Mercedes-Benz Vario

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.

Mercedes-Benz Vario
815D Vario minibus in Viernheim, Germany in March 2006
Overview
Manufacturer	Daimler-Benz (1996–1998) DaimlerChrysler (1998–2007) Daimler AG (2007–2013)
Production	1996–2013
Assembly	Germany: Ludwigsfelde Spain: Alcobendas (CKD)
Body and chassis
Class	Commercial vehicle
Body style	2-door truck 4-door truck 3-door van 4-door van 4-door minibus
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive Front engine, four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	Mercedes-Benz OM602 Mercedes-Benz OM904
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3150-4800 mm
Width	2200 mm
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercedes-Benz T2
Successor	Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Mercedes-Benz Atego

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
				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

1. Vario replaces the T2 Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 3 October 1996
2. Mercedes Vario offers variety Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 24 October 1996
3. Mercedes-Benz Vario Archived 24 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Truck Planet
4. Mercedes-Benz Vario Archived 21 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Commercial Motor 5 January 2006
5. "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.
6. "Well-earned retirement". MyVan. 15 October 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
7. 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.

Bibliography

• Röcke, Matthias (2008). Mercedes-Benz Transporter: Postwar to Present Day. Königswinter, Germany: Heel Verlag. ISBN 9783868520682.

External links

• Media related to Mercedes-Benz Vario at Wikimedia Commons
• Product Guide (in German) Mercedes-Benz