Oxfordeagle
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- Your Mercedes
- 2018 Mercedes E class E350 All Terrain 4 matic
In respect of your question/problem - perhaps the following will help.
I too was more than concerned when I ordered in 2015 a new SE 220 E Class Estate as the handbook clearly said that the car was not allowed to tow - yet the dealer who sold me the car had had after fitted a towbar - Westphalia was the manufacturer.
If my memory serves me well, I was told that the E220 SE estates had no approval as the car had not been put through an "accident test" - the one that gives the number of stars for accident prevention - when towing. The vehicle in its many guises had but not the estate and that is why it categorically stated that you 'cannot tow with this car'.
The dealer subsequently confirmed (and I got this in writing as well) that if the car was involved in an accident due to something going wrong with the tow hitch, then Mercedes would not accept any liability. However - the towbar manufacturer's insurance would cover any responsibility / liability and maybe you need to speak to a towbar manufacturer and get their view on this - as indicated the towbar I had was a Westphalia.
I was also told that this was reason why no VIN details were supplied.
That car was replaced a few months back but it pulled 1550 kgs caravan for over 20,000 miles in three years all over Europe and the UK and always delivered. No matter what we asked it to do, it did - we even managed to often get over 30 mpg when towing.
My suggestion therefore would be to speak to a tow hook manufacturer and enjoy what was for me, a really excellent vehicle. In retrospect, I should never have sold it.
I too was more than concerned when I ordered in 2015 a new SE 220 E Class Estate as the handbook clearly said that the car was not allowed to tow - yet the dealer who sold me the car had had after fitted a towbar - Westphalia was the manufacturer.
If my memory serves me well, I was told that the E220 SE estates had no approval as the car had not been put through an "accident test" - the one that gives the number of stars for accident prevention - when towing. The vehicle in its many guises had but not the estate and that is why it categorically stated that you 'cannot tow with this car'.
The dealer subsequently confirmed (and I got this in writing as well) that if the car was involved in an accident due to something going wrong with the tow hitch, then Mercedes would not accept any liability. However - the towbar manufacturer's insurance would cover any responsibility / liability and maybe you need to speak to a towbar manufacturer and get their view on this - as indicated the towbar I had was a Westphalia.
I was also told that this was reason why no VIN details were supplied.
That car was replaced a few months back but it pulled 1550 kgs caravan for over 20,000 miles in three years all over Europe and the UK and always delivered. No matter what we asked it to do, it did - we even managed to often get over 30 mpg when towing.
My suggestion therefore would be to speak to a tow hook manufacturer and enjoy what was for me, a really excellent vehicle. In retrospect, I should never have sold it.
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