Just wanted to say how much we’ve both thoroughly enjoyed this series of Bürstner videos. And possibly the first time you’ve had a motorhome with more cup holders than cups!!! Thanks Andrew 😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Been considering a ski trip to France in my older Bessacarr & nowhere have I been able to find realistic information on gas usage so even though I am not a potential Burstner customer I am very glad I watched this.
Don't forget that the weight also has an impact on things like motorway tolls and ferry fares... if YOU have a motorhome that weighs more than 3.5t, please do share your experience in the comments to help those who are considering such a vehicle. Thank you!
In Australia my 6m x 2.8m 4ton Avan Applause 500, 2016 Fiat Ducato 2.3L 150multi-jet pays truck tolls but I rarely travel those roads prefer coastal and outback OZ
With winter tires and that’s a heavy vehicle ,your pickup truck if it was a 2 wheel drive rear drive , snow can be dicy ,growing up in the states ,front wheel drive was almost unheard of until the 80’s ,so weight and winter tires will make all the difference. I like this rig ,like I’ve posted I think the airstream Mercedes here is a lot more in price and I believe this van camper is larger than the airstream,and I love airstream travel trailers. The shower bathroom is quite clever,Great review Andrew
Ok, it would be nice to see this in the US. I like the way the bathroom works. And we are starting to see the rear underbed closets and the garages. We really need more of that. And gratuitous picture of Dougal. Glad to see he's doing well.
at this price point lack of socket and usb ports is unacceptable. i am not mentioning the underpowered flush which is a bit gross. thanks for the review.
Thanks guys. I never understood the less traction in snow with rear wheel drive. I've had both types and found rear wheel to be better in snow as long as there is enough weight over the wheels. Only accident I've ever had was with front wheel drive on snow.
annette fournier hello,and yes I have owned both, but as said with RWD, only IF you have enough weight in rear, , and I have also had problems with FWD, , a given road I drive on for the past 50 years, came round this curve in road 100yds from a traffic light, next thing,,I was 90^ to the road, backed up and went along, then had SNOW TYRES from another car put on the FRONT. for the rest of winter. Cheers From NJUSA🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
Always love your warts and all reviews and this one didn't disappoint. Can't believe that in a £70k motorhome the glasses are an extra! Hopefully Dougal can come on the next trip.
An excellent, balanced review of a top end vehicle. Thank you Andrew. Integrity in reviews for new vehicles and vans is key for buyers or potential buyers. Loved the Dougal moment! :)
I wondered how long it would take you to find a ‘Halloo’ in the mirror, and after a short wait you did succumb to the temptation. But the best part of the video was the intro with the birdie trying to do his ‘halloo’ in the outside mirror.
A very nice, if not expensive van, very envious of you being able to test it on a fantastic trip. I notice James is a user of Alpkit clothing, a good priced British product.
Great blog as usual! 2 questions? (1) we have 2 children 11 & 14 would the additional bed up front still made it two crowded in your view? (2) when you exposed the hidden shower - was there a curtain or hidden door at the front to complete the enclosure? Cheers Chris D
Hi Chris, IMHO the front bed would be too small for two teenagers - and it would only continue to get more cramped as they grow. There is an optional front double so check that out with a local dealer who might have one in. There was indeed a curtain to complete the shower, and what is great is that it keeps the towel dry that is hanging on the back of the door, so you can use it in complete privacy. Cheers!
With the conversion the price for similar Mercedes based motor van is about the same. Though people have reported various failures. Thanks for the close up on the shower room. 😉😁💖
Watching your video on the Burstner I didn’t realise about the C1 driving licence. But reading up about it I see that now I am nearly 70 it has been taken off my new driving licence. If I should want a C1 I would have to take a new driving test and every 3 years after that.
Hi. Enjoyed your film. I wondered what a blanking point is? Is it an auxiliary socket type of thing? We're very new to the camper van world, so new we have yet to buy one! Regards Luke
Great review. Couldn’t afford it, but I looked at the rear wheel arch and wondered about the clearance upon a wheel change. Apart from that and the overhang, a nice bit of kit.
Lovely van - I wish they would use something other than that anaemic pseudo woodgrain ply - iron on edging and jazz upholstery infills. Who designs these interiors ?
The niggles that you highlighted are easily addressed if Burstner take them on board Andrew. There's no doubt the quality and construction are top notch, but so they should be at that price. Think I might just pop into Ikea for a set of glasses though😋 Excellent review as always. And James wasn't too bad either 😁 Safe travels...........Andy.
Very comprehensive Andrew, thank you. I have an older Burstner and boy it squeaks, though it varies. According to what I don't know! BTW, Thetford toilet and the flush only went half way round too and so a more powerful pump was fitted solving that. I suppose the downside is that it goes through more water when showering etc.
@@xosem3841 Hi Xose. No problems with anything related to the water system in my van. My comment about the pump was a response to Andrew saying that on the Burstner when he flushed the toilet the water only went halfway round the bowl. I wish I could solve the squeaking though!
Hi Andrew. We bought a Lyseo TD Harmony Line in June, 2021 so thought I would provide some notes after four trips away, since it's very similar to the M Harmony Line except we have a Fiat chassis (I know that you know this, just added in for other readers ;-) The Fiat has been reliable and a good drive, but the plated tyre pressure of 79 PSI is bonkers at our mass in use of around 3350 kgs. The Michelin tyres are only rated up to 69 PSI (4.75 kpa on the tyre wall at 118 kph). It just doesn't make sense. I note that the M Harmony chassis is 70 PSI rear and 55 PSI front, which seems much more realistic. 68 PSI all round seems to work fine for us on the Fiat. Web discussions about Fiat Ducato Camper tyre pressures tend to have a larger word count than the Lord of the Rings, so I'll leave it there ;-). On balance I'm glad we went for the Fiat, mainly because of the issues you outline involved in owning a motorhome above 3500 kgs. Fuel economy is 30-32 mpg average, which I am pleased with. The relatively compact size of the van at 2.3 x 6.99 metres means it's an easy drive, and the fact that it is just under 3 metres means that we avoid being in a much more expensive price bracket for the péage. There are no squeaks or rattles on the move, and both build quality and quality of materials used are excellent. The control panel still has the luminescence of a lighthouse, but three 23mm silver stickers have sorted this out... The light/torch costs £99 its delivery and VAT, so I've not yet bothered to get one, or the posh magnetic glasses. They could have bundled them for the price! Insulation is really good, provided of course that you use a cab window insulator. The Remis blinds provide excellent light blocking for sleeping, even in high Summer. The beds are really comfortable, both the rear fixed beds and the drop down bed. In cold weather the warm air ducts have micro cuts in them including all round the bed area, which provides a gentle warmth through the night. The Truma 6E heating is powerful and, on eco mode, the fan is quiet enough at night even for light sleepers. The toilet flush is fine, with full bowl rinsing (!) at least in our van. The shower is brilliant, both in design with domestic sized plug holes and the swing door, and the power of the shower. The lighting a fantastic, both for dull days and for night time use. We had rear steadies fitted after market, because as former caravaners we could no get used to the van moving when someone entered etc. The van needs an extra socket around the dinette area, but overall it works for us because of the number of USBs. Nothing has gone wrong thus far, which is very impressive. However, Bürstner installed the wrong pivoting cover for the sink such that the sink is still partly covered even when swung out fully, and following a warranty claim, they sent Emm-Bee the wrong replacement for our van, so we are still having to twist round to do the washing up in the sink. I would have preferred a simple lift off cover, as the M Harmony has. It seems from the Bürstner owners Facebook group that tens of vans were supplied with these covers and many customers are finding it a slow process to get correct replacements, which is disappointing and unacceptable. Sorry for the essay, but I thought you would be interested in the detail. Overall our experience closely matches your own review, so kudos and thanks again for steering us towards buying this exceptional motorhome :-)
hi andrew thanks for a great review ,,i understand this is the french model ,my question is on the uk spec can you use the heating on electric when on hook up ? thanks neil
Great review, very thorough :) Electric parking brake in our XC60, took a bit of getting used to (trusting it) at first but extremely helpful, especially for hill starts in a big vehicle and having now swapped into a T6 loving the DSG gearbox (usually hate autos!) even nicer to tow with and as you say plenty to think about in a larger vehicle so more relaxing with a good auto box. Now back to a conventional handbrake in the T6 but it’s an auto so no issues for my little arms - would be a BIG problem with a manual box though hence why we went with the DSG! Excellent as always :)
Mum On a Mission hello, but back in the day, there were very few automatics, and if you took your license in an auto, they put a RED STAMP on your license AUTOMATICS ONLY, my brother & I practiced ON A HILL, put a MATCH BOX 1” behind a tyre, get in start it and moved off without crushing it , That was in the 1950s in JAMAICA BWI, there were zero guardrails, & you could lose it off the road 60 feet down, or more as was the case of a BRITISH LORRY DOWNHILL went off road, , 70 feet down 28 lives , I never forgot as they were a BAND, having just played at our boarding school that very day.! Cheers FROM NJ. USA🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
@@flybyairplane3528 still true today, in the UK anyway, I can't speak for elsewhere, if you take a test in an auto you can only ever drive an auto and of course very important that people are capable of hill starting and all other skills properly. When I was learning to drive in the UK we were all heavily steered towards manuals for similar reasons as you've highlighted.
Would you care to comment on the position of the switches for the lighting? There are multiple possibilities for lighting which you did mention but not the accessibility of their switches. As usual, a good review. The roller blinds seems to be horizontally striped. Did they have a hit and miss action to vary the amount of obscuration?
Fair point. The switches were in differing places to allow operation wherever you might be - some by the door, some by the dinette, some by the bed etc.
I wish I had a body that didn’t change with time! I have doubled the weight capacity in mine!! Fabulous van. What a treat as I will never be able to afford one! How lovely ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you Andrew - very comprehensive and one to go onto our radar when we review our situation in 3 or so years time. We'd probably look at the 660 as I need a bed of around 200cm length being a tall man. One question - how much headroom over the dinette do you lose with the pull down bed? Do you think Burstner will take your feedback and incorporate when they update it? How practical do you consider are those rear shelves as opposed to having more lockers? Thanks again for the review. Russell
The 690G on the Sprinter rear wheel drive is a good driving performer. The turning radius is great, compare to the fwd sprinter and others. The rear wheel drive gives better traction, because most of the weight of this RV is in the rear and not in the front. The limited slip differential works well on newer 907 rwd chassis. Most RV manufacture use the fwd Mercedes Sprinter chassis. The Hymer group offers still a few rwd Sprinter RV 's for Europe. Mercedes offers only RWD and AWD chassis for the North America marked, with a reason . . .
Not the van for me but the quality looks great! You showed this perfectly when you pointed out there were no rattles, something I imagine is not that easy to achieve unless you're a top notch company. Did it have Adaptive cruise control, if so did you use it? Thanks for another brill review Andrew!
I found with the auto box I never found the need to invoke the cruise control. I tried it, but found with the density of traffic most the time it was easier to 'just drive'. Cheers.
Thank you Andrew for your shout out :) - the Burstner Lyseo M Harmony Line is a stunning motorhome and for anyone interested please feel free to contact us for a test drive - you'll be impressed!
Hi Andrew what worries me is spending a lot of money on a lovely vehicle like this that may be not to be able to be used or resold in five years As electrical is becoming the future ;would you consider this as a full proof model for the future. Please what are your views Your review was thorough and informative , but when you did the review on the electric powered motor home, it has left me in two minds on what to purchase in the future.
Autolink 4X4 Videos , seriously, Only yesterday, 8 feb 2020, several countries are going all electric by 2025 to 2035, But my problem, is where do you charge these vehicles on a TRIP? Which makes the idea STUPID ! Cheers from NJ, USA🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
Therein lies an entire vlog in itself - which I am considering. But it will take a LOT of research then a lot of work with the comments/questions afterwards.
Hi, the review was sponsored by Bürstner UK, so the measurements given are primarily for a UK audience. Were it sponsored by Bürstner Germany, I'd give litres/km. I think you will find you can easily find a conversion online. I've never had a German TH-camr give us miles per gallon! ;)
Great review Mr D. Good to see James earning his trip too :-) I personally wouldn't mind paying for quality, however, they need to increase the power sockets and I'd expect Alde heating too. Oh, one question I had, did it have cruise control? I have a Mercedes car and like the brand, so I'm a little biased. It seemed to have an old-style dashboard, many of the newer Mercs (cars) are fully electronic dashes - just an observation... Anyway, thanks for sharing enjoyed it. Graham
From my experience, the Thetford issue is the converter (Burstner in this case) not fitting a powerful enough water pump. Uprating my pump fixed the problem in my van
Lovely review, thanks Andrew! I'm surprised at the fuel economy, though - I have a self-built van conversion based on the new VW Crafter and I manage to average 35-40mpg, mostly on a mixture of french and german mountain roads and motorways, with 177 bhp and an 8-speed automatic. And that's also at almost 3.5t (loaded). It's not as if you have a lead foot, I think. :)
Interesting review! I've always liked the Mercs but always run away screaming 'mummy!, mummy!' from the price, but it does look good, Mercedes knows how to build a good platform, can't fault their engines etc. I like Southdowns BTW, a great showroom and place to browse. You can also overnight there to get an early start as they provide hookup. Burstner do some great PVCs at good prices, 'Harmony Line' is IIRC the trim level. Thetford toilets have a finer nozzle to fit for a proper flush BTW, it needs fitting by Burstner or the dealer, so it may be that. Good point about the shower tray overlap, it's so effective and easy to use gravity rather than sealant and the only way that lasts - in houses as well as vans! The sparsity of sockets and the one under the table appears to be a German thing, I got a short lead 4 way extension gang for mine, some foam pads on the bottom and it lives in the van now. I don't have a heated floor either so I cut out a nice piece of carpet to shape, much warmer on the feet now, should be standard really. My main issue about that van IMO however is not having a rear window, even a little one would do for a peek out of the back at night or in the morning, sometimes some of the best views are in that direction! It's not just that van either, lots of posh ones have the same issue too, it's always nice to see out!
Rear wheel drive would probably give at least as good traction than front wheel drive since I guesstimate that about half of the motorhomes weight will be on the rear axle. But most traction is found by the right foot sensitivity anyway...
Hi Andrew. Fantastic videos and very good channel. I am writing to you from Spain and I wanted to ask you about your opinions. I am in love with the Burstner M 660 with a French bed, but it is exactly like the videos. My question is, how about the feeling of quality and comfort driving? Would you recommend the purchase for a couple? Everything you can tell me about your humble opinion, I would be very grateful.
Hi there, I have told you everything I know in the video. I’m afraid I cannot take responsibility for your decision; you would have to arrange a test drive to be sure. I know that South Downs Motorhomes in the UK have a demo but don’t know about Spain. Good luck!
Great video. Agree with your conclusions. Hope you're still in line for a 6 metre coachbuilt review trip sometime this year rather than a van conversion.
@@andrewjditton Yes, I know but I thought you were looking at testing a 6m one rather than something this big .... hence the use of the phrase "6 metre" in my comment ;-)
Hi Andrew, have loved watching your review on the burstnër I wanted to get your opinion on something if I could (well my partner does) What in your opinion is the best in heating/water system We are very torn as need heating to stay warm and retain heat and water to be longer than a couple mins before going cold we have a very old motorhome (21yrs olds)with carver water and real old truma heating that not very good Opinion greatly appreciated as not many motorhomes on 3.5 with aldé heating in Thanks Pauline 🙌
If there was one answer there would only be one heating system! It depends on your needs. Alde is my preferred, but even then you can have a basic or an advanced system (e.g fan boost, Alde Arctic etc.) Otherwise check out Truma or Whale as both manufacturers offer a wide array of products to boost your heating and hot water.
D’OH! I forgot to check. Congratulations Keith on finding the thing I missed 🤪I’ll have to try and remember next time, in the meantime that’s a question for your dealer. But I am with you in that it is an important issue. Cheers!
ANDREW, HALOOO, NICE MOTOR VAN, & a rather good review , having the £ would you buy one ? There is COUPLE I have been following before I ‘met you’, and are finally getting a new camper van, a STORY TELLER, something, but it’s MB 4 WD , With ALL ELECTRIC with the VOLTA SYSTEM, with LITHIUM BATTERIES , . STAY WELL, BE SAFE ,,,,,, CHEERS FROM 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
]thanks for this...I have been recommending your channel to folks on FB who plan on caravan trips in the Hebrides...misspell on the title card? on the Wastewater thing, it says "insulted" maybe insulated? ha! Tho given the use for this, maybe you did mean insulted! Happy journeys..
ANDREW, HELOOOO, JUST how many sleeping berths here ? I dee it has 4 seats, with seatbelts , length, height ? Al the best Cheers 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
I knew that can't get one in Pakistan so was not interested in the review :) . just enjoying and following the trip with you... enjoying your trips more since you left full time touring... i was expecting noting from you in January but you made a wonderful start of 2020 with a wonderful trip... love your videos !!!!
carmas54 hello, agreed, There is a couple I have followed for years, now getting a STORYTELLER XXXX, on a MB CHASSIS 4WD , with the VOLTA ELECTRIC system, $ US140K . Cheers From NJ,🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Just ask google or Siri how much 78k pounds are in dollars and they will respond with $100,450 US. Give or take a few cents. That’s 143,843.32 in Canadian dollars.
What a peculiar comment. This is a British TH-cam channel, reviewing a European van. Pounds and euros are the order of the day. If you want to know what that is in your local currency, google it!
Erin Thor hello, there is a FREE APP for your phone called’ XE’ it is a currency calculator for so many currencies, I love using it for things like this , but now, you can even use it to FORWARD money ! CheersFrom NJ USA🇺🇸
Leighton Samms - Yes, but using that requires you to leave the app, manually enter the numbers, select the currency, and then select the convert to currency... and I’m so lazy! Why do that when you can just say ‘Hey Siri, how much is 78,000 pounds in Canadian dollars... she reads you the answer... and you’re back where you were. 😁 Thanks for the info though! Edit, Cheers from DALLAS, TX.
I look forward to picking mine up in January 2022😀
Woo-hoo! Enjoy!
What made me smile the most? The picture of Dougal of course! ❤️
Totally agreed,there`s something missing without Dougal.
Just wanted to say how much we’ve both thoroughly enjoyed this series of Bürstner videos. And possibly the first time you’ve had a motorhome with more cup holders than cups!!! Thanks Andrew 😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Been considering a ski trip to France in my older Bessacarr & nowhere have I been able to find realistic information on gas usage so even though I am not a potential Burstner customer I am very glad I watched this.
Don't forget that the weight also has an impact on things like motorway tolls and ferry fares... if YOU have a motorhome that weighs more than 3.5t, please do share your experience in the comments to help those who are considering such a vehicle. Thank you!
Andrew Ditton - No Sir! THANK YOU! Thanks for the info, your detailed review, and your hard work! Thanks to James as well! 😁
In Australia my 6m x 2.8m 4ton Avan Applause 500, 2016 Fiat Ducato 2.3L 150multi-jet pays truck tolls but I rarely travel those roads prefer coastal and outback OZ
Not a motor homer but when the lottery comes up, it will be one to look at, Thanks Andrew and James, great series👍😊
A Quality and honest review. If I had the money and an inclination to buy a Motorhome the Burstner would be on my shopping list.
Cheers Barry!
With winter tires and that’s a heavy vehicle ,your pickup truck if it was a 2 wheel drive rear drive , snow can be dicy ,growing up in the states ,front wheel drive was almost unheard of until the 80’s ,so weight and winter tires will make all the difference. I like this rig ,like I’ve posted I think the airstream Mercedes here is a lot more in price and I believe this van camper is larger than the airstream,and I love airstream travel trailers. The shower bathroom is quite clever,Great review Andrew
Cheers Henry!
Interesting to watch this comprehensive review. Very tempting motorhome. Dougal gets top marks!!
Cheers Jennifer!
Ok, it would be nice to see this in the US. I like the way the bathroom works. And we are starting to see the rear underbed closets and the garages. We really need more of that.
And gratuitous picture of Dougal. Glad to see he's doing well.
A brilliant well balanced review... you and James are both very watchable..
Thanks William!
My first thought was rear wheel drive in the snow, thanks for covering that I am impressed as always
at this price point lack of socket and usb ports is unacceptable. i am not mentioning the underpowered flush which is a bit gross. thanks for the review.
Thanks guys. I never understood the less traction in snow with rear wheel drive. I've had both types and found rear wheel to be better in snow as long as there is enough weight over the wheels. Only accident I've ever had was with front wheel drive on snow.
annette fournier hello,and yes I have owned both, but as said with RWD, only IF you have enough weight in rear, , and I have also had problems with FWD, , a given road I drive on for the past 50 years, came round this curve in road 100yds from a traffic light, next thing,,I was 90^ to the road, backed up and went along, then had SNOW TYRES from another car put on the FRONT. for the rest of winter. Cheers From NJUSA🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
@@flybyairplane3528 Hi from Lake Erie. North East of lake Erie proper in wine country. I switched to AWD. No problems since.😁
Always love your warts and all reviews and this one didn't disappoint. Can't believe that in a £70k motorhome the glasses are an extra! Hopefully Dougal can come on the next trip.
Well done Andrew, great review you can't beat honesty, hope they take notice of what you said.
Fingers crossed Peter.
I just hit the like button before even watching because i know its going to be good!
No pressure then! Thank you :)
An excellent, balanced review of a top end vehicle. Thank you Andrew. Integrity in reviews for new vehicles and vans is key for buyers or potential buyers. Loved the Dougal moment! :)
Thanks Mark!
Really enjoyed your review Andrew, looks like a superb motorhome.
Thanks for the great review. If I ever can afford it, a Mercedes based Motorhome will definitely be it.
Thank you! I enjoyed the detailed review on the Merc it truly travels well. Yes, cup holders hahaha! Take care🌴🐊
I wondered how long it would take you to find a ‘Halloo’ in the mirror, and after a short wait you did succumb to the temptation. But the best part of the video was the intro with the birdie trying to do his ‘halloo’ in the outside mirror.
It's infectious... that birdie obviously watches this channel!
Really good review, thank you. I noticed you had a wrist support on so I hope it’s on the mend.
Oh that... yes... a bit of snowboarding drama but all is fine, thanks!
Awesome review...appreciate all the details you highlighted on the Motorhome. 👍 Have a lovely week...safe travels! 🤗
Thanks O&O!
A very nice, if not expensive van, very envious of you being able to test it on a fantastic trip. I notice James is a user of Alpkit clothing, a good priced British product.
Great review as usual and a lovely motorhome. But what is it with lack of sockets?
...Especially when there is blanking plate Bob! Just that one in the bedroom would make all the difference.
What a beautiful motorhome. Thanks for such an outstanding review Andrew. 😃🚐 Trev n Sue
Many thanks T&S! :)
Great blog as usual! 2 questions?
(1) we have 2 children 11 & 14 would the additional bed up front still made it two crowded in your view?
(2) when you exposed the hidden shower - was there a curtain or hidden door at the front to complete the enclosure?
Cheers
Chris D
Hi Chris, IMHO the front bed would be too small for two teenagers - and it would only continue to get more cramped as they grow. There is an optional front double so check that out with a local dealer who might have one in. There was indeed a curtain to complete the shower, and what is great is that it keeps the towel dry that is hanging on the back of the door, so you can use it in complete privacy. Cheers!
With the conversion the price for similar Mercedes based motor van is about the same. Though people have reported various failures. Thanks for the close up on the shower room. 😉😁💖
Andrew thanks for a great review Mercedes are always more expensive in all ways but you get a quality vehicle
Indeed Brian, as we found out! Cheers.
Watching your video on the Burstner I didn’t realise about the C1 driving licence. But reading up about it I see that now I am nearly 70 it has been taken off my new driving licence. If I should want a C1 I would have to take a new driving test and every 3 years after that.
Sadly yes, that is currently the case. I have been helping clients wanting Mercedes motorhomes but under 3.5t for that very reason.
Excellent review very useful, great to see Dougal even if it was just a picture.👍👍👍👍👍
Well done Andrew, really enjoyed this series and this review👍
Thank you!
Hi. Enjoyed your film. I wondered what a blanking point is? Is it an auxiliary socket type of thing? We're very new to the camper van world, so new we have yet to buy one! Regards Luke
Great review. Couldn’t afford it, but I looked at the rear wheel arch and wondered about the clearance upon a wheel change. Apart from that and the overhang, a nice bit of kit.
Lovely van - I wish they would use something other than that anaemic pseudo woodgrain ply - iron on edging and jazz upholstery infills. Who designs these interiors ?
Tan beige ecru. Color scheme typical.
The niggles that you highlighted are easily addressed if Burstner take them on board Andrew. There's no doubt the quality and construction are top notch, but so they should be at that price. Think I might just pop into Ikea for a set of glasses though😋
Excellent review as always. And James wasn't too bad either 😁
Safe travels...........Andy.
Cheers Andy! Southdowns Motorhomes down in Portsmouth have sourced an alternative that isn't £110!
Really great review and video. Would like to see more of them in the future.
Thank you! But to do a review in such depth literally takes weeks!
@@andrewjditton Maybe you (we) can hope for a similar collaboration with another brand in the future
Absolutely awesome review as usual Andrew.
Thank you!
May I say Andrew you do seem alot happier with a companion .God bless xxx
He does have a companion,he`s called Dougal.
@@alexryan6700 one that can answer back lol and have conversation.xx
A very detailed review, well done.
Thank you!
Very comprehensive Andrew, thank you. I have an older Burstner and boy it squeaks, though it varies. According to what I don't know! BTW, Thetford toilet and the flush only went half way round too and so a more powerful pump was fitted solving that. I suppose the downside is that it goes through more water when showering etc.
Hello JNS!!What exactly is the problem? Can you explain it to me? problem with the toilet? or with the shower water or the sink?
@@xosem3841 Hi Xose. No problems with anything related to the water system in my van. My comment about the pump was a response to Andrew saying that on the Burstner when he flushed the toilet the water only went halfway round the bowl. I wish I could solve the squeaking though!
Opening shot, beautiful
Hi Andrew. We bought a Lyseo TD Harmony Line in June, 2021 so thought I would provide some notes after four trips away, since it's very similar to the M Harmony Line except we have a Fiat chassis (I know that you know this, just added in for other readers ;-)
The Fiat has been reliable and a good drive, but the plated tyre pressure of 79 PSI is bonkers at our mass in use of around 3350 kgs. The Michelin tyres are only rated up to 69 PSI (4.75 kpa on the tyre wall at 118 kph). It just doesn't make sense. I note that the M Harmony chassis is 70 PSI rear and 55 PSI front, which seems much more realistic. 68 PSI all round seems to work fine for us on the Fiat. Web discussions about Fiat Ducato Camper tyre pressures tend to have a larger word count than the Lord of the Rings, so I'll leave it there ;-).
On balance I'm glad we went for the Fiat, mainly because of the issues you outline involved in owning a motorhome above 3500 kgs. Fuel economy is 30-32 mpg average, which I am pleased with.
The relatively compact size of the van at 2.3 x 6.99 metres means it's an easy drive, and the fact that it is just under 3 metres means that we avoid being in a much more expensive price bracket for the péage.
There are no squeaks or rattles on the move, and both build quality and quality of materials used are excellent.
The control panel still has the luminescence of a lighthouse, but three 23mm silver stickers have sorted this out...
The light/torch costs £99 its delivery and VAT, so I've not yet bothered to get one, or the posh magnetic glasses. They could have bundled them for the price!
Insulation is really good, provided of course that you use a cab window insulator.
The Remis blinds provide excellent light blocking for sleeping, even in high Summer.
The beds are really comfortable, both the rear fixed beds and the drop down bed. In cold weather the warm air ducts have micro cuts in them including all round the bed area, which provides a gentle warmth through the night.
The Truma 6E heating is powerful and, on eco mode, the fan is quiet enough at night even for light sleepers.
The toilet flush is fine, with full bowl rinsing (!) at least in our van.
The shower is brilliant, both in design with domestic sized plug holes and the swing door, and the power of the shower.
The lighting a fantastic, both for dull days and for night time use.
We had rear steadies fitted after market, because as former caravaners we could no get used to the van moving when someone entered etc.
The van needs an extra socket around the dinette area, but overall it works for us because of the number of USBs.
Nothing has gone wrong thus far, which is very impressive. However, Bürstner installed the wrong pivoting cover for the sink such that the sink is still partly covered even when swung out fully, and following a warranty claim, they sent Emm-Bee the wrong replacement for our van, so we are still having to twist round to do the washing up in the sink. I would have preferred a simple lift off cover, as the M Harmony has. It seems from the Bürstner owners Facebook group that tens of vans were supplied with these covers and many customers are finding it a slow process to get correct replacements, which is disappointing and unacceptable.
Sorry for the essay, but I thought you would be interested in the detail. Overall our experience closely matches your own review, so kudos and thanks again for steering us towards buying this exceptional motorhome :-)
Very useful info there, that will help prospective buyers. Thanks a lot!
Great review, good to have a look around this Motorhome. Thanks for sharing. J and K.
Cheers J&K!
hi andrew thanks for a great review ,,i understand this is the french model ,my question is on the uk spec can you use the heating on electric when on hook up ? thanks neil
Yes you can Neil. Cheers!
Great review, very thorough :) Electric parking brake in our XC60, took a bit of getting used to (trusting it) at first but extremely helpful, especially for hill starts in a big vehicle and having now swapped into a T6 loving the DSG gearbox (usually hate autos!) even nicer to tow with and as you say plenty to think about in a larger vehicle so more relaxing with a good auto box. Now back to a conventional handbrake in the T6 but it’s an auto so no issues for my little arms - would be a BIG problem with a manual box though hence why we went with the DSG! Excellent as always :)
Mum On a Mission hello, but back in the day, there were very few automatics, and if you took your license in an auto, they put a RED STAMP on your license AUTOMATICS ONLY, my brother & I practiced ON A HILL, put a MATCH BOX 1” behind a tyre, get in start it and moved off without crushing it , That was in the 1950s in JAMAICA BWI, there were zero guardrails, & you could lose it off the road 60 feet down, or more as was the case of a BRITISH LORRY DOWNHILL went off road, , 70 feet down 28 lives , I never forgot as they were a BAND, having just played at our boarding school that very day.! Cheers FROM NJ. USA🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
@@flybyairplane3528 still true today, in the UK anyway, I can't speak for elsewhere, if you take a test in an auto you can only ever drive an auto and of course very important that people are capable of hill starting and all other skills properly. When I was learning to drive in the UK we were all heavily steered towards manuals for similar reasons as you've highlighted.
Would you care to comment on the position of the switches for the lighting? There are multiple possibilities for lighting which you did mention but not the accessibility of their switches. As usual, a good review. The roller blinds seems to be horizontally striped. Did they have a hit and miss action to vary the amount of obscuration?
Fair point. The switches were in differing places to allow operation wherever you might be - some by the door, some by the dinette, some by the bed etc.
A great review , I really like the layout and of course the picture of Dougals ( that does come with it right? :)
NOOO! Dougal stays with ME!!!! ;@)
I wish I had a body that didn’t change with time! I have doubled the weight capacity in mine!! Fabulous van. What a treat as I will never be able to afford one! How lovely ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Kripple in a Caravan Xxx you never know mate. I keep everything crossed and hope one day things might change! Regards Luke
Lubin Lud yes thanks for the heads up! I do the lottery when I’m feeling lucky and I’m never disappointed if I don’t win. It’s a nice dream! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Oh for the states the weight wouldn’t be a problem especially if you’re getting 30 mpg
Be aware a US gallon is smaller than an Imperial gallon so you would need to convert the number. 30 uk mpg = 25 US mpg
Great review. A level above.
Glad you liked it Ian, many thanks.
In my Bessacarr 442, my Thetford toilet flush goes all the way round the bowl. I did the same test you did in one of your previous reviews.
Don't know why I'm getting vans with such a weak flush...
Thank you Andrew - very comprehensive and one to go onto our radar when we review our situation in 3 or so years time. We'd probably look at the 660 as I need a bed of around 200cm length being a tall man. One question - how much headroom over the dinette do you lose with the pull down bed? Do you think Burstner will take your feedback and incorporate when they update it? How practical do you consider are those rear shelves as opposed to having more lockers? Thanks again for the review. Russell
The 690G on the Sprinter rear wheel drive is a good driving performer. The turning radius is great, compare to the fwd sprinter and others. The rear wheel drive gives better traction, because most of the weight of this RV is in the rear and not in the front. The limited slip differential works well on newer 907 rwd chassis. Most RV manufacture use the fwd Mercedes Sprinter chassis. The Hymer group offers still a few rwd Sprinter RV 's for Europe. Mercedes offers only RWD and AWD chassis for the North America marked, with a reason . . .
Yay, Dougal is back!
That is all. Carry on...
:)
Love your reviews Andrew !
Not the van for me but the quality looks great! You showed this perfectly when you pointed out there were no rattles, something I imagine is not that easy to achieve unless you're a top notch company. Did it have Adaptive cruise control, if so did you use it?
Thanks for another brill review Andrew!
I found with the auto box I never found the need to invoke the cruise control. I tried it, but found with the density of traffic most the time it was easier to 'just drive'. Cheers.
Thank you Andrew for your shout out :) - the Burstner Lyseo M Harmony Line is a stunning motorhome and for anyone interested please feel free to contact us for a test drive - you'll be impressed!
Cheers guys - and thanks for your help!
Hi Andrew what worries me is spending a lot of money on a lovely vehicle like this that may be not to be able to be used or resold in five years
As electrical is becoming the future ;would you consider this as a full proof model for the future.
Please what are your views
Your review was thorough and informative , but when you did the review on the electric powered motor home, it has left me in two minds on what to purchase in the future.
Are you being serious? Why on earth would you think this motor home would be obsolete in 5 years. Am I missing something?
Autolink 4X4 Videos , seriously, Only yesterday, 8 feb 2020, several countries are going all electric by 2025 to 2035, But my problem, is where do you charge these vehicles on a TRIP? Which makes the idea STUPID ! Cheers from NJ, USA🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
Therein lies an entire vlog in itself - which I am considering. But it will take a LOT of research then a lot of work with the comments/questions afterwards.
Could you please mention fuel consumption in liters and kilometers? Gallons and miles are very confusing. Thanks for your fantastic videos. 👍🏻
Particularly since there are two different types of gallon!
Hi, the review was sponsored by Bürstner UK, so the measurements given are primarily for a UK audience. Were it sponsored by Bürstner Germany, I'd give litres/km. I think you will find you can easily find a conversion online. I've never had a German TH-camr give us miles per gallon! ;)
I had to go and check my Thetford toilet to see if I got a full around flush....which I do! 😃
Great review Mr D. Good to see James earning his trip too :-) I personally wouldn't mind paying for quality, however, they need to increase the power sockets and I'd expect Alde heating too.
Oh, one question I had, did it have cruise control?
I have a Mercedes car and like the brand, so I'm a little biased. It seemed to have an old-style dashboard, many of the newer Mercs (cars) are fully electronic dashes - just an observation...
Anyway, thanks for sharing enjoyed it. Graham
Hi Graham, yes it did have cruise control, but with the auto box and density of traffic I hardly used it. Cheers!
From my experience, the Thetford issue is the converter (Burstner in this case) not fitting a powerful enough water pump. Uprating my pump fixed the problem in my van
A wonderful review Andrew
Lovely review, thanks Andrew! I'm surprised at the fuel economy, though - I have a self-built van conversion based on the new VW Crafter and I manage to average 35-40mpg, mostly on a mixture of french and german mountain roads and motorways, with 177 bhp and an 8-speed automatic. And that's also at almost 3.5t (loaded). It's not as if you have a lead foot, I think. :)
Interesting review! I've always liked the Mercs but always run away screaming 'mummy!, mummy!' from the price, but it does look good, Mercedes knows how to build a good platform, can't fault their engines etc.
I like Southdowns BTW, a great showroom and place to browse. You can also overnight there to get an early start as they provide hookup. Burstner do some great PVCs at good prices, 'Harmony Line' is IIRC the trim level.
Thetford toilets have a finer nozzle to fit for a proper flush BTW, it needs fitting by Burstner or the dealer, so it may be that.
Good point about the shower tray overlap, it's so effective and easy to use gravity rather than sealant and the only way that lasts - in houses as well as vans! The sparsity of sockets and the one under the table appears to be a German thing, I got a short lead 4 way extension gang for mine, some foam pads on the bottom and it lives in the van now. I don't have a heated floor either so I cut out a nice piece of carpet to shape, much warmer on the feet now, should be standard really.
My main issue about that van IMO however is not having a rear window, even a little one would do for a peek out of the back at night or in the morning, sometimes some of the best views are in that direction! It's not just that van either, lots of posh ones have the same issue too, it's always nice to see out!
Always good to hear a 'real life' recommendation for a good dealer. And yes, a rear window would be nice, I agree.
Rear wheel drive would probably give at least as good traction than front wheel drive since I guesstimate that about half of the motorhomes weight will be on the rear axle. But most traction is found by the right foot sensitivity anyway...
Hi Andrew. Fantastic videos and very good channel.
I am writing to you from Spain and I wanted to ask you about your opinions.
I am in love with the Burstner M 660 with a French bed, but it is exactly like the videos.
My question is, how about the feeling of quality and comfort driving? Would you recommend the purchase for a couple? Everything you can tell me about your humble opinion, I would be very grateful.
Will the Alde heating be added as an option to these two Mercedes models in the future?
Hi there, I have told you everything I know in the video. I’m afraid I cannot take responsibility for your decision; you would have to arrange a test drive to be sure. I know that South Downs Motorhomes in the UK have a demo but don’t know about Spain. Good luck!
Great video. Agree with your conclusions. Hope you're still in line for a 6 metre coachbuilt review trip sometime this year rather than a van conversion.
Um, this is what we call a coachbuilt! A coach on a van chassis, as opposed to a conversion of a full van.
@@andrewjditton Yes, I know but I thought you were looking at testing a 6m one rather than something this big .... hence the use of the phrase "6 metre" in my comment ;-)
5:50, what has the water tank done?!!! oops!
I'm not going back and changing it now! ;@)
Hi Andrew, have loved watching your review on the burstnër
I wanted to get your opinion on something if I could (well my partner does)
What in your opinion is the best in heating/water system
We are very torn as need heating to stay warm and retain heat
and water to be longer than a couple mins before going cold we have a very old motorhome (21yrs olds)with carver water and real old truma heating that not very good
Opinion greatly appreciated as not many motorhomes on 3.5 with aldé heating in
Thanks Pauline 🙌
If there was one answer there would only be one heating system! It depends on your needs. Alde is my preferred, but even then you can have a basic or an advanced system (e.g fan boost, Alde Arctic etc.) Otherwise check out Truma or Whale as both manufacturers offer a wide array of products to boost your heating and hot water.
Hi Andrew
A lovely review as always and I don’t want to be a miserable old person but does it have a spare wheel? Missing Dougal though.
👍
Just noticed that you have nearly 50k subscribers. I’ve been with you since 10k well done Andrew.
D’OH! I forgot to check. Congratulations Keith on finding the thing I missed 🤪I’ll have to try and remember next time, in the meantime that’s a question for your dealer. But I am with you in that it is an important issue. Cheers!
Sorry to read that the waste water tank is "insulted" :-). Nevertheless, thank you very much for your excellent presentation.
Indeed. When I tried to open it up I heard a snort and a 'How VERY dare you!!!' ;@)
Hi Andrew !! There is no word in french for hob ignition.We use an Italian word : un piezo
Merci Jacques!
How many cylinders has the Mercedes motor?
ANDREW, HALOOO, NICE MOTOR VAN, & a rather good review , having the £ would you buy one ? There is COUPLE I have been following before I ‘met you’, and are finally getting a new camper van, a STORY TELLER, something, but it’s MB 4 WD , With ALL ELECTRIC with the VOLTA SYSTEM, with LITHIUM BATTERIES , . STAY WELL, BE SAFE ,,,,,, CHEERS FROM 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
Hi long time ive been quiet. But i dont think that waste water tank will be insulted if i comment over here..😁😁 cheers mate.
Oh no... did I make that typo??? ;@)
What a difference an “a” makes?
]thanks for this...I have been recommending your channel to folks on FB who plan on caravan trips in the Hebrides...misspell on the title card? on the Wastewater thing, it says "insulted" maybe insulated? ha! Tho given the use for this, maybe you did mean insulted! Happy journeys..
I know! As if it wasn't bad enough to forget it when doing the talky bit... ;@) Thanks for recommending us to your friends!
Nice looking RV
Bernie in Palm Springs
How does the shower stall walls air dry once it’s closed over.
£100 for glasses I,d want a green house for that( LTRs instead of BHP please)
Crazy price.
ANDREW, HELOOOO, JUST how many sleeping berths here ? I dee it has 4 seats, with seatbelts , length, height ? Al the best Cheers 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
At that price, you would think the armrests would lift out of the way if needed/desired...
They 'do' lift up... if you remember along with everything else in the toll booth panic ;@)
Oh no....😄😄
Give me quality over gizmos any day!
Not interested in review lol...... just want to listen to you... love all your videos... :)
Shucks, thank you!
I knew that can't get one in Pakistan so was not interested in the review :) .
just enjoying and following the trip with you... enjoying your trips more since you left full time touring...
i was expecting noting from you in January but you made a wonderful start of 2020 with a wonderful trip... love your videos !!!!
Fabulous motorhome if they could just bring it down by £ 70,000.....
ESP = Extra Sensory Perception?
There isn’t anything that even comes close to this layout, 80000 US dollars is a bargain
carmas54 hello, agreed, There is a couple I have followed for years, now getting a STORYTELLER XXXX, on a MB CHASSIS 4WD , with the VOLTA ELECTRIC system, $ US140K . Cheers From NJ,🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Waste water tank “insulted” and heated 🤣😜
It is. When you overfill it, it says 'How very DARE you!' ;@)
I live on Canada....Do U think evety lives in the Uk, or France. We use dollars....
Just ask google or Siri how much 78k pounds are in dollars and they will respond with $100,450 US. Give or take a few cents. That’s 143,843.32 in Canadian dollars.
What a peculiar comment. This is a British TH-cam channel, reviewing a European van. Pounds and euros are the order of the day. If you want to know what that is in your local currency, google it!
Vandemonium - Why do I have this weird deja vu moment? Weird...
Erin Thor hello, there is a FREE APP for your phone called’ XE’ it is a currency calculator for so many currencies, I love using it for things like this , but now, you can even use it to FORWARD money ! CheersFrom NJ USA🇺🇸
Leighton Samms - Yes, but using that requires you to leave the app, manually enter the numbers, select the currency, and then select the convert to currency... and I’m so lazy! Why do that when you can just say ‘Hey Siri, how much is 78,000 pounds in Canadian dollars... she reads you the answer... and you’re back where you were. 😁 Thanks for the info though!
Edit, Cheers from DALLAS, TX.
Love me a little Dougal!
Blimey £75000 for a Pokey little camper van, you could buy a very nice new car and caravan for that with all its advantages
Horses for courses!
👍👍👍👍👍👍