Anyone retro-fitted a tow bar to an S205 C43 AMG 2019 estate?

[GmanHampshire]

OK, try not to judge me. The 43 needs a tow bar like a fish needs a bicycle, but I need one, OK?

Does anyone have any photos of the AMG rear bumper (2019MY) to show how much bumper devastation is needed for a swan neck & flip-down electrics?

I purposefully did not seek out a swivel OEM hook as I have never managed to keep them rust-free for a friction stabiliser. So it needs to be an aftermarket swan-neck detachable.
Problem is, I want to know the impact on the rear diffuser (bumper) and Witter/Westfalia (normally my go-to brand) don't provide images or reply to support tickets so I'm not going to be throwing money their way without more reassurance. PF Jones can't offer much support other than "try one and see". Other brands (GDW, Tow-Trust, PCT) have cut-out dimensions but no images to show what the end result looks like on the AMG bumper (below).

- Has anyone retro-fitted a tow bar specifically to the 2019 C43? Which manufacturer & model worked well?
- If you were polishing your C43 this weekend, could you take a photo or two?

(The car is VIN plated for 1.8 tonnes towing capacity and I know I'll have to get the electrics re-programmed BTW)

Thanks if you can. It's a quirky request but if you have done this already, you'll understand
Cheers
G

 

[Justintyme]

OK, try not to judge me. The 43 needs a tow bar like a fish needs a bicycle, but I need one, OK?

Does anyone have any photos of the AMG rear bumper (2019MY) to show how much bumper devastation is needed for a swan neck & flip-down electrics?

I purposefully did not seek out a swivel OEM hook as I have never managed to keep them rust-free for a friction stabiliser. So it needs to be an aftermarket swan-neck detachable.
Problem is, I want to know the impact on the rear diffuser (bumper) and Witter/Westfalia (normally my go-to brand) don't provide images or reply to support tickets so I'm not going to be throwing money their way without more reassurance. PF Jones can't offer much support other than "try one and see". Other brands (GDW, Tow-Trust, PCT) have cut-out dimensions but no images to show what the end result looks like on the AMG bumper (below).

- Has anyone retro-fitted a tow bar specifically to the 2019 C43? Which manufacturer & model worked well?
- If you were polishing your C43 this weekend, could you take a photo or two?

(The car is VIN plated for 1.8 tonnes towing capacity and I know I'll have to get the electrics re-programmed BTW)

Thanks if you can. It's a quirky request but if you have done this already, you'll understand
Cheers
G

View attachment 161866

Based on what I can see, and without removing that under-panel, with the two metal bolts visible, it would be extremely hard to tell what kind of a job it would be. Or even if its possible to drop down that tray.. You are right to seek help....and sorry, until that tray is removed, its impossible to say.

 

[whitenemesis]

Based on what I can see, and without removing that under-panel, with the two metal bolts visible,

They look like parking sensors, not bolts?

 

[whitenemesis]

OK, try not to judge me. The 43 needs a tow bar like a fish needs a bicycle, but I need one, OK?

Does anyone have any photos of the AMG rear bumper (2019MY) to show how much bumper devastation is needed for a swan neck & flip-down electrics?

I purposefully did not seek out a swivel OEM hook as I have never managed to keep them rust-free for a friction stabiliser. So it needs to be an aftermarket swan-neck detachable.
Problem is, I want to know the impact on the rear diffuser (bumper) and Witter/Westfalia (normally my go-to brand) don't provide images or reply to support tickets so I'm not going to be throwing money their way without more reassurance. PF Jones can't offer much support other than "try one and see". Other brands (GDW, Tow-Trust, PCT) have cut-out dimensions but no images to show what the end result looks like on the AMG bumper (below).

- Has anyone retro-fitted a tow bar specifically to the 2019 C43? Which manufacturer & model worked well?
- If you were polishing your C43 this weekend, could you take a photo or two?

(The car is VIN plated for 1.8 tonnes towing capacity and I know I'll have to get the electrics re-programmed BTW)

Thanks if you can. It's a quirky request but if you have done this already, you'll understand
Cheers
G

View attachment 161866

Does this help?

https://etowbars.com/uk/Towbars/Mercedes/Class-C/from-2014/Mercedes-C-Class-Invisible-towbar-AMG

https://etowbars.com/pdfs/W205-AMG-Line-etowbars.pdf

 

[whitenemesis]

Trailer hitch for C43 Wagon (S205)? - MBWorld.org Forums

Canada - Trailer hitch for C43 Wagon (S205)? - Hi there, I recently picked this vehicle up and have been looking around for a trailer hitch. As it isnt offered in the US (I live in Mississauga, Ontario CANADA) its been hard to track one down and it doesnt seem like there is an OEM one. Does...

mbworld.org

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

OK, try not to judge me. The 43 needs a tow bar like a fish needs a bicycle, but I need one, OK?

Does anyone have any photos of the AMG rear bumper (2019MY) to show how much bumper devastation is needed for a swan neck & flip-down electrics?

I purposefully did not seek out a swivel OEM hook as I have never managed to keep them rust-free for a friction stabiliser. So it needs to be an aftermarket swan-neck detachable.
Problem is, I want to know the impact on the rear diffuser (bumper) and Witter/Westfalia (normally my go-to brand) don't provide images or reply to support tickets so I'm not going to be throwing money their way without more reassurance. PF Jones can't offer much support other than "try one and see". Other brands (GDW, Tow-Trust, PCT) have cut-out dimensions but no images to show what the end result looks like on the AMG bumper (below).

- Has anyone retro-fitted a tow bar specifically to the 2019 C43? Which manufacturer & model worked well?
- If you were polishing your C43 this weekend, could you take a photo or two?

(The car is VIN plated for 1.8 tonnes towing capacity and I know I'll have to get the electrics re-programmed BTW)

Thanks if you can. It's a quirky request but if you have done this already, you'll understand
Cheers
G

View attachment 161866

Cars which are type approved for towing often have mould lines in the rear face of the bumper which are designed to be cut around when retro-fitting a towbar.

Getting behind the bumper with a flexible camera with a light (or torch) - or removing the bumper (or diffuser) - might give you the best idea of what would need to be cut out.

 

[Justintyme]

They look like parking sensors, not bolts?

Hi whitenemsis, how are you? You could well be right, at first glance I thought that they are hexagonal, and normally the sensors are mounted on the corners of the plastic bumper cover. But now, I'm not so sure. I'd be inclined to see one in the flesh so to speak. Looks like a lot is happening underneath what would normally be the spare wheel well.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Does the weight plate on the door pillar show the car can tow ? My AMG and many others were never homologated to have a towbar fitted. Probably different with the newer cars.

 

[whitenemesis]

Does the weight plate on the door pillar show the car can tow ? My AMG and many others were never homologated to have a towbar fitted. Probably different with the newer cars.

View attachment 161884

(The car is VIN plated for 1.8 tonnes towing capacity and I know I'll have to get the electrics re-programmed BTW)

 

[Petrol Pete]

When you say 'VIN plated' what do you mean ? The sticker shown above is the one that counts .

As for the receiver shown on the Canadian car in post #5 , are they legal on non commercial vehicles in the UK ? No idea , just asking.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Does the weight plate on the door pillar show the car can tow ? My AMG and many others were never homologated to have a towbar fitted. Probably different with the newer cars.

View attachment 161884

And not just AMG models....As you might know I work in the caravan game......I come across more Mercs that are not type approved for towbar fitment than just about any other brand.....including my wife's R170 SLK230.....we only wanted to tow a small box trailer!
If your door jam plate has the dashes on the second row like in the pic above its no go.....but they are not all like that....if the first and second row are the same number its also not approved for towing.

 

[ALFAitalia]

When you say 'VIN plated' what do you mean ? The sticker shown above is the one that counts .

As for the receiver shown on the Canadian car in post #5 , are they legal on non commercial vehicles in the UK ? No idea , just asking.

Yes.....but you would struggle to find a UK sized ball to fit it. Ours are usually fixed or removable using a different type of connector to that one which is also far less visible being hidden under the bumper like the pic below. Of course the real flash have the factory electric Mercedes fold away bar....just push a button and it appears/disappears.....very cool!

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[GmanHampshire]

Does the weight plate on the door pillar show the car can tow ? My AMG and many others were never homologated to have a towbar fitted. Probably different with the newer cars.

View attachment 161884

Thanks for your diligence in keeping me safe and legal Pete, but just to confirm from my OP, yup, I have the rating plate for total train of 4200kg which leaves me with 1880kg of payload (oof!).
I agree each car is different, each model year will vary and each model matters too. But in this case we are good.

 

[GmanHampshire]

Quick update: It looks like I was busy fitting the tow bar whilst you guys were writing above

Key item I may not have emphasised (oops) was that this needs to be a UK supplier (personal preference for fast delivery, support and returns) and an EU type-approved bar. Thanks @whitenemesis, I had found the Canadian thread and looked carefully but could not source that one over here (UK).

But, chatted with Mike at PF Jones in the UK and bottomed out that the Tow Trust TM19VK swan-neck detachable is actually the one for the 2019 S205 AMG bumpers as it has a long reach swan neck to clear the bumper without mods. Their website doesn't really guide you to that conclusion, but the data is there and a chat was critical/helpful for my reassurance.

To confirm: the Tow Trust TM19VK tow bar does NOT need any cuts to the exterior visible surface of the bumper of a 2019 S205 C43 estate. So here we are:
Photo1: only 2 notches needed on the interior bumper fillets (not visible to anyone but me and my exhaust fitter)
Photo2: Swan neck stub sits just behind the bumper with no contact or modifications
Photo3: Tow bar stowed and electrics flipped up (very low impact)
Photo4: Tow bar locked in with electrics flipped down

So, it's looking OK and my bumper is still beautiful (whoah, look at those pipes!) and I'll do a full step-by-step when I get a moment, but I have to warn you - fitting is more than a 4 hour job

But, I can't find anyone to recode the car ECU's yet as per the very-detailed instructions in the dedicated electrics pack (EZS, SAM-rear, SAM-front, combined instrument, headunit, 360 camera). Mercedes say they wont touch it as it's aftermarket (?!) and the indie near the office (Automerc) don't normally do this, they steer me to tow bar fitters....
So I will add my nudge to CSteve220's wormhole-post to see if anyone has actually done it themselves via software, but bracing myself for another circling-the-drain conv about insurance and the need to mod the electrics

Hope this helps others, and thanks for those who contributed above.

Note: No C43's were significantly harmed in this project, the identities of some C43's were withheld to protect their privacy. Any caravans or outrageous items of bed-linen from the 70's in the background are for illustration purposes only and should not be used in judgement against the OP. Please

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Quick update: It looks like I was busy fitting the tow bar whilst you guys were writing above

Key item I may not have emphasised (oops) was that this needs to be a UK supplier (personal preference for fast delivery, support and returns) and an EU type-approved bar. Thanks @whitenemesis, I had found the Canadian thread and looked carefully but could not source that one over here (UK).

But, chatted with Mike at PF Jones in the UK and bottomed out that the Tow Trust TM19VK swan-neck detachable is actually the one for the 2019 S205 AMG bumpers as it has a long reach swan neck to clear the bumper without mods. Their website doesn't really guide you to that conclusion, but the data is there and a chat was critical/helpful for my reassurance.

To confirm: the Tow Trust TM19VK tow bar does NOT need any cuts to the exterior visible surface of the bumper of a 2019 S205 C43 estate. So here we are:
Photo1: only 2 notches needed on the interior bumper fillets (not visible to anyone but me and my exhaust fitter)
Photo2: Swan neck stub sits just behind the bumper with no contact or modifications
Photo3: Tow bar stowed and electrics flipped up (very low impact)
Photo4: Tow bar locked in with electrics flipped down

So, it's looking OK and my bumper is still beautiful (whoah, look at those pipes!) and I'll do a full step-by-step when I get a moment, but I have to warn you - fitting is more than a 4 hour job

But, I can't find anyone to recode the car ECU's yet as per the very-detailed instructions in the dedicated electrics pack (EZS, SAM-rear, SAM-front, combined instrument, headunit, 360 camera). Mercedes say they wont touch it as it's aftermarket (?!) and the indie near the office (Automerc) don't normally do this, they steer me to tow bar fitters....
So I will add my nudge to CSteve220's wormhole-post to see if anyone has actually done it themselves via software, but bracing myself for another circling-the-drain conv about insurance and the need to mod the electrics

Hope this helps others, and thanks for those who contributed above.

Note: No C43's were significantly harmed in this project, the identities of some C43's were withheld to protect their privacy. Any caravans or outrageous items of bed-linen from the 70's in the background are for illustration purposes only and should not be used in judgement against the OP. Please

Glad it’s fitted. Can’t P F Jones help you with the coding?

 

[GmanHampshire]

Glad it’s fitted. Can’t P F Jones help you with the coding?

Hmm, Bobby that is a dashed good idea. I will annoy them in the morning

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Hmm, Bobby that is a dashed good idea. I will annoy them in the morning

 

[GmanHampshire]

Hmm, Bobby that is a dashed good idea. I will annoy them in the morning

Update:
According to PF Jones, the ECU coding instructions provided in the dedicated wiring pack (29040543) that I referred to above are specific to Westfalia coding tools, not MB Star. So you have to hunt an installer down locally who has the tool.
Tip: Westfalia website does not show any dealers in the UK (?!) so ignore that, search for "Tow bar coding" in any popular search engine to find someone local. Should be about GBP60 and an hours work max.

 

[ChrisPDuck]

After I fitted a tow bar to my 2010 S212, using the PF Jones dedicated wiring kit, I took it to a local tow bar fitting place for the coding. Your GBP60 was spot on, but it only took him about 10 minutes!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Update:
According to PF Jones, the ECU coding instructions provided in the dedicated wiring pack (29040543) that I referred to above are specific to Westfalia coding tools, not MB Star. So you have to hunt an installer down locally who has the tool.
Tip: Westfalia website does not show any dealers in the UK (?!) so ignore that, search for "Tow bar coding" in any popular search engine to find someone local. Should be about GBP60 and an hours work max.

Westfalia have lots of fitting centres, so you’ll find one easily enough. They’ll do several every day whereas your dealer may never have done one - as the few they “do” are usually subcontracted to a specialist towbar fitter.

It’s interesting that P F Jones supplied a Westfalia kit with a TowTrust towbar. If you bought a retrofit towbar kit from your main dealer parts counter then it would probably have been Westfalia, although no doubt there are exceptions.