OK, first, the Mercedes engine is a European engine, so you've got to think European. What works for non-European diesels in North America will not be the same with a European engine. The oils are different, because the engine specs are different. Euro engines are spec'd extremely tight for engine oils. Any ol' 30W oil might work in the old pickup, but it won't work in Euro engines. Same with CI-4. Not all CI-4 oils will work in a Sprinter. The manual will have a list of Mercedes approved engine oils. Stick to the list. Always stick to the list. Among many reasons, turbo engines require oils with specific high temp and high shear strength characteristics, and non-Euro oils are not made to such tight specs, because North American oils are generally formulated to be backwards compatible, while Euro oils are generally made for a specific engine, and only that engine. American engines are built by and large to fit the oils that are already on the market, whereas in Europe they build an engine and then tell the oil companies to make an oil for it, an oil that meets certain rigid requirements.
On the bottle of oil it will list the MB Sheet number, and for the 07 Sprinters the MB Sheet is 229.51. If it doesn't say MB 229.51, don't use it.
Toss out all the "conventional wisdom" you think you know about engine oils when it comes to European engines. Things like use this or that oil until 20,000 miles, then use a different oil after that. Actually, that's not even a good idea with American engines. Each brand and oil viscosity will cause the engine to wear slightly differently. For example, Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 and Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-30 are both on the list of 229.51 oils, but you wouldn't want to use one of them for a while, then suddenly change to the other one. Both are the same specs, but the engine will wear slightly differently with each one. Pick an oil, preferably the one used for the initial fill, and stick with it. Forever. The initial fill for 07 and 08 Sprinters is Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40. Also, unless and until Mercedes approves an oil additive, like Lucas, don't use one. Currently there are no approved oil additives.
The 07 and 08 Sprinters are not designed for conventional (dino) oil, and there is no dino oil on the Approved List (there are for 06 and earlier models, however). If your dealer is switching to to dino oil on an 07, find a different dealer. If you call up Mobile and ask, they will tell you the only place you can get the 229.51 Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 oil is at Mercedes Benz dealers (and Sprinter dealers). Dig in the Yellow Pages for a Mobile oil distributor, or talk to a retailer that sells Mobile oil and see if you can get it there. Buying a case or two at a time should get you a decent discount.
