Re: Hymer Mercedes 660 Forums

slackboy

Hello, looking for advice from your knowledge base.
I've owned a camper before (LT35) but am now looking at buying something a wee bit more comfortable with shower and heating etc, the LT really was a camper and not a motorhome.
I have around 10k to spend and have been looking at the hymer 544, early 90's model. The layout of these vans is good but I would like somewhere where the young baby can go whilst we listen to the music playing cards and drinking the wine, the only way I can see of doing this is by going down the route of a hymer 660 which has the rear lounge / bed. Obviously being a bigger van makes it a bit more expencive meaning I could really only afford a mid 80's 660. Does anybody have any advice with regards to these vans, a local dealer has told me about problems with plastic in the mid 80's hymers (I guess he's talking about the shower room).
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards in advance,
Nick

geraldandannie · Moderator

Hi, Nick

I'm afraid I have no specific experience of either of these vans. In our review section, we have reviews of newer

artona · Moderator

Hi Nick

You could also look abroad, see what you can pick up in Germany. If you pick up one with a mercedes engine, then in general the engines are superb. You will need to check everything over and over though, repairs can be costly

stew

Rapide561

Hi

You may have already visited

kands

Hi Nick
If you care to look through my photo album you will see some pictures of our old Hymer S660.
We virtually rebuilt it before selling it to get our current RV. The Hymer S660 is a fantastic bit of kit. They were all built on the Mercedes chassis and the late 80's early 90's units are on the Mercedes 410 chassis (I am not to sure about earlier models but I believe that all S660's were using the Mercedes chassis), which is pretty bullet proof. The engine is the old 5 cylinder 2.9 litre normally aspirated diesel, which although will do starship mileage if maintained correctly, will not go above tug speeds Laughing

The mercedes engine had the option of an auto gearbox, which whilst reducing available power to the wheels a bit, does make driving it much more pleasant.
I am not aware of any particular plastic faults with these vehicles so if it is the shower then remember that you can get replacement parts for the older Hymers from

Philzick

This is a late repy so if it's of value... I bought a 660 with the smaller 4 cylinder 2.4 ltr engine from germany in 2004. I didn't know a lot at the time and the only drawback is the small engine. The 5 cylinder 2.9 ltr is probably the one to go for and reputed to be the best engine Mercedes ever built and good for 350K miles. The 2.4 engine is the same lump just minus a cylinder. She has taken us to Italy, through France of course, Spain too, two years running. You have to get used to everything passing you as top speed is around 68mph, downhill with a proverbial gail behind you! That I have to say you don't want to be doing for long as she's a bit of a handful at anything over 60mph. On the flat she will sit at 50-55 all day. Plenty of space, all mod cons just an old lady. We had to have the gearbox reconditioned this year plus a new clutch at the same time. Other than that no big costs. Ours is a 1983 so a little fraid around the edges but everything works fine. She returns 19mpg worst and 22mpg at best which for an old non-turbo engine is as good as you'll get me-thinks. I paid 8100 euros plus the ferry, diesel, registration and a new uk mot etc to get her on UK roads so might be worth looking at buying in Germany and driving back. Have a look at

merctoby

who ever wants, the flagship this is it will go on after i am gone and that is a long way off i hope .

good luck happy camper,s keep doing the mile,s it,s a great life is nt it . have fun .

skinnylizzie · Last edited by skinnylizzie on Sat May 24, 2008 6:54 pm; edited 2 times in total

Hi Nick, Philzick and Keith just read your posts and would like to know how you got on Nick?, Philzick, Keith anybody can you perhaps help my husband and I?.
We purchased a 1982 Mercedes Hymer B5400 LHD last year and toured the Devon,Cornish and SW Welsh coast before crossing into Southern Ireland two weeks into our trip "Maggies" gearbox gave up the ghost and we were stuck in the remotest little village on the back of a recovery truck for a week before we could find a gearbox. Eventually a 5 speed truck gearbox from a RHD was fitted at an enormous cost and we made our way back to Warwickshire with much lighter wallets. We would now like to have a larger engine (3 or 3.5 litre preferably diesel) and a 4/5 speed manual gearbox fitted to "Maggie" can you perhaps help or put us in contact with somebody who can?
In the year that we have owned "Maggie" and six months of constant touring in her she has found a place in our hearts Razz

and given us so much enjoyment that we do not want to sell her but cannot continue with the small engine she currently has (2389 litre) and the truck gearbox as we are wanting to tour France in the summer. Rolling Eyes

Thanks
Liz