C220 CDI with AMG Sport Kit - can I put a TOWBAR?

[mc4]

Hi, I bought an 2011 w204 Class C 220CDI sedan, with the AMG sport kit that is lower suspension, 17" AMG wheels, sport seats, AMG sport bumpers,... and need to mount a towbar to tow an offroad motorcycle.

The problem is that Mercedes doens't have a towbar for this AMG car and say that it is not possible to mount one, Westfalia, who makes the towbars for Mercedes, say in their website that the C220 CDI with AMG Sport kit and sport bumpers can't mount a towbar...

Anybody has experience with that?

Thanks.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Usually this will be because the vehicle has not been type approved for towing, and as such cannot be legally used for towing in the EU.

Sometimes though, it may be due to an error in the records, and the thread below will provide an insight into how I approached exactly this scenario.

There should be a data plate on your car - maybe on the pillar between front and rear doors, but only visible when the doors are open - and stamped into it will be information about permissible towing weights, eg Gross Train Weight measured in kg.

If the data plate confirms it, then you can legally fit a tow bar - take a photo or make a note of the text on the data plate, and post it here and we'll be able to advise further.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/138411-retrofit-towbar-w164-ml63-amg.html

 

[TuggyChief]

Try PF jones website there pretty good , you can message and ask them . I thought only the C63 wasn't suitable for towing .

 

[mc4]

Usually this will be because the vehicle has not been type approved for towing, and as such cannot be legally used for towing in the EU.

Sometimes though, it may be due to an error in the records, and the thread below will provide an insight into how I approached exactly this scenario.

There should be a data plate on your car - maybe on the pillar between front and rear doors, but only visible when the doors are open - and stamped into it will be information about permissible towing weights, eg Gross Train Weight measured in kg.

If the data plate confirms it, then you can legally fit a tow bar - take a photo or make a note of the text on the data plate, and post it here and we'll be able to advise further.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/138411-retrofit-towbar-w164-ml63-amg.html

Here it is the "plate". What do you think?

 

[mc4]

I also don't understand why "Lafuente", a spanish fabricator of tow bars, say in their website that their tow bars are compatible with 2011 Class C Sedan 4 dors, version AMG (valido = available) and after I contact them to order one system they answer saying that as my car has a lower suspension, I can't mount a towbar...

Here the email I received:

"Estimado Sr. M C
Estos vehículos al tener la suspensión bajada NO PERMITEN montar el enganche.
Un saludo.
Cristóbal Castañeda.
Director de Oficina Técnica.
Responsable de Calidad, PRL y Medio Ambiente.
HNOS.SANCHEZ-LAFUENTE,S.A.
C/Ruiz y Máiquez, 60 * 29590 Campanillas * Málaga * SPAIN.
Tlf. (+34) 952 625 840/841
 Fax: (+34) 952 43 75 63
 E-mail: [email protected]
www.lafuente.eu"

 

[asinrutee]

I have a 2012 220 CDI C class coupe with AMG body kit, I had a Witter detachable towbar fitted, had to have a very small cut in the bumper, but nothing that you can see even if you know it's been done

 

[Dieselman]

Mercedes list a towbar for the AMG style Coupe, so I would doubt one couldn't be fitted to a Saloon.
The difference is the drop of the swan-neck.

 

[developer]

I had an S211 with full AMG bodykit, but managed to get a detachable towbar fitted (with no cuts) by these people (website down):

http://www.towequipe.co.uk/

Towbars aren't homologated for AMG 211/212's so it's probably the same for C Class, but yours isn't an AMG - like my 211, its only a bodykit.

 

[Zulu 10]

.....they answer saying that as my car has a lower suspension, I can't mount a towbar...

The reason is that the EU Type Approval will have been given based on the contents of this document "DIRECTIVE 94/20/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 30 May 1994 relating to the mechanical coupling devices of motor vehicles and their trailers and their attachment to those vehicles" which amongst a plethora of other things defines the height of the ball above the ground.

(The whole document is on the web as a cure for insomnia)

I suspect that the type approval for the bar you are looking at relates only to cars with standard suspension, hence your lowered car would invalidate the approval. But there might be a way of compensating for that by way of a different i.e. taller swan neck.

For detailed advice I suggest that you contact Bertelshofer in Germany for they know and fully exploit the type approvals process, especially on Mercs. They supplied the bar for my CLS.

They're really helpful and friendly, and speak pretty good English.

 

[RobPGLA]

GLA Towbar

I have had a detachable Thule/Brinks Towbar fitted to an AMG 220iGLA.
Great job and no need to cut the bumber. However... They had to remove the steel protective crumple impact skirt under the abck bumper. I am not sure how this affects safety notwithstanding the towbar is now in its palce. The Towbar is great but now I have this curved steel impact bumber in my garage and it makes me think...

 

[Meldrew2]

I have had a detachable Thule/Brinks Towbar fitted to an AMG 220iGLA.
Great job and no need to cut the bumber. However... They had to remove the steel protective crumple impact skirt under the abck bumper. I am not sure how this affects safety notwithstanding the towbar is now in its palce. The Towbar is great but now I have this curved steel impact bumber in my garage and it makes me think...

The tow bar itself will affect safety.

This was discovered by the owner of the written off Montego that hit the back of my Audi 80 in 1987.

I had to buy a new plastic cover for the towball, and there was a small crack on one indicator...