Silverarrows
Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2021
- Messages
- 47
- Location
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Car
- E55K AMG Wagon 2003 (S211) Black, Daimler Double Six Coupe V12 '77, Volvo Amazon 121 Coupe '67.
Daimler Benz never homologated AMG E55K's for towing as it assumed its performance-orientated customers would not want to drag trailers or caravans around, it was therefore decided to save the UK type approval cost's on many of its top sports models.
It was believed that a few E55K's may have slipped through the net and were homologated, this was a just a myth until I saw a VIN plate of another E55 owner on this site!
His VIN plate includes:
The first figure of 2495kg is the Gross Vehicle Weight or Maximum Allowable Mass including occupants, fuel and payload.
The next figure down 3245kg is the Gross Train Weight of the vehicle and trailer combined.
The final two loads are maximum front and rear axle loads respectively.
His vehicle has been homologated to tow 2495-3245 =750kg (unbraked) and is very rare!
My Sept 2003 Obsidian Black S211 E55k has a blank space where his 3245kg is and therefore was not approved to tow anything.
Nevertheless, the S211 estate has an identical chassis to other S211's and because of better brakes and Airmatic self-levelling suspension is actually a better tow vehicle than all other S211's.
I do not see why an owner cannot SVA any vehicle for towing?
I cannot find a law against this?
I have fitted a S11 E500 Tow Trust Vertical Detachable Swan Neck Tow bar, (£259 Model TM875VK EBAY) in order to tow my 1980 classic ski boat to the beach.
The installation has a removable swan-neck and a swing-down electrical socket, the installation is invisible when removed and clears the E55k Rear Bumper without cutting any holes or clearance channels, it also looks very attractive and can tow 2460kg.
Photos of the tow bar fitted below on the E55K, first photo is folded away, second photos attached and ready-to-couple-up.
Just need to book an IVA/SVA now!
It was believed that a few E55K's may have slipped through the net and were homologated, this was a just a myth until I saw a VIN plate of another E55 owner on this site!
His VIN plate includes:
The first figure of 2495kg is the Gross Vehicle Weight or Maximum Allowable Mass including occupants, fuel and payload.
The next figure down 3245kg is the Gross Train Weight of the vehicle and trailer combined.
The final two loads are maximum front and rear axle loads respectively.
His vehicle has been homologated to tow 2495-3245 =750kg (unbraked) and is very rare!
My Sept 2003 Obsidian Black S211 E55k has a blank space where his 3245kg is and therefore was not approved to tow anything.
Nevertheless, the S211 estate has an identical chassis to other S211's and because of better brakes and Airmatic self-levelling suspension is actually a better tow vehicle than all other S211's.
I do not see why an owner cannot SVA any vehicle for towing?
I cannot find a law against this?
I have fitted a S11 E500 Tow Trust Vertical Detachable Swan Neck Tow bar, (£259 Model TM875VK EBAY) in order to tow my 1980 classic ski boat to the beach.
The installation has a removable swan-neck and a swing-down electrical socket, the installation is invisible when removed and clears the E55k Rear Bumper without cutting any holes or clearance channels, it also looks very attractive and can tow 2460kg.
Photos of the tow bar fitted below on the E55K, first photo is folded away, second photos attached and ready-to-couple-up.
Just need to book an IVA/SVA now!
First, that whole weight is applied much further back (to a single point behind the rear bumper), which would have more effect on the suspension. Then structurally that weight is carried by whatever the towing bracket is attached to, rather than spread across the boot floor. This is why towbars typically have a much lower load rating than the amount of payload you can put in the car.
