Gobsmacked by the penultimate comment from this customer

[Alfie]

Took a phone call this morning that went like this;

Hello comand.
Hi this is xxxxx in car specialists here.
Hello
Can you tell us if the video input is PAL or NTSC?
What car is it?
A black series AMG mercedes.
Okay, it will be NTSC. Is this for a reversing camera.?
Yes.
Okay then. Are you running the cables yourself?
Yes we are running them via the towbar.
Towbar?
Yes.
Are you sure this is an AMG Black series?
Yes.
What is it towing?
A caravan
Thats a 570BHP car pulling a caravan.
Yes.

 

[renault12ts]

LOL. And it's illegal.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

I doubt you can even fit a towbar to a black series?, I bet its just a AMG which is black and the owner didnt get what you meant about black series...

 

[corned]

Thats a 570BHP car pulling a caravan.

Well, you can't say that it hasn't got enough poke for the job...

 

[Shude]

I doubt you can even fit a towbar to a black series?, I bet its just a AMG which is black and the owner didnt get what you meant about black series...

Still illegal to fit a towbar to an AMG, likely it's a black SL with an AMG badge

 

[corned]

Wasn't there a post on the forum not too long ago about an AMG black series badge which someone spotted applied to a non-AMG car? I.e. a SL350 AMG Black, that sort of thing?

It would be funny if this is the same car.

 

[Alfie]

Its a 2010 CLK black series apparently!

I questioned him about certain features and it indeed appears to be a genuine Black Series. The customer apparently 'Has the money to make this possible'

 

[corned]

Cool! Well, on the plus side the caravan isn't ever going to need new tyres, as they won't be in contact with the ground very often.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

The enquiry was for a reversing camera input. Maybe they intend to drive the car/caravan backwards all the time!

 

[Spin_bowler]

In fairness he probably needs the caravan as he traded the house is for the Merc

 

[Shude]

Its a 2010 CLK black series apparently!

I questioned him about certain features and it indeed appears to be a genuine Black Series. The customer apparently 'Has the money to make this possible'

You can fit a tow-bar to anything but if he's gone through the process of having it type-approved then I'm impressed!

 

[renault12ts]

You can fit a tow-bar to anything but if he's gone through the process of having it type-approved then I'm impressed!

I suppose it would fail it's first MOT...assuming the MOT station was on the ball.

 

[sportyreptile]

Mine's a much older car but when I picked it up I read through the users manuals, it comes with a couple of AMG supplements and it said "Towing is FORBIDDEN with this model"....just like that in capitals .....must have been a direct translation from the German....DAS VERBOTEN.

 

[Nik_Endeavour]

Coming up as a bit ignorant on the matter is there a DVLA/VOSA rule that forbids it or is just a common sense thing?

 

[renault12ts]

Coming up as a bit ignorant on the matter is there a DVLA/VOSA rule that forbids it or is just a common sense thing?

Type approval was not obtained for the AMGs to tow. So, it's not permitted.

 

[corned]

Coming up as a bit ignorant on the matter is there a DVLA/VOSA rule that forbids it or is just a common sense thing?

There was a specific type approval kind of addition after a certain year. Prior to that, you could use any girder bolted to the back of any car. After that though, the specific model of car has to be type approved with towing capability to be allowed to be fitted with a bar.

 

[A210AMG]

Well maybe just maybe this was the car....

and in case you thought that's not enough badges on the back... check the front and the window...

 

[A210AMG]

Joking aside though

If I could fit a towbar legaly to a E55K S211 then I would consider one. I see no issue with towing with one just as its an AMG car?

for the times / millage I would tow and at towing speeds I doubt it would really push the engine...

 

[renault12ts]

Joking aside though

If I could fit a towbar legaly to a E55K S211 then I would consider one. I see no issue with towing with one just as its an AMG car?

for the times / millage I would tow and at towing speeds I doubt it would really push the engine...

The engine is not the problem...they just haven't done the test. The e55k would be perfectly safe to tow...but if it hasn't been tested then it aint allowed.

 

[oldmedic999]

I can just imagine it. Late middle aged male. Keen on a little golf. Driving down the A303 to on his way to nice spot in north Devon for the hols. Caravan connected to AMG car. Followed by member of Top Gear Presenter. Wonder what he will think when he sees wots towing the caravan. Would make an interesting piece of programming. :-}