Fitting a tow bar tomorrow - advice required

[Margaret]

Hi all. I’m booked in to have a tow bar fitted on my 2019 E220d premium tomorrow. I want to tow a bicycle carrier for 3 bicycles.
I’m clueless about tow bars. What type should I get ?
I have a 360 camera and parking sensors. What questions should I be asking ? I’m getting it done in a specialist tow bar fitters (not Mercedes). I don’t want any problems. Any advice ?

 

[br1anuk]

Get a Brink, Westfalia or Thule one. Westafalia are the OEM ones. Get a detachable one so it doesn't set off your parking sensors. Make sure you get a 13 pin plug fitted. PF Jones in Manchester are very good. Supply and fit.

 

[br1anuk]

Get a Brink, Westfalia or Thule one. Westafalia are the OEM ones. Get a detachable one so it doesn't set off your parking sensors. Make sure you get a 13 pin plug fitted. PF Jones in Manchester are very good. Supply and fit.

Detachable Towbar for Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 Saloon 01.2016 onwards | eBay

About the towbar. towbar socket mounting plate. The Westfalia towbar constitutes a perfect solution for towing trailers, caravans, and camping trailers as well as for mounting car accessories such as towball mounted bicycle racks.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[DSM10000]

Hi all. I’m booked in to have a tow bar fitted on my 2019 E220d premium tomorrow. I want to tow a bicycle carrier for 3 bicycles.
I’m clueless about tow bars. What type should I get ?
I have a 360 camera and parking sensors. What questions should I be asking ? I’m getting it done in a specialist tow bar fitters (not Mercedes). I don’t want any problems. Any advice ?

If you are booked in tomorrow have you not had to choose the towbar already?

 

[JHS]

Hi all. I’m booked in to have a tow bar fitted on my 2019 E220d premium tomorrow. I want to tow a bicycle carrier for 3 bicycles.
I’m clueless about tow bars. What type should I get ?
I have a 360 camera and parking sensors. What questions should I be asking ? I’m getting it done in a specialist tow bar fitters (not Mercedes). I don’t want any problems. Any advice ?

Make sure that it is vehicle specific and that it is coded after fitting to ensure that it integrates with the car electrics. That will take care of the sensors and camera. The make is up to you. I have a Tow Trust removable which works perfectly.

 

[JHS]

Get a Brink, Westfalia or Thule one. Westafalia are the OEM ones. Get a detachable one so it doesn't set off your parking sensors. Make sure you get a 13 pin plug fitted. PF Jones in Manchester are very good. Supply and fit.

????? How does that work when the ball is attached?

 

[Petrol Pete]

Whatever you have fitted just remember it will be part of the MOT checks . The electric plug is tested for function during MOT . The tow bar on SWMBO car has not ben used for a number of years now but is tested every year during MOT.

 

[JHS]

Whatever you have fitted just remember it will be part of the MOT checks . The electric plug is tested for function during MOT . The tow bar on SWMBO car has not ben used for a number of years now but is tested every year during MOT.

I did not know that. I always remove the "hook" and swing the socket up out of sight when I am not towing though, so maybe they don't see it? Will not be a happy bunny if it ever gets failed.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Neither did I . I hung about for the last MOT carried out on the wife's car and was a bit surprised to see the plug being tested , and even more surprised when it passed as it had not been (used) or checked for years !

I obviously did the normal pre MOT check around the car before I took it in but did not (and never have) check the tow bar electrics. Everyday is a school day.

 

[Margaret]

I’m getting a detachable tow bar with dedicated electrics. I’m told it’s a 7 pin. I’ll only be using a bike carrier or possibly a small trailer.

 

[Margaret]

Not sure it’s vehicle specific though. I’d say it’s a generic type. It has a key that locks the tow bar on. It clicks in under the car you would need to be kneeling to click it in. I can put it on for summer holidays. He showed me a small adapter that could make it a 13 pin if needed. But said 7 pin is ok for a bike carrier.

 

[Margaret]

Thule RideOn 9403 3-Bike Towbar Mounted Bike Rack706697.​

The above rack or similiar is what I am hoping to purchase. Tow bar is now fitted. All seems ok with the car. I’m told parking sensors will deactivate when rack connected to electrics. Looking forward to a day out with the bikes.

 

[Justintyme]

Neither did I . I hung about for the last MOT carried out on the wife's car and was a bit surprised to see the plug being tested , and even more surprised when it passed as it had not been (used) or checked for years !

I obviously did the normal pre MOT check around the car before I took it in but did not (and never have) check the tow bar electrics. Everyday is a school day.

I use a trailer light board to run a pre-test check, just in case...

 

[JHS]

Not sure it’s vehicle specific though. I’d say it’s a generic type. It has a key that locks the tow bar on. It clicks in under the car you would need to be kneeling to click it in. I can put it on for summer holidays. He showed me a small adapter that could make it a 13 pin if needed. But said 7 pin is ok for a bike carrier.

The tow-bar will be generic with vehicle specific mountings. 7 pin will be OK for the rack and small trailer. You would need a 13 pin if you were to be so rash as to buy a caravan.

 

[br1anuk]

There should be a button to turn off the rear sensors when using the cycle carrier.

 

[Wolfie1]

7 pin electrics are not part of the mot test, on a 13 pin socket it only needs testing if the ball is attached

 

[JHS]

There should be a button to turn off the rear sensors when using the cycle carrier.

If the electrics are coded to integrate with the car electrics, there is no need to switch anything off. Where is this button located?
Some strange advice from you regarding rear sensors in this thread. You have not replied to my question in post#6. It would be good to know how a detachable towbar disables the rear sensors.

 

[JHS]

7 pin electrics are not part of the mot test, on a 13 pin socket it only needs testing if the ball is attached

That is good to know. Thanks.

 

[Petrol Pete]

"7 pin electrics are not part of the mot test, on a 13 pin socket it only needs testing if the ball is attached..."

Well thats odd because the socket on SWMBO car is a 7 pin and they tested it , I watched him do it hence my post #7 ?? Not really a problem as I should really be making sure it works just in case I need to fit the bike rack to the tow bar (thats the only reason it was fitted to the car in the first place) at any time.

 

[whitenemesis]

From the tester's manual -

4.10 Trailer electric socket
You must only inspect the trailer electrical socket on vehicles fitted with a towing coupling.
If there’s no tow ball or pin, but the attachment brackets are still in place, you must assess the electrical sockets if the tow ball or pin has been:

• detached
• unbolted
• otherwise removed

You do not need to assess the electrical sockets if the attachment brackets have been deliberately made unfit for further use.
You do not need to assess the trailer electrical socket if you need tools or specialist equipment to remove access panels in the bumper or bodywork to gain access to the socket.
A trailer electrical socket with a defective or missing cover flap that incorporates a lug and spring to hold the plug in place is not considered to be a defect.

13 pin Euro-socket​

On vehicles fitted with a trailer 13 pin Euro-socket, use an approved device to check that the socket is wired to correctly operate the trailer:

• position lamps
• stop lamps
• direction indicators

Some 13-pin test tools may continually flicker when plugged into the socket of a vehicle that uses controller area network bus (CANbus) systems.
Where this happens, it generally indicates that there’s continuity at each pin on the vehicle’s socket. When the lamps are operated in turn you will usually see that each individual LED will function correctly.
Provided the self-test facility on your tester does not show any faults, then you should pass the socket test.

Defect	Category
(a) A trailer electrical socket: (i) insecure (ii) likely to become detached	Minor Major
(b) Trailer electrical socket wiring: (i) insulation damaged or deteriorated (ii) insulation damaged or deteriorated and likely to cause a short-circuit	Minor Major
(c) A 13-pin trailer socket: (i) not functioning correctly (ii) not functioning at all	Major Dangerous

​

4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - Guidance - GOV.UK

Inspection processes and rules for car, private bus and light commercial vehicle (class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicle) MOT tests.

www.gov.uk