W213 factory tow bar retro fit

[paul3408]

Hi All

I have a 2017 W213 E Class, I'm looking at getting a caravan early next year and would like to fit a electrically operated tow bar, I have found one on ebay, has anyone ever had one fitted or is there a fitter that would fit this to me car.

 

[Oldlae]

I approached Witter to get a tow bar fitted, they quoted about £600.
I then went to a tow bar specialist who charged me £430 for the same thing.
When I told them what I had been quoted by Witter, he just shrugged his shoulders and said 'they do'
Buy a Witter bar from a dealer, made for the car and the electrics are 'plug and play'
Tony

 

[richard]

Do remember if you want the full towing load (as shown in car's handbook) on any of the recent Mercedes you have to put the larger radiator in ...

Richard

 

[paul3408]

Do remember if you want the full towing load (as shown in car's handbook) on any of the recent Mercedes you have to put the larger radiator in ...

Richard

It this something you can/will do Richard?

 

[Merc220cls]

I’ve got a tow bar on my CLS and never upgraded the radiator.
Manufacturers state this is required to keep them covered as they don’t know what conditions especially temperature the car is towing in.

One thing I do like about the CLS is I can monitor oil temperature when towing and unlike my previous tug, a Jaguar XF the CLS actually has a water temp gauge.

In our moderate temperatures I doubt if the updated radiator would be required.

 

[richard]

Its not our area of expertise (too mechanical), so we wont. Ollie may ?
Cheers
Richard

 

[paul3408]

Hi All,

I'm having the tow bar fitted this weekend, I have phoned mercedes and asked them to price a tow bar £3500 i think it was. I also asked if i need and larger rad and the computer was not recomening one? he said if i needed it then it would show up on the computer.

 

[219]

Do remember if you want the full towing load (as shown in car's handbook) on any of the recent Mercedes you have to put the larger radiator in ...

Richard

Or a Kenlowe auxiliary transmission cooler . Easily bought as a DIY kit .

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Hi All

I have a 2017 W213 E Class, I'm looking at getting a caravan early next year and would like to fit a electrically operated tow bar, I have found one on ebay, has anyone ever had one fitted or is there a fitter that would fit this to me car.

Just check the weights on the VIN plate to make sure that your particular model is homologated (and legally able) to tow. If it’s an AMG or AMG line model, then you may wish to assume the brace position now.

 

[Merc220cls]

Hi All,

I'm having the tow bar fitted this weekend, I have phoned mercedes and asked them to price a tow bar £3500 i think it was. I also asked if i need and larger rad and the computer was not recomening one? he said if i needed it then it would show up on the computer.

Ouch ! That’s an expensive tow bar. Price fitted on all my cars with tow-bars added together don’t even come close to that figure

 

[Deleted member 151559]

Is it similar for a s204? Been looking and there's a few factory ones on ebay, they look like the best solution but I'm not sure of getting all the bits.

 

[paul3408]

I had a swan neck tow bar fitted £630 with the all singing all dancing Mercedes towing module that helps with trailer snaking.

 

[Bluegnomes]

The factory E class towbar is electronically retracting towbar (switch by the boot release in the front door and in the boot) and I believe has the additional gearbox cooler. I have one on my eclass. It’s a pretty good deal as a option when purchasing.

A witter will be removable (I had one on my S212) but not retractable?

 

[kcsun]

I had a swan neck tow bar fitted £630 with the all singing all dancing Mercedes towing module that helps with trailer snaking.

I had a factory installed towbar on my Audi Q5, it also had the "all singing, all dancing module" it was the best thing I have ever purchased, had a very serious incident when the car was 1 month old and it saved me, my family, my car and trailer from massive problems

I could not believe how it took over control of the car, corrected everything and eventually handed back control to me!! I would never buy another car without the factory module for the towbar.

kc

 

[easyonthegas]

Just about to fit a detachable Brink towbar to my W213 with the correct dedicated electrics. Quote is £600 fitted, in the Durham area.
As car just bought from dealer, and they are not specifying any upgrades such as radiator fan which I needed for a previous C class.

 

[R120]

I am looking at getting a tow bar fitted to my E-Claa wagon, not for towing but for allowing a bike rack to be mounted - I have the feature where you waggle you foot under the bumper to open the boot, is it possible to retrofit a towbar and for it not to cause a problem? I dont mind loosing the functionality of the foot waggle function, just dont want to cause any issues with the car.