New MB Eclass no longer viable for towing.
In September 2019 I ordered a new Eclass Estate and specified a factory fitted towbar. Now, 4 months later I have been informed that the only variant that has a towbar option is the "AMG line Night Edition Premium" As this is several thousand pounds more expensive, I thought I would fit a third party towbar. However, suggesting this to the dealer his comment was 'It will invalidate your warranty'. I have followed this up, writing to customer service at Mercedes-Benz Cars UK, and they agree that fitting a tow bar could possibly invalid at the warranty.
The dealer has looked into finding Mercedes parts to fit a tow bar but has come up with a figure of over £4000. Obviously, this is not a viable option. Why is it that 1 variant of the Eclass can have a tow bar option at £695 and the other variants cannot? Also, how many caravaners/trailer tenters or anyone who has fitted a third party towbar, would get a shock if they have a problem?
Comments
-
I cannot believe that, considering the popularity of the E-Class as a towcar, just one variant would be available with a factory fitted towbar. If that were the case it wouldn’t make economic sense for Mercedes Benz to develop a towbar for just one model. Perhaps their reply applied specifically only to the model that you ordered.
0 -
In a similar, but much less costly, vein Audi still expect buyers in the UK to pay over £200 on top of the factory fitted tow bar price, of app £800, for a supplementary wiring kit as the standard fitted electrics will power road ligfhts only with no supply for fridge or battery charging.
I was lucky as a fellow member made me aware when I mentioned that I was thinking of buying a Q5.
He had made clear that he would be towing a van but, as most sales people will have zero knowledge about what is required, his car was not suitably equipped.
0 -
I have been towing with E Class Mercs for many moons now - and in 2015 when I bought a 220SE estate - had the same problem with the towbar "rules". This vehicle was supplied from MB stock in the UK and came without a towbar. MB York arranged for a specialist company around the corner to supply and fit a Westphalia one.
A little time later when reading the handbook, I saw that it specifically stated that you were not allowed to tow with the vehicle. I took this up with MB York who said that MB UK had told them that the only reason why this was written in the handbook was that the vehicle had not been "accident tested" with a trailer or caravan attached and thus the restriction. However they said that the towbar manufacturer's insurance would assume responsibility for any damage to the vehicle caused by the failure of the towbar should the car be involved in an accident. I got them to confirm this to me in writing. Is this maybe something you could do?
I had to make two warranty claims on this vehicle during the 35 months of ownership and all were met by Mercedes without question and one included a rear suspension fault which might have provoked a few questions. Don't forget as well that the towbar was not an electrical one, and thus permanently showing ..... if a rejection was forthcoming due to the towbar it would have been hard to argue otherwise.
In my view what I was told made sense and the fact that this was confirmed in writing by The Dealership made perfect sense to me. As you say the same vehicle but with a different spec has the approval - for what it is worth I now tow with a Mercedes E Class All Terrain which is probably the best towcar I have ever had - has a factory fitted towbar. As solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.
Hope to have helped.
0 -
Thanks Oxfordeagle. It is as I suspected but need confirmation in writing. I have written to customer services requesting clarification.
What would happen if: a third party towbar is fitted and a problem with the engine occurred - If MB refused to accept responsibility, would the towbar manufacturer cover the costs?
PS I would love to be able to purchase an All Terrain but at £65 grand!
0 -
Strange, all this. The MB price list that I have accessed on the internet shows only minor restrictions regarding the availability of a factory fitted towbar. It only says that it`s not available if the estate car is specified with a folding third row of seats in the load compartment and the E300 in conjunction with a sunroof.
0 -
MB tow bar weirdness is not confined to the E class.
I wanted to replace my GLC 250D Sport this year. The Sport is now only available with the 220 in diesel and basic spec. a factory tow bar is available. I don't like black on black on black (roof, seats, carpet) inside a car but the AMG Line is where the new 300D engine and premium packs are to be found. I was almost prepared to accept the Cranberry red seats in a GLC 300D BUT....I tried to configure one and No tow bar on the AMG Line cars.
I have enjoyed my GLC but sadly it is goodbye MB for me
0 -
It seems quite a few go-faster AMG Mercs have different wheels front & back either width, offset or diameter. That's why skinny spare wheels are used. My Smart Roadster has different offset front & rear and the 451 has different width & offset.
0 -
Interesting discussion and members are right to be cautious.
I currently have a C250 (2015) which when they came out no towbars had been created for this new shape. Subsequently I fitted a detachable Westfalia which the dealer was fully aware of as they programmed the electronics after towbar fitting, as they agreed at sale to do so.
I never needed to claim on warranty but would have been very surprised to be refused for this known change
Roll forward to now and I am about to buy a W213 (E220d). There are plenty of approved towbars that will fit (both shape and price) and now MB do not need to code as the towbar fitter can do this themselves.
Currently the option list on MB cars are very reduced from previous as Stephen P says, as not only can you not specify a towbar on most cars, but also not other features such as air suspension, improved audio, panoramic roof, etc. We all would spec a spare wheel if we could I expect.
Whatever towcar you pick, it is the holiday that matters most!!
0 -
Update after fitting a detachable Westfalia towbar to a MY20 E class estate. The towbar company can now code the dedicated electrics but I had the dealer do this for me.
Towbar operation is same as previous MB's although on this towbar brand the drop down electrics is on the offside so I needed to shorten my flex length off the van.
Only other comment is that the front and rear tyres are different size so NO spare, NO inflation kit as the tyres are run flat and the manual states they can run for 50 miles. Hopefully I will never need to test this claim.
Have towed over 1000 miles this summer (UK only obviously) and the car tows very well and is as stable as any I have had.
0 -
Get a space saver wheel. That gets round the different size tyres and at least provides some element of backup.
0 -
Lots of Mercs have staggered wheels .... even my Smarts do, and as Cyber suggests, as long as the wheel diameter is similar it'll be OK. It doesn't matter about the width for the amount of time the spare would be fitted. But have you room for a spare? Some Mercs have an AdBlue tank in the spare wheel well.
0 -
-
I know punctures are a rare occurance these days, but not good if you have to wait for the breakdown services to provide a flat bed capable of taking your car to the nearest garage to repair a puncture and towing your caravan if attached, I would also think that if you ran for 50 miles on a run flat tyre whilst towing caravan the tyre is likely to be of little use, which would mean buying a new tyre, expensive puncture. I guess you could unhitch and leave the caravan behind until you get the tyre repaired. Me thinks i will not be buying a Merc
0 -
You cannot repair run flats anyway.
Remember someone at a tyre depot I was visiting going over a nail in the road just outside the centre after having new run flats fitted on the front. He drove straight back in and was told he had to fit another new tyre because they are not permitted to fix them. Very expensive 20 yards that was for him.
0 -
My Carthago MH only had a box of goo. First thing I did was buy a spare wheel. Don't know how the heavier weight of MH's would work with run-flats plus they tend to be quite low profile and a harder ride.
0
