W/S213 towbar electric coding

[CabbagePatch]

I've had an aftermarket towbar and dedicated electrics fitted today. So far so good.

However the electrics haven’t been coded. I was sceptical they could be coded other than by MB as another towbar fitter told me that he couldn’t recode. I went with the company today as they were close to home, but more importantly, I’ve used them twice before to fit bars to BMWs. They told me they could recode, (on e-mail) I queried this again telling them it was a W213 E350e and they confirmed they've coded this model. When I dropped it off this morning I asked what would be coded (parking sensors, trailer stability etc) and they talked me through it. Come 1pm I get a call, 'towbars fitted but you’ll need to bring it back for recoding as we don’t have the software because you've got a W213'. As I pointed out on e-mail 3 weeks ago! They tell me that their kit needs to download an update (which takes 10 hours) to get the coding for a W213. Apparently the software wasn't available when they last updated, despite them telling me they recoded this model before.

I haven’t paid yet and have it booked in for next weekend but would like to know how I can tell the coding has been done as most of the features are hidden. Will it have a lamp on the dash when you indicate (with the electrics connected) or are there any other giveaways? I was told this morning that the rear parking sensors aren’t coded out as it has a button on the dash. Basically I've lost trust in them not to connect something to the OBD2 port for half an hour, give me a coffee and claim they've done it all!

So if you've got a factory fit bar or had a dedicated electrics kit coded on a W/S213 could you tell me what to look out for to ensure the coding is done?

 

[fifermerc]

My E350 is a 212 - I had a towbar fitted last year by a towbar specialist with a dedicated electric kit and it was coded by them without any apparent problem. If you hook up your trailer you could try a couple of things. Switch on your rear foglights - correct coding should I believe mean that the foglights will show on the trailer but not on the car. Slightly more involved, but if you pull out one of the rear light bulbs on your trailer it should give a fault message on the car to tell you there's a problem on the trailer. To be honest I can't remember what happens with the parking sensors when I have the trailer attached, but I don't recall any problem when reversing the trailer.

 

[CabbagePatch]

Thanks, good call about the foglights, I’d forgotten that. As I won’t have access to my caravan I need something that will show when they have their light testing kit attached. The foglights will do it.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

I thought this could only be done with the official Mercedes Benz Xentry system on the W212 W213 ?

 

[Merc220cls]

I fitted the towbar and electrics onto my CLS Shooting Brake and it didn’t require any coding.

I used the dedicated electrics kit and Witter Quantum Vertical detachable ball.

I used to fit tow bars when I worked within a main dealership and I have to say the CLS fitting was by far the easiest fitting I’ve done.

 

[CabbagePatch]

I thought this could only be done with the official Mercedes Benz Xentry system on the W212 W213 ?

Be interested to know if this is the case. The dedicated kit is made by a company called ECS and their fitting instructions have some coding details but not sure if that’s their own kit that is used.

I'm sure I could live without the coding if it comes to it but I would prefer to have all the features activated, as I was told they could. I think a call to the boss of the towbar fitters tomorrow is best. A compromise would be to have the coding done at a dealers and knock this off the price I pay for the towbar. As I was quoted £140 by the nearest dealer I think that will focus his mind on sorting it out!

 

[easyonthegas]

Some towbar fitters can code the towbar electrics, but that can vary.
The local MB dealer will also code the towbar but charge an hours fee at £168. I was supposed to get my new towbar coded by the dealer last week but the lock-down has closed the service depts, so will do it once normality resumes.
My dedicated electrics were made by Right Connections, part No MB-083-13 and they include the reprogramming instructions in the fitting guide.

 

[Piotrnowax]

I've had an aftermarket towbar and dedicated electrics fitted today. So far so good.

However the electrics haven’t been coded. I was sceptical they could be coded other than by MB as another towbar fitter told me that he couldn’t recode. I went with the company today as they were close to home, but more importantly, I’ve used them twice before to fit bars to BMWs. They told me they could recode, (on e-mail) I queried this again telling them it was a W213 E350e and they confirmed they've coded this model. When I dropped it off this morning I asked what would be coded (parking sensors, trailer stability etc) and they talked me through it. Come 1pm I get a call, 'towbars fitted but you’ll need to bring it back for recoding as we don’t have the software because you've got a W213'. As I pointed out on e-mail 3 weeks ago! They tell me that their kit needs to download an update (which takes 10 hours) to get the coding for a W213. Apparently the software wasn't available when they last updated, despite them telling me they recoded this model before.

I haven’t paid yet and have it booked in for next weekend but would like to know how I can tell the coding has been done as most of the features are hidden. Will it have a lamp on the dash when you indicate (with the electrics connected) or are there any other giveaways? I was told this morning that the rear parking sensors aren’t coded out as it has a button on the dash. Basically I've lost trust in them not to connect something to the OBD2 port for half an hour, give me a coffee and claim they've done it all!

So if you've got a factory fit bar or had a dedicated electrics kit coded on a W/S213 could you tell me what to look out for to ensure the coding is done?

Could you tell please how much would that cost to do and did they sorted your electric right on the end ?

 

[E220dEstateS213]

I had mine fitted and coded by an indy who were NTTA accredited and all i see is the red towball icon on dash which goes out once car starts. I travelled a long way to get my Towbar fitted properly and even with fuel and Hotel stay etc was still same price as indy who had no NTTA but said they could code.
Beware places who use the logo but not registered on proper site, as they have either been kicked off for shoddy work or just faking logo. I fitted all my own prev bars but left the Merc due to the coding. Main Dealer can code for £80 - £150 but don't like to as it's aftermarket. Very easy towbar to fit on a S213 tiny bumpercut and make sure they support AdBlu tank!!

 

[easyonthegas]

to reply to cabbage patch query - you asked what changes you should see after the coding has been completed - that depends on what is fitted to your car!

I can comment from experience of having 3 * MB's re-coded

• rear fog lights on car not operational with trailer hitched
• rear parking sensors disabled
• trailer bulb defect warning (text message warning as with car light defects)
• blind spot warning disabled
• rear camera can show trailer hitching aid - a red line (if selected on camera view)
• I suspect ESP for trailer stability activated, but have not tried to test that in action!!

If anyone else spots an omission from this list - please shout up

 

[ernie]

to reply to cabbage patch query - you asked what changes you should see after the coding has been completed - that depends on what is fitted to your car!

I can comment from experience of having 3 * MB's re-coded

• rear fog lights on car not operational with trailer hitched
• rear parking sensors disabled
• trailer bulb defect warning (text message warning as with car light defects)
• blind spot warning disabled
• rear camera can show trailer hitching aid - a red line (if selected on camera view)
• I suspect ESP for trailer stability activated, but have not tried to test that in action!!

If anyone else spots an omission from this list - please shout up

On my C Class, W205, as well as the above, the ECO mode is deactivated and the gears hold longer.

Ernie

 

[easyonthegas]

Thanks Ernie

Never tried to select ECO with the trailer attached - but I will next time I am out and report back

 

[easyonthegas]

You can still select ECO, C, Sport, etc with trailer attached.
As the gearbox "learns" the driving style and load, I would expect the gear changes to differ in any mode with a trailer attached.