Tow hitch on Mercedes ML 350 Bluetech

[ucanem...@gmail.com]

I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.

[Bruce Hoult]

On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 9:03:04 PM UTC+13, ucanem...@gmail.com wrote:
> I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.

One, of course, should always ask about tow hitches *before* agreeing to buy the car itself, not after taking delivery.

[us...@example.net]

On 2/04/2015 19:03, ucanem...@gmail.com wrote:
> I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.
>

Some years ago I bought a factory tow hitch for a W163 from a dealer in
Long Beach for about $500. It seemed easily possible to instal that
myself although I actually onsold it without fitting it.

Its successor (W164) came with a hitch - Bruce's advice is good.

The main difference, of course, is that the 163 had a chassis. Your 164
(or 166?) doesn't. Makes tow hitch fitting an order of magnitude more
difficult. You may not need a dealer but you will need a knowledgeable,
non-dealer, M-B specialist who will probably be cheaper.

In my experience (fairly extensive) M-B dealers are to be avoided if at
all possible. Make a friend of a good, independent Euro/M-B specialist
workshop. Your wallet and the reliability of your car will thank you
for it.

GC

[Bruce Hoult]

On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 11:56:41 PM UTC+13, us...@example.net wrote:
> On 2/04/2015 19:03, ucanem...@gmail.com wrote:
> > I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.
> >
>
> Some years ago I bought a factory tow hitch for a W163 from a dealer in
> Long Beach for about $500. It seemed easily possible to instal that
> myself although I actually onsold it without fitting it.
>
> Its successor (W164) came with a hitch - Bruce's advice is good.
>
> The main difference, of course, is that the 163 had a chassis. Your 164
> (or 166?) doesn't.

Quite apart from any structural issues, fitting a towbar is one of the things that dealers will do "for free" to sweeten the deal, rather than dropping the official price of the car. Even on used cars.

[Papa3]

On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 4:03:04 AM UTC-4, ucanem...@gmail.com wrote:
> I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.

I've done 5 hitch installs (2 on Honda Odysseys and 3 on various flavors of VW). eTrailer is the go-to place to figure out what's involved. For the ML350 here are the parts required at minimum:

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Mercedes-Benz/M-Class/2011/C13102.html?vehicleid=2011308187

http://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Wiring/Mercedes-Benz/M-Class/2011/56146KIT.html?vehicleid=2011308187

In round figures, $300-$400 worth of parts if you include towbar and ball etc. However, the installation is more tricky than most:

- The hitch requires lowering the exhaust and trimming some plastic and possibly heat shields. When eTrailer says a 10/10 in difficulty and 1:40 to install, figure 2 hours of shop time minimum.

- The wiring requires a separate power supply routed to the front of the vehicle plus the usual tapping into circuits. Figure 2 hours here to be conservative.

So, I would guess that an aftermarket shop that bills out at $120/hr for labor would probably quote you somewhere either side of $1,000 including ordering the parts for you.

Erik Mann (P3)

[drguya...@gmail.com]

You bought a Mercedes for goodness sakes.

If you had a Yugo the cost would be much much lower.
Especially if you find some duct tape on sale.

[Andrzej Kobus]

On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 4:03:04 AM UTC-4, ucanem...@gmail.com wrote:

> I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.

I bought a Mercedes SUV a few months ago and I negotiated installation of a tow hook as a part of the deal. It still cost me a lot to put the tow hook in but not near the $3,000 quoted.

To put a hitch on a Mercedes SUV there is a lot of work involved, both mechanical and electrical while the option at the factory costs only $500.

I talked to a few people and I decided not to even try the aftermarket route as some reprogramming of a computer was also required.

On the plus side the vehicle is the best tow vehicle I ever had (other than the motor home). It is unbelievably stable, feels very solid even towing 18 m glider trailer.

I suggest find a deal who can do it cheaper. Call around. Find one that is less busy.

[John Carlyle]

I put a hitch on my Mercedes E350. It's nearly invisible, and came complete with the electrical interface that keeps the computer happy. Highly recommended.

Here's the link for the ML hitch: http://execuhitch.com/tow-hitches/mercedes-gl/

-John, Q3

On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 4:03:04 AM UTC-4, ucanem...@gmail.com wrote:

[gku...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 3:03:04 AM UTC-5, ucanem...@gmail.com wrote:
> I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.

- Funny, after visiting my local MB dealer, I installed one by myself last week on the 2013 ML, for the very same reason. Bought the hitch on internet for about $350. Don't know where do you live but typical large city has some sort of mechanical shop specializing in European cars. Go there, installing a hitch really isn't a big deal.

[drguya...@gmail.com]

I am driving my fourth Mercedes ML. Fantastic tow vehicle.
Only one had the hitch installed by the dealer as part of the purchase.
The hitch costs about $350 from the dealer.
There is a wiring harness that used to be part of the tow hitch kit but last time was a separate item.
Hitch just bolts in BUT...and this is a BIG BUTTT...you must cut out part of the rear bumper plastic to allow the hitch to protrude. That is where half the cost of installing the hitch system comes from. If you cut it wrong it is a big bill. The wiring harness is just plug and play but you have to thread it thru existing holes in the body and reseal.

With all the tinkering and the risk of screwing up the rear bumper facia... I would just pay the dealer next time.

[Dave Nadler]

On Friday, April 3, 2015 at 1:08:59 PM UTC-4, drguya...@gmail.com wrote:
> I am driving my fourth Mercedes ML. Fantastic tow vehicle.

Um, if its a fantastic tow vehicle, how come you're on your 4th?
Just wondering ;-)

[drguya...@gmail.com]

At 200,000 miles I sell them.

[Jonathan St. Cloud]

Was wondering if anyone tried Uhaul? They seem to have great prices and install many hitches. Any comments good or bad regarding Uhaul.

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

As they say on the "Internet"..... "Powned"........

Frankly, most new cars have a recommended hitch to install (usually listed in the owners manual). These are usually a "basic bolt up" that may require a bit of "slicing & dicing" for bumper covers. The "possible higher buy price" is almost ALWAYS reduced by the "install labor" price.
I've done quite a few over the years (various brands & models) and using the recommended hitch saves a TON OF TIME!!!!!! They usually use existing "welded nut plates" in the uni-body so they basically just bolt up (regardless of the original language of the "direction writers"......sigh.......) and then the use of commonly used "6 light to 4 light" conversion boxes (box with with wires & diodes)covers the light power.
Yes, there are "PITA's", but these we can handle. Ask around your at local gliderport, I'm willing to bet there is a "MacGuyver:" among them...... ;-)

[marc....@gmail.com]

On Friday, April 3, 2015 at 3:07:04 PM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> Frankly, most new cars have a recommended hitch to install (usually listed in the owners manual). These are usually a "basic bolt up" that may require a bit of "slicing & dicing" for bumper covers. The "possible higher buy price" is almost ALWAYS reduced by the "install labor" price.
> I've done quite a few over the years (various brands & models) and using the recommended hitch saves a TON OF TIME!!!!!! They usually use existing "welded nut plates" in the uni-body so they basically just bolt up (regardless of the original language of the "direction writers"......sigh.......) and then the use of commonly used "6 light to 4 light" conversion boxes (box with with wires & diodes)covers the light power.

I've had U-Haul do a number of hitches over the years, if they'll do it at all, they are "bolt up". In most cases, they were the recommended hitch with a "U-Haul" sticker pasted over the brand name. The one exception was the hitch they put on my Eurovan, I discovered years later that the "bolt-on" hitch they used did not permit the spare tire to be removed without dismantling the spare tire mount or removing the hitch...

Marc

[Dan Marotta]

I got a great and reasonably priced hitch installed on my Subaru Forester years back.  When I bought my new Ford Edge, I took it to the same shop that the dealer used for his installations.  I even got the dealer price.

On 4/3/2015 2:30 PM, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:

Was wondering if anyone tried Uhaul?  They seem to have great prices and install many hitches.  Any comments good or bad regarding Uhaul.

--
Dan Marotta

[Dave Nadler]

On Friday, April 3, 2015 at 2:38:50 PM UTC-4, drguya...@gmail.com wrote:
> At 200,000 miles I sell them.

Wow, and I thought I drove too much!
I'm only on my 2nd Acura MDX (traded 1rst at 207,000)...

[missli...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 1:03:04 AM UTC-7, ucanem...@gmail.com wrote:
> I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.

I got my hitch installed at Uhaul and I just want everyone to beware. I have a brand new 2015 ML350, after they installed the hitch I've had a constant rattle under the vehicle. I had another Uhaul location take a look at it and they state that the heat shield was trimmed and the way that they trimmed it they cannot repair it. I filed a claim with RepWest, their insurance company, and my claim was denied. Now, I've been trying to get a hold of the location that installed the hitch and have not received a call back after a couple attempts.

Avoid the headache. It's just been one issue after another with Uhaul. Hind sight is 20/20, definitely a lesson learned. Now just trying to figure out how to fix my new car. So frustrating and upsetting.

[Andrzej Kobus]

This is precisely why I paid Mercedes dealer to install my hitch. Yes, it was expensive, but I negotiated the install price before purchasing the vehicle. This worked well at the end of the month as they were motivated to sell the vehicle.

[drguya...@gmail.com]

Why in the world did you not just have the factory hitch installed?
You buy a Mercedes with a factory solution and you go to U-Haul!

You know, there is more to a to a tow hitch on a Mercedes than connecting to a trailer. It uses the light system to tell the computers that there is a trailer attached. That modifies the braking system and much more.

[Andrzej Kobus]

Because you can get a better deal when you buy from a dealer's lot as opposed to when you custom order. A dealer can put a factory hitch when you buy from the lot except it costs more than the factory option, about 1,300 more but the lower initial price more than covers that cost.

[JS]

Eventually I hope to have this problem with a GLK250.
Do Mercedes USA dealers have the proper trailer light package for their vehicles? Not the 4-pin system that is illegal in most of the World...
Jim

[nige...@gmail.com]

> You know, there is more to a to a tow hitch on a Mercedes than connecting to a trailer. It uses the light system to tell the computers that there is a trailer attached. That modifies the braking system and much more.

I've never been completely satisfied with the factory tow hitch/lighting on my 2014 ML350. As you say, it interacts with the lighting and braking, but at least in my case in strange ways:
- I regularly get 'check trailer left/right rear light/brake light' warnings, and dutifully check them only to find they're OK
- more seriously, something odd happens with braking on steep downhill gradients causing the vehicle/trailer combination to feel quite unstable. It feels like the ABS is being activated on one side. Time to visit the dealer.

48

[Jonathan St. Cloud]

The reason to buy a hitch not from Mercedes is lots of money. i was quoted almost $4,000 for a trailer hitch from Mercedes!

On Friday, August 21, 2015 at 6:04:08 AM UTC-7, drguya...@gmail.com wrote:

[Andrzej Kobus]

Yes

[gku...@gmail.com]

Not sure which version of the tow hitch did you use, but generally speaking for all of them (including the original MB one), it is required to cut a part of the heat shield out.
Rule of thumb, with your MB product - make sure you know the skills of the mechanic/technician working on your car. That also applies to the typically simplest maintenance. Someone earning a minimum wage at these discount tire shops: nationaltire/uhauls/etc. is not qualified to touch anything more complicated than toyota camry, and even with simplified cars they seem to struggle. For instance, someone pulling a pollen filter out of your car can damage several other parts if you don't have the right tools and you don't particularly care...

[Martin Gregorie]

On Fri, 21 Aug 2015 13:51:41 -0700, gkurek wrote:

> Rule of thumb, with your MB product - make sure you know the skills
> of the mechanic/technician working on your car.
>

Probably non-PC, but...
When I drove a Landrover from UK to Nepal and back in the late 70s before
that route closed forever, we had an excellent guide book, written by an
ex-Indian Army Brigadier, that contained the cryptic rule:

'Never let gorillas near your motor'

and a chapter or so later the information the "Gorillas live in garages
in the middle east". Well, that was about right. Indian mechanics were
amazing and could fix anything with some old spanners and a screwdriver
or two. One even rebuilt my speedometer, which had seized, while I
waited. He did an excellent job. However, on the way home a gorilla
managed to strip the union on a new clutch slave cylinder while fitting
it. I should have listened to the Brigadier and fitted it myself....

I've not found many gorillas in the garages of UK and Europe but I guess
its useful to know that they're alive and well in the USA.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

[ifee...@hotmail.com]

They're quoting $3,500 - $4,000 for a job which, parts and labor at a fair markup and decent profit included, should be about $1,000 - $1,500 tops. Basically the dealer is telling you to drop your pants, bend over and if you want lube, it will cost extra.