Mercedes Benz L508 DG
Built: 1973-1987 · Series: L508
More machines from model year 1973
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Mercedes-Benz L508: the collection page for the Düsseldorf light truck in the 5-tonne class, DG panel van and motorhome base, four-cylinder diesels from 59 to 71.5 kW
The Mercedes-Benz L508 belongs to the so-called Düsseldorf or T1 van/truck range that Mercedes-Benz offered from the 1970s to the 1990s as a light truck between van and heavy lorry. The type number follows a fixed scheme: the first two digits give the gross-weight class in hundreds of kilograms, here around five tonnes, and the last digit the engine power step. D stands for diesel, G for the reinforced variant usually with higher payload or twin rear wheels, DG for the combination, S for short wheelbase; the DG Camper version served as a base for motorhome conversions.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 18 versions here with 59 to 71.5 kW from four-cylinder diesel engines of 3,758 to 3,782 cm³ displacement, weights of 2,200 to 4,730 kg, gross vehicle weights of 3,500 to 5,600 kg, lengths of 4,090 to 7,050 mm and widths of 2,080 to 2,370 mm.
As a workhorse between van-class vehicles and heavy trucks, the L508 served tradespeople, municipalities and hauliers across Europe, particularly as a box body, flatbed or as a base for motorhomes, valued for its robust ladder-frame construction and high payload.
On a used example, check rust on the wheel arches, chassis outriggers and cab floor, the condition of the injection pump and timing chain on the four-cylinder diesels, the clutch and gearbox under sustained heavy loads, and the rear leaf springs and axle; on motorhome conversions, also check the living area for damp.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Mercedes-Benz L508, Mercedes-Benz (manufacturer), Zulassungsdaten RDW (Niederlande)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 4correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 3,782 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 7,050 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,300 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 4,100 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 4,020 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 5,000 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 6correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Mercedes Benz L508 DG weigh?
The unladen weight is 4,020 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Mercedes Benz L508 DG?
5,000 kg.
What engine does the Mercedes Benz L508 DG have?
4 cylinders, 3,782 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the Mercedes Benz L508 DG?
7,050 mm × 2,300 mm.
When was the Mercedes Benz L508 DG built?
Production years: 1973-1987.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 10 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
L508
L508 D
L508 D(G)/3500
L508 D6
L508 DC MA
L508 DG CAMPER
L508 DG KA-KASTEN/4100
L508 DG KA-PK/3500
L508 DG KASTEN
L508 DG MA
L508 DG/35
L508 DG/3500
Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Truck in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
