Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 312 D
The first Sprinter mixed a parcel van's huge box with car-like speed, four-wheel disc brakes and an electronically managed turbo-diesel.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 312D.jpg · Bene Riobó · CC BY-SA 4.0
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A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
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More than a set of wheels.
Mercedes-Benz introduced the named Sprinter family in 1995 to replace the long-lived T1 transporter. The code explained much of the 312 D: the leading 3 placed it in the 3.5-tonne class, 12 pointed toward roughly 120 metric horsepower and D meant diesel. This profile fixes the many available bodies to the high-roof, 4,025 mm-wheelbase panel van tested in period. Its direct-injection five-cylinder turbo-diesel, rear-wheel drive and wide load space made it an express-delivery flagship.
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“Sprinter” was the first official proper name on a Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle, and the name later became almost a generic word for a tall delivery van.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A badge that describes the job
In the period naming system, the first digit indicated the gross-weight class and the final two digits echoed engine output; D denoted diesel. The 312 D therefore paired a roughly 3.5-tonne gross rating with the 122 PS OM 602. A buyer could still choose several wheelbases, roofs and bodies, so an unqualified '312 D' does not identify one exact van shape.
Source: Commercial Motor archive · Running Champ road test, October 1995 ↗Safety and service moved forward together
The first Sprinter combined four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Mercedes' brake-operated ABD traction aid. It also lengthened maintenance intervals: oil service for the turbo-diesel was specified at 22,500 km or annually, with maintenance at 45,000 km or two years. Those details mattered to fleet operators as much as acceleration.
Source: Commercial Motor archive · Sprinter 312 D technician data sheet ↗Where these facts come from
- Mercedes-Benz · Sprinter 25-year history and launch specifications
- Commercial Motor archive · 1995 Sprinter 312 D road test
- Commercial Motor archive · 1995 Sprinter 312 D technician data sheet
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 2, 2026.