2019 Bourton Mercedes Electrics Issues

Anyone having problems with weird behaviour of the electrics in the habitation area?
When parked up, on ours the Mercedes electrics tries to enable an energy saving hibernation mode which appears to confuse the Sargent unit which does any, or all, of the following - operate the step, awning light or worst of all sets off it's own internal battery low alarm. Given this goes off randomly in the night, a good night's sleep is something to dream of (not in the van though!). This behaviour has existed since we took delivery three months ago and despite persistent chasing there's no sign of resolution. A vehicle designed for sleeping in, but you can't have an uninterrupted night's sleep! Fit for purpose? Anyone else with similar issues or sensible advice?

I have read on numerous occasions on this forum that Sargent are very helpful when approached with a technical question. You may benefit from a chat with them. Contact details are on their website.   Keith

KMRTOPAZ wrote:I have read on numerous occasions on this forum that Sargent are very helpful when approached with a technical question. You may benefit from a chat with them. Contact details are on their website.   Keith

Looks like issue is with all 2019 Mercedes based conversions from AS. Here's the story. I buy new from dealer. They get vehicle from AS. AS build with base from Mercedes(talked to Rygor and got to the heart of the issue) integrating with Sargent(talked to them and they confirmed that they were aware of the issue and trying to resolve but no immediate indication of when) and AS's own needs. With no help from dealer I had to do the legwork before talking to AS and being amazed(polite version!) to discover that it was a known issue. Put dealer in the picture and leaning on them to progress for a resolution. Three months on and patience wearing thin.

Sorry to hear your having such problems with your new Bourton. I can only imagine something has been changed somewhere, as we have had no such issues with our own Bourton. Hope you get a resolution to it, and soon.

I've never owned an A/S Mercedes based conversion so I may be remembering the detail wrongly, but I think there have been similar previous issues between A/S and Mercedes.

This was a few years back and again involved the interface to their electrical systems - in that case the door locking mechanism, where MB changed how it worked electrically but apparently did not tell A/S (or perhaps they did, but A/S did not understand the implications).

Milvus wrote:Sorry to hear your having such problems with your new Bourton. I can only imagine something has been changed somewhere, as we have had no such issues with our own Bourton. Hope you get a resolution to it, and soon.

A lot has changed. It's the latest 2019 Sprinter base with all new cab/dashboard and 'smart' electrics. Therein lies the problem so it seems.

The support from Germany for the new model Sprinter has been so poor that the MB Specialist Fleet Sales Manager (Tesco vans, ambulances, motorhomes, etc) resigned.

Hi, Yes we are having exactly the same problem with our 2019 Bourton, as well as what you have said yours does ours unlocks the habitation door in the middle of the night  puts the lights on and the step goes up and down as it pleases, we now sleep with the doors unlocked... yes I know the risk but unless we do that there's many interruptions during the night, we think the blessed motorhome is possessed but we love the Bourton. Having spoken to both A.S. and Sargent they are well aware  and in the next couple of weeks there is to be a meeting with Merc to try and resolve the problem. Sargent said it is the Euro6 engine going into hibernation mode......we are living in hope !!!!!

ourannie wrote:Hi, Yes we are having exactly the same problem with our 2019 Bourton, as well as what you have said yours does ours unlocks the habitation door in the middle of the night  puts the lights on and the step goes up and down as it pleases, we now sleep with the doors unlocked... yes I know the risk but unless we do that there's many interruptions during the night, we think the blessed motorhome is possessed but we love the Bourton. Having spoken to both A.S. and Sargent they are well aware  and in the next couple of weeks there is to be a meeting with Merc to try and resolve the problem. Sargent said it is the Euro6 engine going into hibernation mode......we are living in hope !!!!!

For us it's three months with no sense of urgency being shown to resolve or even find a workaround as a temporary fix. We've had disrupted sleep for every night we spent in the van so far. Really takes the edge off enjoying our purchase.

I hope that this issue gets sorted ASAP for everybody who has parted with big cash for Autosleeper’s flagship models as they claim 
I have never been happy with the auto locking on hab door and step retraction 
In fact I have been very unhappy with the service from Autosleeper and the dealership to the point that my burford is over 2 years old and some of the issues pointed out on handover have still not been resolved and they are just full of bull s 
I suggested if you cannot get the problem sorted ,return the vehicle for full refund on the grounds of its not fit for purpose because you cannot live with this and I am sure the insurance company would not payout if it unlocks itself when left unattended

Hi LDPD, sorry don't know how to send a private message so have replied publicly as it does concern the 2019 Bourton blinds, when we bought ours in June from SMC they said they would fit us blinds in 12 months as a certain Motorhome manufacture had  exclusive rights on the blinds for 12 months. Quite honestly we like the Bourton without the fitted blinds as we already had a Taylormade silver windscreen cover from our previous M.H. that fits. the covers that we were supplied with the Bourton is not good and would not have been happy using them, also no rattles from the fitted Remis blinds which is good.

ourannie wrote:.... so have replied publicly as it does concern the 2019 Bourton blinds, when we bought ours in June from SMC they said they would fit us blinds in 12 months as a certain Motorhome manufacture had  exclusive rights on the blinds for 12 months.

Very interesting. So, when in June did you take delivery if you don't mind me asking?

Don't mind at all, the 20th

ourannie wrote:Don't mind at all, the 20th

Thank you. 
We love the blinds - quick (one person in seconds to deploy) and convenient to use, open as required and close for instant privacy and can still use cab doors. Agree the screen they provided is poor and we have a "Silver screen" we use in cold weather - but it takes longer and is usually a two person job to deploy and take in, particularly in inclement weather and of course you then can't use the doors. Our choice of use of both Remis and silverscreens depends on where we're parked up and the weather.

I have a similar issue with the low battery alarm on my Bourton which was purchased in May, although it seems random and so far has not occurred through the night. I have my step on manual so I haven’t experienced that or the unlocking of the doors etc.. Is it only when you are pitched up using only battery power or does it occur when on EHU too? I have found on EHU if the batter charger is switched on then it is ok which I suppose is what you might expect. Does it make any different if you switch off on the Sargeant display panel?

I'm in the process of buying a new Bourton from a local dealer and concerned now to see these known but unresolved issues.  Are there any others?  I'm planning to collect it in 2-3 weeks from the dealer (currently at the deposit stage) and any advice about how best to check for these problems (and any other suggested issues?) at the handover/collection so they can remedy before taking possession and driving it home.  I haven't had an AS before so I'm not familiar with the Sargent controls (other than what I've seen in the online AS manual) or the new Mercedes sprinter controls and any guidance would be welcome.

Razzy wrote:I'm in the process of buying a new Bourton from a local dealer and concerned now to see these known but unresolved issues.  Are there any others?  I'm planning to collect it in 2-3 weeks from the dealer (currently at the deposit stage) and any advice about how best to check for these problems (and any other suggested issues?) at the handover/collection so they can remedy before taking possession and driving it home.  I haven't had an AS before so I'm not familiar with the Sargent controls (other than what I've seen in the online AS manual) or the new Mercedes sprinter controls and any guidance would be welcome.

After 4+ months the electric issues remain unresolved for us. I'm told it doesn't affect all though! It affects us when we are in the van (obvious I know but who knows what is going on when we're not?) primarily at night when all is quiet.

Your dealer should have been advised of a work around involving changing settings on the Mercedes cab screen every time you park up. We're on a promise of a fix but the weeks tick by ...

Mercedes ProConnect is for commercial users and Rygor, our local Mercedes dealer advised us to use a Mercedes.me account for private users. With difficulty I managed to get one set up but it appears to require topping up data for an existing 'buit-in' account and I can't tether my phone, which has lots if data, to the van instead. I'm finding it difficult to get any help/advice on this.

Overall 95% good, but the 5% not performing as expected is wearing our patience.

I'm afraid that the combination of cutting edge(!) can-bus wiring and olde-skule caravan wiring is always going to lead to issues. Even the bokes on the ground at Merc UK seem to struggle with unmodified vehicles; add all the motorhome stuff and it gets worse and worse.  
Hope you sort it out.

LDPD wrote:Anyone having problems with weird behaviour of the electrics in the habitation area?
When parked up, on ours the Mercedes electrics tries to enable an energy saving hibernation mode which appears to confuse the Sargent unit which does any, or all, of the following - operate the step, awning light or worst of all sets off it's own internal battery low alarm. Given this goes off randomly in the night, a good night's sleep is something to dream of (not in the van though!). This behaviour has existed since we took delivery three months ago and despite persistent chasing there's no sign of resolution. A vehicle designed for sleeping in, but you can't have an uninterrupted night's sleep! Fit for purpose? Anyone else with similar issues or sensible advice?

We bought our Bourton Hi Line new in July 2019.  Since then we have experienced ongoing problems with the EC700 PSU and control panel.  Despite the panel being changed and software updated several times, the faults persist.  We have also had the wiring loom to the tow bar replaced.  The vehicle has been returned to the dealer 3/4 times.  It has also had a visit to Auto Sleeper and to Sergant, all of whom have been helpful, but none can resolve our problems completely. We understand from Sargent there could be problems with components out sourced from China and the Phillipines, but await feedback from their suppliers.  We agree with LDPD entirely and will keep everyone informed of our progress!

LDPD wrote:

Razzy wrote:I'm in the process of buying a new Bourton from a local dealer and concerned now to see these known but unresolved issues.  Are there any others?  I'm planning to collect it in 2-3 weeks from the dealer (currently at the deposit stage) and any advice about how best to check for these problems (and any other suggested issues?) at the handover/collection so they can remedy before taking possession and driving it home.  I haven't had an AS before so I'm not familiar with the Sargent controls (other than what I've seen in the online AS manual) or the new Mercedes sprinter controls and any guidance would be welcome.

After 4+ months the electric issues remain unresolved for us. I'm told it doesn't affect all though! It affects us when we are in the van (obvious I know but who knows what is going on when we're not?) primarily at night when all is quiet.

Your dealer should have been advised of a work around involving changing settings on the Mercedes cab screen every time you park up. We're on a promise of a fix but the weeks tick by ...

Mercedes ProConnect is for commercial users and Rygor, our local Mercedes dealer advised us to use a Mercedes.me account for private users. With difficulty I managed to get one set up but it appears to require topping up data for an existing 'buit-in' account and I can't tether my phone, which has lots if data, to the van instead. I'm finding it difficult to get any help/advice on this.

Overall 95% good, but the 5% not performing as expected is wearing our patience.

With the ongoing problems a number of owners are experiencing, I would suggest you contact Sargent and get the technical details and set up on the EC700 control panel, because when we purchased our Bourton in July, the AS manual referred to the EC500 which has been replaced by the EC700.  Also ensure the dealer updates the software to include the over ride facility to the control panel.

"Also ensure the dealer updates the software to include the over ride facility to the control panel."

What is this over ride facility you refer to?
I see from your profile you've got an early version of next century's model! 

Being new to this forum, I am not fully conversant with it.  I have sent you a private message rather than as general message.  I would like to make the information given to you which I hope you have received to be made available.  Would you be so kind as to post the message to all please?

Blue wrote:Being new to this forum, I am not fully conversant with it.  I have sent you a private message rather than as general message.  I would like to make the information given to you which I hope you have received to be made available.  Would you be so kind as to post the message to all please?

To save typing first find the message you sent me and copy the required text.
Then just locate the post on this forum you want to reply to and use the quote button.  Then paste in your text and edit as required, then post.
Hope this helps with this and future replies.

ourannie wrote:Hi, Yes we are having exactly the same problem with our 2019 Bourton, as well as what you have said yours does ours unlocks the habitation door in the middle of the night  puts the lights on and the step goes up and down as it pleases, we now sleep with the doors unlocked... yes I know the risk but unless we do that there's many interruptions during the night, we think the blessed motorhome is possessed but we love the Bourton. Having spoken to both A.S. and Sargent they are well aware  and in the next couple of weeks there is to be a meeting with Merc to try and resolve the problem. Sargent said it is the Euro6 engine going into hibernation mode......we are living in hope !!!!!

This seems to be a common fault with 2019 Mercedes Sprinter based vehicles. A suggestion would be change the step operation from auto to manual (on the control panel), until the next soft ware update which hopefully will cure the problem. But please remember to manually operate the step before driving off or exiting the habitation door.