Hymer BMC i 580 / 680 Models

[Abgs]

I am considering getting another A Class and am looking at the HYMER BMC i 580 / 680 models around a year or two old.

Anyone got one who’d care to comment on it? I know they are a FWD Mercedes base and I have a pretty good knowledge of Mercedes engines and auto boxes.

I’m more interested in thoughts on quality of construction, interior fittings and ride comfort / noise levels.

Thanks in advance …

 

[Land Yachties]

Our BMCI 680 is 2 years old in June, just completed 3 months and over 3000 miles touring Spain and France. Longest driving day was 7 hours with a couple of short breaks. Very enjoyable drive mostly on cruise control.
Enjoyed every minute in the van. No issues, no complaints. The only thing I would do differently is to have a self leveling system fitted. Lots of folk will disagree with me but that's my opinion.
We up plated it to 4.5t which for us was definitely the right decision.
Getting about 27mpg at 100kph.
Very quiet when driving with little road.
noise. Easily able to chat normally even with some tunes on.
It was our first ever van so can't really comment on build quality against other vans but we have no issues and are very happy with the quality. Of course others may disagree but that's our personal opinion. Loads of storage space both inside and within the garage which coming from a sailing background was a must for us.

 

[Abgs]

Our BMCI 680 is 2 years old in June, just completed 3 months and over 3000 miles touring Spain and France. Longest driving day was 7 hours with a couple of short breaks. Very enjoyable drive mostly on cruise control.
Enjoyed every minute in the van. No issues, no complaints. The only thing I would do differently is to have a self leveling system fitted. Lots of folk will disagree with me but that's my opinion.
We up plated it to 4.5t which for us was definitely the right decision.
Getting about 27mpg at 100kph.
Very quiet when driving with little road.
noise. Easily able to chat normally even with some tunes on.
It was our first ever van so can't really comment on build quality against other vans but we have no issues and are very happy with the quality. Of course others may disagree but that's our personal opinion. Loads of storage space both inside and within the garage which coming from a sailing background was a must for us.

Many thanks for your detailed reply, really useful info.

I've looked at a BMCI 580 which is just under 7m and an BMCI 780 which is 7.4m. I had thought that I'd want to keep to a 7m van but the 680 has longer beds, a better bathroom and a far more spacious feel to it than the extra 40 odd cm in length would lead you to believe.

Now just a matter of finding something at a reasonable price......

 

[Shanman]

I am considering getting another A Class and am looking at the HYMER BMC i 580 / 680 models around a year or two old.

Anyone got one who’d care to comment on it? I know they are a FWD Mercedes base and I have a pretty good knowledge of Mercedes engines and auto boxes.

I’m more interested in thoughts on quality of construction, interior fittings and ride comfort / noise levels.

Thanks in advance …

I am considering getting another A Class and am looking at the HYMER BMC i 580 / 680 models around a year or two old.

Anyone got one who’d care to comment on it? I know they are a FWD Mercedes base and I have a pretty good knowledge of Mercedes engines and auto boxes.

I’m more interested in thoughts on quality of construction, interior fittings and ride comfort / noise levels.

Thanks in advance …

I am considering getting another A Class and am looking at the HYMER BMC i 580 / 680 models around a year or two old.

Anyone got one who’d care to comment on it? I know they are a FWD Mercedes base and I have a pretty good knowledge of Mercedes engines and auto boxes.

I’m more interested in thoughts on quality of construction, interior fittings and ride comfort / noise levels.

Thanks in advance …

Can I ask why you are moving away from the MLT 558 4x4? Also, did you make the jump and buy?
I have a Frankia yucon 4x4 7m and I'm considering buying a BMCi 680. Just not enough room in the 4x4 and not great in winter with the poptop.

 

[Brains]

Can I ask why you are moving away from the MLT 558 4x4? Also, did you make the jump and buy?
I have a Frankia yucon 4x4 7m and I'm considering buying a BMCi 680. Just not enough room in the 4x4 and not great in winter with the poptop.

Check the dates of the posts!
In 2022 he was looking at buying a Hymer BMC
In 2025 he bought the Hymer MLT 4X4

FYI - The MLT's (and the BMC's) do not have a pop top and are fully winterised.

Pop Top Hymers are the PVC's Ayres Rock, Yosemite and Grand Canyon models plus a couple of others.

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[Shanman]

Check the dates of the posts!
In 2022 he was looking at buying a Hymer BMC
In 2025 he bought the Hymer MLT 4X4

FYI - The MLT's (and the BMC's) do not have a pop top and are fully winterised.

Whoops... Yes, thanks brains.
My yucon does have a pop and is a pain in winter.

 

[WESTY66]

I am considering getting another A Class and am looking at the HYMER BMC i 580 / 680 models around a year or two old.

Anyone got one who’d care to comment on it? I know they are a FWD Mercedes base and I have a pretty good knowledge of Mercedes engines and auto boxes.

I’m more interested in thoughts on quality of construction, interior fittings and ride comfort / noise levels.

Thanks in advance …

I can’t keep up

 

[WESTY66]

I can’t keep up

Arrrgh CazPaul the old thread bug has bit me

 

[Brains]

Whoops... Yes, thanks brains.
My yucon does have a pop and is a pain in winter.

Having had two pop tops that was one of my reasons to move to a fully winterised Hymer MLT,
(which comes with an optional rack for the skis!)

My sister has a PVC conversion, same size as my MLT.

We camped for about 5 days last April side by side on a site without EHU.
It was was very cold, wet and windy all the time.

The warmest she could get her van was 12c.
Mine could be at 20c within 30 mins of putting on the (gas) heating.

PVC's have a lot of advantages, but the biggest disadvantages are
the lack of interior space, the difficulty in keeping them warm and the woosh bang sliding door!

 

[Shanman]

We went skiing in ours this winter. couldn't use the poptop as it was too cold. The 4x4 was great in the snow. I am slightly worried about going to 2wd.

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[Abgs]

Can I ask why you are moving away from the MLT 558 4x4? Also, did you make the jump and buy?
I have a Frankia yucon 4x4 7m and I'm considering buying a BMCi 680. Just not enough room in the 4x4 and not great in winter with the poptop.

Keep up, keep up!

The Grand Canyon was replaced by an excellent A Class Carthago nearly two years ago. That in turned was displaced by the MLt about six months ago.

The MLt is the keeper … according to my wife!

View attachment 1041140
We went skiing in ours this winter. couldn't use the poptop as it was too cold. The 4x4 was great in the snow. I am slightly worried about going to 2wd.

Gotta be the MLt580 then ! Same size as the 7m Yucon but much bigger inside. I looked at, and really liked the Yucon but Mrs ABGS had the casting vote and MLt is was.

 

[Abgs]

Duplicate

 

[Shanman]

Keep up, keep up!

The Grand Canyon was replaced by an excellent A Class Carthago nearly two years ago. That in turned was displaced by the MLt about six months ago.

The MLt is the keeper … according to my wife!

Gotta be the MLt580 then ! Same size as the 7m Yucon but much bigger inside. I looked at, and really liked the Yucon but Mrs ABGS had the casting vote and MLt is was.

We have a 9 year old daughter & 2 dogs in tow too. The mini bed in the dinette could be an issue. Decisions decisions....

 

[HugoBNB]

Our BMCI 680 is 2 years old in June, just completed 3 months and over 3000 miles touring Spain and France. Longest driving day was 7 hours with a couple of short breaks. Very enjoyable drive mostly on cruise control.
Enjoyed every minute in the van. No issues, no complaints. The only thing I would do differently is to have a self leveling system fitted. Lots of folk will disagree with me but that's my opinion.
We up plated it to 4.5t which for us was definitely the right decision.
Getting about 27mpg at 100kph.
Very quiet when driving with little road.
noise. Easily able to chat normally even with some tunes on.
It was our first ever van so can't really comment on build quality against other vans but we have no issues and are very happy with the quality. Of course others may disagree but that's our personal opinion. Loads of storage space both inside and within the garage which coming from a sailing background was a must for us.

As above with our B-MCI 690. It is fair to expect a few niggles. Our dealer has sorted them no problem. It is a lovely van to drive.

 

[Abgs]

We have a 9 year old daughter & 2 dogs in tow too. The mini bed in the dinette could be an issue. Decisions decisions....

True .. the MLt really is only a 2 person machine.