Hi. I am looking at getting a rack for 3 bicycles for the rear of my 2019 estate. I want something that is secure, well padded that wont scratch the car. I have thought about tow bars but merc garages charge too much and I'm not sure about going to an independent supplier as it might mess up my electrics. I don't want a roof rack as I don't like the idea of having to lift bikes overhead on my own. So a good quality rear rack I think is my best option. I would be grateful for recommendations.
Bicycle rack to suit E220 estate
- Thread starter Margaret
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I had a Saris Bones rack but I couldn't fit it to my 212 estate as it has a little plastic lip/spoiler thing at the top of the hatch - in the end I gave it away to make with a 211 saloon as it would fit his.
When I looked at what the Roofbox Company website says you may have the same problem. I'd give them a call.
www.roofbox.co.uk
When I looked at what the Roofbox Company website says you may have the same problem. I'd give them a call.
Mercedes Benz E Class est (16-23) :Bike carrier options:.
www.roofbox.co.uk
Does yours like this? Looks like you may have the same issue.
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A tow bar mounted carrier would be so much more secure and no damage to paintwork.
I'm sure many here have had tow bars fitted by independents without issue, hopefully someone can make a recommendation..
I'm sure many here have had tow bars fitted by independents without issue, hopefully someone can make a recommendation..
I think the only option is a tow bar mount if the OP doesn't want to have to lift bikes onto the roof.
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- E55 AMG W211, E250 Sport W212, (and some Imps)
Can you mount a Tow Bar (for only a bike carrier) if the car is not certified for one?
A lot of these recent AMG line models are not certified for towing.
A lot of these recent AMG line models are not certified for towing.
ChipChop
MB Enthusiast
Personally i would not trust 3 bikes on a rear mounted rack, unless it was a tow bar mounted one like a Pendle.
pendle-bike.co.uk
Pendle Bike Racks - Quality Racks, Bike Trailers & Carriers | PBR
Pendle Bike Racks, bike carriers, cycle carriers and bike trailers for cars, vans & caravans. All our products include a lifetime guarantee and made in the UK.
pendle-bike.co.uk
Historically that's been true of AMG's
I haven't heard that that also applies to AMG Line-spec cars.
Margaret , a good quality towbar mounted rack really is the best option - Thule is the leading make .
Even the type of carrier which hangs across the tailgate ( often not particularly securely ) will by law still need a lighting bar if the bikes cover up your lights or number plate - so you need the electrical socket anyway .
A competent towbar specialist will fit one to your car without damage and will code the electrics . If you get a good quality bracket by one of the OEM makers : Oris , Brink , Thule , Westfalia , it will be easy to fit and will be invisible with the tow ball removed .
I’m sure some others will be able to recommend a good company in your area .
Not a normal tow bar , but you can fit the Brink RMC legally to any car since , by design , it cannot be used for towing .
Bike carrier solution RMC - Specially designed for bike carriers
Small and hybrid cars are not allowed to tow, but they are allowed to carry. Brink specially developed the RMC bike carrier solution for these vehicles.
brink.eu
I bought my ex a Saris Bones to carry bikes on her Ford Focus .I had a Saris Bones rack but I couldn't fit it to my 212 estate as it has a little plastic lip/spoiler thing at the top of the hatch - in the end I gave it away to make with a 211 saloon as it would fit his.
When I looked at what the Roofbox Company website says you may have the same problem. I'd give them a call.
Mercedes Benz E Class est (16-23) :Bike carrier options:.
I didn’t like the metal hooks you were meant to hook round the edges of the tailgate ( I got some heat shrink sleeving to protect the paintwork ) .
I never trusted the thing and she never fitted it so we eventually sold it .
One often hears of these things falling off .
Another negative is you can’t open the tailgate with that thing and all the bikes on it .
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- 5,626
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- Stirling, Scotland
- Car
- E55 AMG W211, E250 Sport W212, (and some Imps)
Not a normal tow bar , but you can fit the Brink RMC legally to any car since , by design , it cannot be used for towing .
Bike carrier solution RMC - Specially designed for bike carriers
Small and hybrid cars are not allowed to tow, but they are allowed to carry. Brink specially developed the RMC bike carrier solution for these vehicles.
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Dear visitor, Sorry, but for your vehicle Mercedes-benz 2019 E-CLASS T-Model (S213) we cannot offer you a towing solution. Perhaps you can retry searching via the license plate search. If you still run into problems, please contact our customer service. We are happy to help you!
Just to clarify the car is an SE not AMG and yes it has the curved lip overhanging the rear window glass just like the image above. Does having a tow bar fitted by an independent affect the warranty ? Are you sure its ok to let an independent near the electrics ? I have read on here that a tow bar has to be 'mapped' - can you explain what that means. Is it a simple job and what electric pin would i ask for - i have read on here that there are different types. I dont understand what you mean by invisible with the tow bar removed ? Is it that you can remove the tow bar to make it invisible after fitting when not using the rack ? Im clueless about tow bars thought once they were on then there were visible all the time. What about the tow bar interfering with the parking sensors ? I was hoping to just get a rear bike carrier, but perhaps this is impossible/bad idea. I would never use a two bar for anything else, just bikes - is it worth doing ? Also apart from the warranty are there any issues with insurance - is this a modification ? Are there any driving licence issues ?
There are numerous towbars for the S213 range , including Brink and Oris , but AMG models are excluded .
We need to clarify whether Margaret’s car can tow - easiest by reference to the VIN plate , to see if a towing weight is given .
We need to clarify whether Margaret’s car can tow - easiest by reference to the VIN plate , to see if a towing weight is given .
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A reputable supplier such as Witter will have no issues with the electrics. They even specify on their website they can code the car to know it has a tow bar fitted. This will allow the rear parking sensors to be disabled when the bar is in use (electrics connected).
Check the VIN plate on the driver's B pillar to see if a gross tow weight is shown. If there is you're good to go, no weight then the car isn't type approved for towing and most fitters will refuse to fit one.
I didn't like mine for all those reasons and can't recall ever actually using it.
Several friends and family members went down the Thule tow bar mount route - I decided to do the Thule roof mount thing as it was cheaper and at the time I already had the bars for a roof box anyway.
Ok , if the car is not AMG , then you should be able to get a towbar fitted .
It should not affect your warranty , but confirm with your dealership.
The tow hook can be removed on a detachable version , after which the rest of the bracket is hidden under the car ( see the video above re the Brink RMC - other towbars are somewhat similar ) and the visible part can be unhooked by one means or another .
There are basically two types of electrics : vehicle specific and universal .
Vehicle specific wiring costs more but will do things like disabling parking sensors , turning off the vehicle rear lights when the trailer or lighting bar is detected , relays trailer bulb failure warnings to your dashboard , and more .
Universal wiring just picks up voltage from your rear lights , and through a relay box , makes the trailer/lighting bar mimic whatever lights are on on the car .
You pay your money and take your choice , but remember that , even with a carrier hanging off your tailgate , if the bikes obscure the lights or number plate you must by law have a lighting bar with your number plate , so you would need the electric socket anyway . If you are going to do that , you might as well have the full tow bar . It is a desirable extra when selling an estate car and adds value , many buyers , myself included , always look for a tow bar and will choose a car with one over one without every time .
Yes , you should notify your insurer , it normally makes no difference to premium .
For only a cycle carrier , just remember the bikes are sometimes wider than the car , and remember the extra length when parking .
This is the Thule carrier I have for my bike and my son’s , it folds up and takes little space inside the boot when not in use - you can get a three bike version , and some of them fold out of the way to open the boot , even with bikes fitted . Note how much my adult bike sticks out each side of the car , and I suspect my W140 will be wider than an S213
Hi, the confusion comes as your avatar says "E220 CDI AMG".
I presumed you were saying it was an AMG Line.
Yep , I still have roof bars and four Thule carriers ( well one Thule and the other three are Halfords branded but exactly the same carriers ) from my various estate cars .
Lifting the bikes up was always a hassle though , and the danger of roof mounted carriers is you can forget they are there ; a friend returning from holiday swooped into a Safeway car park which had a height barrier and ripped the rails out of the roof of his Passat estate ! It was an expensive repair .
I too have a Thule towbar bracket now . Just a two bike one .
Here is an Oris detachable tow ball , from a W124 bracket I have out in the garage . The hook on arrangement varies from one model to another . I bought this for my SL but never got round to fitting it ...
With this part unhooked , you wouldn’t know the car had a tow bar .
With this part unhooked , you wouldn’t know the car had a tow bar .
