E 300 Hybrid Towing capabilities

[Artful Dodger]

I am a long time Mercedes owner, having had 13 cars since 1984. Most have been 6 cylinder S or E Class motors, the most recent being V6 diesels.
I am a keen sailor and often tow a race boat with an all up weight of less than 1,000 Kgs. All my previous Mercs have proven to be efffortless and trouble free when towing both braked and unbraked trailers.
I just acquired a new E300 Hybrid with which I am delighted. However when I went to put a towbar on the car I discovered the towing limit is for 300 Kgs braked or unbraked!!! My last E 320 CDI had a limit of 2,100 kgs!!!!!
I am at a loss to understand why this limit is set so low on the Hybrid. It cannot be a power, torque or braking issue so I suspect it may have to something to do with cooling the transmission or the engine. If this is the case, surely there must be an oil cooling upgrade that can be fitted or are the techies being unduly over cautious?
In the meantime I will have to plead with my wife to get her to lend me her excellent 220 CDI C Class estate to step into the breech when I need to tow one of my race boats!

Perhaps I should have bought a Lexus 450H which has a huge towing capacity?

 

[Tashman]

It's probably to do with the way the tow bar is mounted to the chassis. It could be in a weaker position or mounted to a less rigid part of the car that can't take so much strain than the one on your old car. Others will know more. Sound like a step backwards doesn't it.

 

[Artful Dodger]

I am a long time Mercedes owner, having had 13 cars since 1984. Most have been 6 cylinder S or E Class motors, the most recent being V6 diesels.
I am a keen sailor and often tow a race boat with an all up weight of less than 1,000 Kgs. All my previous Mercs have proven to be efffortless and trouble free when towing both braked and unbraked trailers.
I just acquired a new E300 Hybrid with which I am delighted. However when I went to put a towbar on the car I discovered the towing limit is for 300 Kgs braked or unbraked!!! My last E 320 CDI had a limit of 2,100 kgs!!!!!
I am at a loss to understand why this limit is set so low on the Hybrid. It cannot be a power, torque or braking issue so I suspect it may have to something to do with cooling the transmission or the engine. If this is the case, surely there must be an oil cooling upgrade that can be fitted or are the techies being unduly over cautious?
In the meantime I will have to plead with my wife to get her to lend me her excellent 220 CDI C Class estate to step into the breech when I need to tow one of my race boats!

Perhaps I should have bought a Lexus 450H which has a huge towing capacity?

 

[Artful Dodger]

No that is not an issue.
Same as for non hybrid car as batteries and hybrid engine are located in front of car and beside gearbox.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I’m sure there has been a thread on this before!
Struggle to recall the details but I must admit I thought the issue was around the 1 tonne area not down at 300kg!
If I can remember later I’ll see if I can find it

 

[Craiglxviii]

It's probably to do with the way the tow bar is mounted to the chassis. It could be in a weaker position or mounted to a less rigid part of the car that can't take so much strain than the one on your old car. Others will know more. Sound like a step backwards doesn't it.

Nothing to do with it, towing structures usually have to be able to take the car’s own kerb weight by common design standard.

I’ve been looking around and I’m fairly sure that the 300kg is to do with the hybrid system’s fuel efficiency test rating. By limiting the max towing weight to 300kg they do not have to test - and so report to regulatory authorities- what the towing mpg is at (say) 2100kg.

 

[Rappey69]

I think its to do with emission rating... If it were to tow more then it would cost more to tax as pumping out more pollutants?
300 kg is wht the manufacturer deemed appropriate when it cam to type approval. that cannot be changed.

 

[Artful Dodger]

I think its to do with emission rating... If it were to tow more then it would cost more to tax as pumping out more pollutants?
300 kg is wht the manufacturer deemed appropriate when it cam to type approval. that cannot be changed.

I am not sure about that as an explanation. The new 2017 E 350 Hybrid has a towing capacity of 2,100 kgs, just like the older V6 diesels and petrols. What is the technical differentiating factor from the 2015 E300 Hybrid?
The performance attributes are not all that different!!!!!

 

[Craiglxviii]

I am not sure about that as an explanation. The new 2017 E 350 Hybrid has a towing capacity of 2,100 kgs, just like the older V6 diesels and petrols. What is the technical differentiating factor from the 2015 E300 Hybrid?
The performance attributes are not all that different!!!!!

Anything from CAFE situation at the time to public perception of emissions at the time. A lots happened since 2013 when MY2015 car specs were fixed.

 

[Artful Dodger]

Anything from CAFE situation at the time to public perception of emissions at the time. A lots happened since 2013 when MY2015 car specs were fixed.

You may well be correct.
The spec sheet published by Mercedes in the UK in 2015 states that the e300 hybrid has a unbraked towing capacity of 750kgs and a braked capacity of 2,100 but the e 300 AMG Hybrid Estate has got a maximum towing capacity of 300 kgs. All utterly confusing. I know that AMG bumpers preclude fitting most types of tow hitchs unless you are prepared to cut a slot in them.

 

[ajlsl600]

loads more confusion created over what SHOULD be ,for the consumer anyway, a simple issue.anyone used an elecric car to tow a caravan to southern france ???

 

[RDS]

Hi Artful Dodger
Apologies for resurrecting an old thread but I wondered if you ever made any progress with your E300 and its Towing Capacity. I the same question for my E300.

 

[toadoftoadhall]

Same situation for me too. Just bought a caravan, 1350kg, no idea if I can tow it. Just been looking at a Rav4 2.2 diesel. But would hate to have to sell my E300 hybrid.

 

[ajlsl600]

progress...........methinks not!

 

[EmilysDad]

Same situation for me too. Just bought a caravan, 1350kg, no idea if I can tow it. .....

There'll be max axle weights & gross train weight on a sticker in the door revel somewhere if you can tow with it

 

[Nigel Hewitt]

I have four numbers on the VIN sticker in the door frame.
2430kg
2830kg
1- 1180kg
2- 1250kg
No words to explain them.

 

[EmilysDad]

I have four numbers on the VIN sticker in the door frame.
2430kg
2830kg
1- 1180kg
2- 1250kg
No words to explain them.

max weight of car
gross train weight
max front axle weight
max rear axle weight

 

[Blobcat]

I have four numbers on the VIN sticker in the door frame.
2430kg
2830kg
1- 1180kg
2- 1250kg
No words to explain them.

So a 400kg towing limit...

 

[EmilysDad]

So a 400kg towing limit...

A garden trailer at best then

 

[Frontstep]

Blimey my two wheel "tip" trailer has 500kg.

Its not exactly big.