Mercedes-Benz Vario

Full-size commercial heavy van and bus

Motor vehicle

Daimler-Benz (1996–1998)
DaimlerChrysler (1998–2007)
Daimler AG (2007–2013)

Production1996–2013Assembly

Germany: Ludwigsfelde
Spain: Alcobendas (CKD)

Body and chassisClassCommercial vehicleBody style2-door truck
4-door truck
3-door van
4-door van
4-door minibusLayoutFront engine, rear-wheel drive
Front engine, four-wheel drivePowertrainEngineMercedes-Benz OM602
Mercedes-Benz OM904Transmission5-speed manual
6-speed manual
4-speed automatic
5-speed automaticDimensionsWheelbase3150-4800 mmWidth2200 mmChronologyPredecessorMercedes-Benz T2SuccessorMercedes-Benz Sprinter
Mercedes-Benz Atego

The Mercedes-Benz Vario (model designation BM667/668/670) is a full-size commercial heavy van and medium duty truck manufactured by Mercedes-Benz between 1996 and 2013.

History

The Vario was launched in 1996 as a facelifted version of the Mercedes-Benz T2.^[1]^[2]

The bodyshell remained relatively unchanged throughout its 17-year production life. The Vario proved a popular base chassis for trucks, minibuses and mini-coaches. When new regulations required disabled access, a model with a wheelchair lift was made available.^{[citation needed]}

The Vario was fitted with several types of Mercedes-Benz engines. Pre-2000 vehicles used a 5-cylinder OM602LA (2874 cm³) and 4-cylinder OM904LA (4250 cm³), turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine. From September 2000, Vario 618D/818D models were equipped with a 4.2-liter turbo diesel engine with intercooler and direct injection with an output of 136 or 150 hp and torque of 520 or 580 Nm, respectively. The most powerful was a 177 hp, 675Nm engine.

With the introduction of the Euro 4 emission standards, the Vario began to be equipped with OM904LA series BlueTec4 turbocharged and intercooled engine with working volume of 4250 cm³ and a power of 129, 156 or 177 hp.^[3]^[4] Set of new manual gearboxes, new automatic gearbox and some optional equipment was added to portfolio.

Two types of gearboxes were available, a 5-speed manual (later 6-speed) and on buses, an Allison AT 545 4-speed automatic (later an Allison LCT 1000 5-speed). Maximum payload was 4.4 tons with a load volume of 17.4 cubic meters. A 4x4 model was also available.^[5] All models had a suspension on parabolic leaf springs, all ventilated disc brakes and power steering.

On 27 September 2013, the last Vario rolled off the production line in Ludwigsfelde.^[6]^[7] Between 1996 and 2013, 90,743 units were manufactured.^[7] The Vario was succeeded in Daimler Trucks' model range by heavier versions of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and lighter versions of the Mercedes-Benz Atego.

Engines

Model	Displacement cc	Bore × stroke mm	Engine code Mercedes-Benz	Rated output kW (hp) at rpm emission standards	Torque Nm at rpm	Prod. years	Fuel mixture
5-cylinder In-line diesel engine (turbocharged and intercooled)
512D, 612D, 812D	2874	ø89 × 92.4	OM 602 DE LA	90 (122) 3800 Euro-2	280 2000-2300	1996–2001	Distributor injection pump with EDC - line - nozzle holder
4-cylinder In-line diesel engine (turbocharged and intercooled)
810DT	4249	ø102 × 130	OM 904 LA	75 (102) 2200 Euro-2		1996–2001	Unit pump - line - nozzle (UPS/PLD)
BlueTec4/5 613D, 813D 813DA (4×4)				95 (129) 2200 Euro-4/Euro-5	500 1200–1600	2006-2013
614D, 814D 814DA (4×4)				100 (136) 2200 Euro-2/Euro-3	520 1200–1600	1996–2006
615D, 815D 815DA (4x4)				112 (152) 2200 Euro-2	580 1200–1600	1998–2001
615D, 815D 815DA (4x4)				110 (150) 2200 Euro-3	575 1200–1600	2001–2006
BlueTec4/5 616D, 816D 816DA (4x4)				115 (156) 2200 Euro-4/Euro-5	610 1200–1600	2009-2013
618D, 818D BlueTec4/5 (2006-2013) 618D, 818D 818DA (4x4)				130 (177) 2200 Euro-3 Euro-4/Euro-5	675 1200–1600	2003–2013

Gallery

O814D Vario minibus rear in Kraków, Poland in November 2010
Western Greyhound Plaxton Beaver 2 bodied O814 in Plymouth in September 2006
St Ives Bus Company Plaxton Beaver 2 bodied O814 in Cornwall in July 2013
Southern Vectis O814D Vario minibus with rear wheelchair access in the UK in November 2011
UPS Vario van in Germany in May 2005
RheinEnergie 815D Vario Emergency Service Van in Cologne in July 2007
814D Vario Post Office Van in Halstead in January 2008
814D Vario Van with a Truck bed in the Netherlands in June 2012
512D Vario Emergency doctor van in Germany in July 2007
Compass Travel Autobus Classique bodied Vario in Horsham in April 2009

References

Notes

^ Vario replaces the T2 Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 3 October 1996
^ Mercedes Vario offers variety Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 24 October 1996
^ Mercedes-Benz Vario Archived 24 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Truck Planet
^ Mercedes-Benz Vario Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 5 January 2006
^ "Vario 814DA 4x4 T he number of factory-built 7.5-tonne integral panel". Commercial Motor Archive. 9 November 2006. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014.
^ "Well-earned retirement". MyVan. 15 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b DEPPE, PHILIPP (27 September 2013). "Letzter Vario rollt in Mercedes-Benz Werk Ludwigsfelde vom Band". Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog / Mercedes Benz, smart, Maybach, AMG (in German). Retrieved 8 April 2020.