how do u know if that MB100D van is from korea or local?

[voltscastillo]

friendly Q lang from one of my friends who's looking to buy one. we both know next to nothing regarding these vehicles, but we do know the following: its front engine, front drive, diesel 2.9 engine from mercedes.

i have seen similar body shapes from ssangyong, and i've read somewhere (forgot na where) that you can remove the badges, hubcaps, etc, to look like locally produced MB vans.

may differences ba yung gray market korean ssangyongs from the locally made MB vans? performance, a/c?

thanks in advance.

[OTEP]

The Mercedes Benz MB100 is a rebadged Ssangyong Istana. There are minor trim and equipment differences, but they are essentially the same.

Here are some features of the local MB100. Take note however that these can also be installed on gray market units:
*A Commercial Motors Corporation build plate when you open the front flap (the hood).
*A smaller Mercedes Benz Emblem on top of the large grille emblem
*Smaller and more car-like side view mirrors
*No front undermirror
*Local units were also available in monotone color with no bodyside mouldings (most imported units are two-tone)
*Manual climate control with no heater function
*Single-DIN audio system
*Mercedes Benz logo embossed on steering wheel (not glued on)
*No instrument cluster dimmer
*Seating configuration is 2+3+3+4 with non-rotating (but reclining) seats. Imported units are available in a myriad of configurations
*All local units are short wheelbase (MB100). Long wheelbase MB140D units are imported.
*Bubble top and moonroof not available locally.
*No pulldown handle inside rear tailgate
*No OEM bullbar
*Local uses 'shorter gearing' for quick acceleration but a bit lower top speed.
*Local has bigger radiator
*Star design alloy wheel (five spokes)

Later models of local units were subsequently fitted with steel wheels (and full wheelcovers), improved a/c with cabin heater, heavier flywheel, additional sound insulation, body color wiper and mirrors, digital clock instead of analog, some wood trim, front seat armrests, optional captain's chairs, improved front a/c vents (less prone to breaking), clutch starter interlock (have to step on clutch for starter to work.

I'm still thinking of the other differences.

[Mojo]

galeng galeng otep,

otep koreano ka ata? expert ka sa mga korean cars at trucks

[silverbx986]

magkano brand new nyan?

[OTEP]

Mojo,
We have an MB100. Observations ko lang iyan. We checked out local and imported units before settling for a local one. Ok naman ang Korean cars. Easy on the pocket kasi.

Silver,
Wala na atang brand new units ng MB100. The last ones were badged as Daewoos after Daewoo took over Ssangyong.

[doublea]

Try talking to the Van in "Tagalog" if it cannot reply then it's from Korea.

Just Kidding

[Mojo]

hehe korrect ka otep

mura na bilhin, dali pa i maintain, so far di pa naman naging bitch yung korean made na sasakyan ko. hehehe, mura mura pa parts at madali hanapin weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.................

heheheh..

[BlueBimmer]

notice ko lng when i rode in my friends MB100D mdyo pumapasok ung init ng engine sa loob ng cabin, i could feel it beside my leg sa console nya.

[voltscastillo]

hey thanks for the quick response. print out the list sir otep gave...medjo madami din pala.

due to the cost diff of the korean vs. local, and the fact that my friend wants to use it as a people carrier lang talaga and doesn't care about the badge, he's evaluating a couple of korean ssangyongs na...each with 7000 kms lang on the odo.

the radiator though, is something to think about. why do local units get a bigger rad? hotter here? maybe i ought to tell my friend to just drop the korean rad and get an evercool of roughly the same size as the local, no? para iwas sakit ng ulo in case the thing overheats with the smaller korean rad.

thanks again.

[OTEP]

Korean units are usually better equipped than the local ones. Even with the smaller radiator size, as long as you use the proper coolant (50% distilled drinking water + 50% ethelyne glycol based coolant) and change it at the proper interval and ensure that your mechanical and electric fan are working properly, then cooling should not be a problem.

The difference in radiator size is not really that great. I think the local MB100 just used the radiator of the MB100 models designed for commercial use (truck body).

The engine cover of the MB100 extends up to the cabin. There is a 'doghouse' cover inside similar to those Ford E150 vans. If the doghouse is not properly aligned and locked, heat will find its way into the cabin. Also check that the insulation under the doghouse is still in good condition.

[alwayz_yummy]

e sir otep..ako im considering this also aside from JDM VANs, about the parts, kay seiring, available ba most of them?true din ba powersteeing nito kinda bitchy?di ba mahirap i-drive o sanayan lang? ok din kasi walk-thru from front to rear, and spacious ito kaya consider ko siya kahit front-wheel drive lang...

i thinking a MB100 bubble top with cap'n chairs,e....

kia pride owner kami, kaya may tiwala ako sa korean technology...

[OTEP]

MB100 is easy to drive. Diyan ako nag-aral magdrive nung student driver pa ako. Comfortable din naman. I spend 12-hour days driving one. Parts are very much available in (OEM Ssangyong, OEM Benz, or replacement). Sa power steering, hose lang naman ang problema dun. Pinalitan ko na ng hose designed for heavy construction equipment (fabricated sa A. Bonifacio).

Front wheel drive is an advantage din. It allows for a very spacious interior, low load floor, and mas maganda ang traction. I can back up our driveway in the rain kapag MB100 gamit ko. Sa Kia Besta at L300 nadudulas ako.

[Mojo]

Otep

san ka nakakabili ng OEM syanyyong at mga Syanyong replacement parts?

[OTEP]

Sa mga third-party Mercedes Benz specialists like RBL Quezon Ave. and MCR Banawe.

Meron din sa mga Korean specialists like Aries along Araneta Ave. and Fronte Motors in Banawe.

The Mercedes Benz dealer will also have parts pero sobrang mahal. I never bother to go there.

[carlocaraddict]

me, i just look at the side mirrors:
ssangyong istana


mercedes benz mb100 has door integrated side mirrors

[predo]

ung nakuha namin was '96 model CMC... I noticed nung pinalinisan namin ung air-con as likod, the techinician brought down something na may black cylindrical metal, sabi nya heater daw iyon (or defogger?) but decided to disable it..hindi rin naman magagamit yan dito sa atin..

MB100, very reliable. Sa amin sa Cagayan Valley, you could spot them in rows along with hyundais, bestas, and L300 na pumapasada from tuguegarao to any town far north.

As for spare parts, I highly suggest APIC sa banawe..lower ang pricing nila compared sa Fronte Motors and the rest of MB100 parts sellers sa banawe - (did canvas a lot of parts for the van since it was bought 2nd hand),. And ung repairman nila, he claims to have came from Mercedez Benz Casa. I don't know. But judging from what I see everytime na bumibili ako ng parts sa knila, mukha naman bihasa. at bihira ang araw na walang MB100 na nakaparada sa harap nila.

barya ko lang....

[OTEP]

Yung black cylinder na nakasabit mula sa ceiling ay yung blower housing diba? Parang apat ang turbines ng blower ng rear a/c ng MB100 nung binaba yunb sa amin dati to check for leaks. AFAIK, wala nang heater ang mga CMC units. Pero hindi din naman ako sure kasi once lang kami nagbukas ng a/c sa likod. hehehe.

[predo]

Sa town namin, 2 units ng MB100 din ang biniling service ng Municipal Hall..Same with the nearby town adjacent to aparri (across cagayan river). 1 of them is grey unit, which is physically identical sa mga CMC model. Including the car-like side mirrors and MB grille. Kaso when I saw the badge sa steering wheel, syangyong logo.. ung mga units na ito grabe ang harabas nung election time..everytime na nakikita kong pauwi ang mga to, puno lagi ng dust at putik ang body. plus capacity full passenger including election giveaways.Talk like laging off-road sa condisyon ng mga kalye sa baryo namin..hehe

ung nga lang, never allow the rear liquid-shock absorber to be replaced with gas-shock absorber..Ung Rapide Tuguegarao ang kunwari nagsabi na maganda, matibay etc..etc.. ang gas shocks nila (at ang mahal pa 3,200 ung pair).naniwala naman kami.Tapos ang pangit pala ng rear passenger experience. Kay maam grace na lang ng APIC kmi bumili ng liquid shock absorber (mando brand-for only 1,800)

* sir OTEP, bale ung dim nya is 2cm dia x 4cm length. black metal sya na may 2 copper rods na welded..heater daw..pro tama ka, baka blower or something lang kasi why would we need heater here in the first place..hehehe

[Mojo]

OTEP

san maganda kumuha Engine Parts for Kia Besta?

[OTEP]

Mando is the OEM supplier for Ssangyong. Wala pa kaming problem sa shocks up to now pero sirain yung Mando shocks ng Kia ko dati. The bushings would always disintegrate.

And yes, I don't find the need for fitting gas shocks in the MB100. Unless you are always using it at full capacity (passengers+luggage). The MB100 uses a single leaf spring (ala Chevy Corvette pero hindi transverse mount) and it is a good compromise between ride and load capacity.

Mojo,
Try mo diyan sa APIC. They handle Korean brands. Wala ako masyadong need for engine parts dun sa Kia. Aries at Fronte din ako kumukuha dati. Btw, may extra pair of Besta 2.2 oil filters ako dito. Benta ko na lang ng mura if you want. Orig and unused.