ist/war natürlich auch ein Thema. Der Unterbau ist sehr solide, aber die oberen Blechteile mögen Regel und vor allem Salz nicht. Da muss man dahinter sein und ab und an etwas tun. Wenn er nicht bewegt wird, sollte es schon trocken stehen. Mein 309 hat jetzt 260000 km runter und ist 40 Jahre alt. Nächstes Jahr werde ich mal eine Überholung der Blechteile machen, eher kleinere Rost Schönheitsreparaturen, vor allem im Bereich der Reeling, da rostet er gerne und man sieht es lange nicht. Der Sicherungskasten ist auch eher mäßig und anfällig für schlechte Kontakte, den werde ich dann auch gegen etwas zeitgemäßes ersetzen.

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Hi Fabian, danke für die ganzen zusätzlichen Infos! :) LG, Mike

Terminologisch herausragendes Englisch, Hut ab! Für mich ist der Typ leider, so sehr ich ihn optisch mag, auch mit hohem Dach zu niedrig und auch zu schmal, weshalb ich eine Fahrzeugklasse darüber suche.

@CubeofCars

2 ай бұрын

Es stimmt schon, dass man selbst nicht zu gross sein darf, sonst ist der T1 zu klein. Suchst du jetzt nach T2 oder was ist dein Favorit?

Den Vergaser gibt es aber nicht mehr neu? Richtig?

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Ob es den ganzen Vergaser noch neu gibt, weiß ich leider nicht....

Ein Feuerwehrauto braucht keine Parkscheibe!! Die parken nicht, die löschen :)) LG, Andreas

@CubeofCars

7 ай бұрын

So ist es :)

Loudest van on earth 😇. U sit beside the engine... 🤪 Nr. 0: it is slow enough to walk aside 😂. Sry but true.

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Not really loud with the petrol engine.... believe me ;)

@olivertrunk9509

Жыл бұрын

@@CubeofCars Ok. Then rather the most thirsty van on earth 😉🙃🙂

It's not mercedes it's force traveller from India

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Well, the Force Traveller is a "copy of the Mercedes T1" (Wikipedia)... ;)

Ein deutscher Titel und dann englisch.... Sei dir blöd

@CubeofCars

Жыл бұрын

Wenn dein Account auf deutsche Sprache eingestellt ist, siehst du den deutschen Titel und wenn er auf english eingestellt ist, dann siehst du den englischen Titel...

Thank you so much you explained everything succinctly and gave me everything i was looking for 🫶🫶🫶

Love IT