Got a 124 estate? Got a towing bracket?

[Madanglian]

If so, does it foul the rear silencer on your exhaust?
I can answer yes to all these questions, although some bright spark has at some point inserted a piece of rubber in between bracket and silencer in order to prevent what would otherwise be an absolute ****** racket.
Trouble is, it's lifted up and stressed the rear section of exhaust in a way which it wasn't designed for and the pipe has broken off the inlet of the silencer.
The bracketry itself is a piece of 2 inch square section tube running longitudinally between two plates, one of which is bolted onto the body just in front of the rear bumper, the other plate bolted on about 15-18 inches nearer the front of the car.
Is this a standard Merc towing bracket or a home-made (or after market) affair?
Also having read another thread about cheapo exhausts, are the "BQ" ones from German/Swedish/French any good?
Hope I'm not breaking Forum rules by naming names.......
Thanx

 

[11293]

We have a1995 280E estate which we bought last year. It had an after market towbar fitted to it about 2 years ago. It has never interfered with the exhaust system. If anything it protects the rear section of the exhaust. The only problem is that it sits so low under the exhaust that it frequently hits the ground when going down slopes for example. But that seems a small price to pay. Sorry I cant offer any solutions. it seems to me your towbar may have been improperly installed?

 

[Madanglian]

Sorted!
Got a "BQ" exhaust (see original post). The silencer was much slimmer.
Now it is just resting gently on the towing bracket with the rubber mount in between.

 

[mif]

1986 230TE. Don't know if my bracket is original - but from the look of the surface rust and seized bolts, its been on the car a long time.

The front mount of mine bolts on way further forward, up in front of the fuel tank. This sounds more 'proper' than bolting in front of the rear silencer, as your "15-18 inches nearer the front of the car" implies.

It is well clear of a standard silencer.

...though I agree with another post that it sits pretty low, big - or badly designed - speed bumps are my particular problem, eliciting a jarring thump at anything over crawling speed.

--
Mike

PS I know someone who lives in Turkey - mail me offline if this is useful to you.

 

[Richard.Wilson]

My '92 230TE has a tow pack fitted by MB dealer from new, it's made by WITTER in germany.
It is mounted by the Differential, and clears the exhaust OK.
It is low as people have mentioned, but is very strong. I put a 100 odd Kg of Trials Motorcycle on a rack and a 4-wheel car trailer on it, and it is solid.
I've seen loads of different dimensions of rear box on these cars, so maybe the box is aftermarket and a few mm deeper? (or the mountings are bent or rubbers tired)....probably been there already eh?
Richard