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Topic: Towing worries

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tabatha

10/2/2018 at 6:33pm
Location: North Lincolnshire
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Does anyone tow with a Merc E Class 220 Blue TEC SE. I just bought one to tow with but on looking at the VIN plate the gross train weight, also known as the gross combination weight is missing.

Many Thanks

Rob and Tina

10/2/2018 at 6:58pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
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Have a look at the answers in your other thread.

Check your V5 for the towing weights.

Rob

Flandersfields

10/2/2018 at 8:00pm
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VIN plate missing on a Merc?.

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Rob and Tina

10/2/2018 at 8:02pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
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The plate is there but there is no gross train weight stated.

Rob

LlaniDavis

10/2/2018 at 8:32pm
Location: Llanidloes Powys
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Quote: Originally posted by Rob and Tina on 10/2/2018
The plate is there but there is no gross train weight stated.

Rob

That suggests that the car is NOT Type Approved to tow, so if you did so you would be breaking the law and invalidating your insurance.
Your best bet is to obtain clarification directly from Mercedes UK, and probably not from a dealer.

tabatha

10/2/2018 at 8:43pm
Location: North Lincolnshire
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Thanks for the response.

I fear you maybe right. I'm just gutted about the whole thing. We trusted the guys at the dealership to know their onions and it seems they do not.

We px our lovely E class coupe as we couldn't tow with it and forked out more money only to be sold a car that's possibly not fit for purpose. I really wished we hadn't bothered.

Thanks again for the advice.

Rob and Tina

10/2/2018 at 8:57pm
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
Outfit: Swift Major 4SB

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If you particularly told the dealer that you wanted the car for towing but the car isn't type approved then I think you would have a good case for demanding a refund as the car is not fit for purpose. Might be worth getting some legal advice on this, your car or household insurances might give you legal cover for advice.

See if you can get a look at the V5 first and check out the details with MB to try and get to the bottom of this.

Hope it all works out for you.

Rob

James Watt

10/2/2018 at 9:54pm
Location: Costa Del West Sussex
Outfit: Tesco 4 Man Dome. Outwell Virginia 5

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I concur with Rob and Tina.

I recently took over a car used for towing a caravan.

On the V5 I got from the DVLA I checked the Details.

O Technical permissable maximum
towable mass of the trailer.

O.1 braked (kg) 1800

O.2 unbraked (kg) 750

Hopefully your V5 has some good news for you?

You may well find it states:-
Braked 2100 kg
Unbraked 750 kg

Kind regards James

Post last edited on 10/02/2018 22:00:55

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tabatha

10/2/2018 at 11:49pm
Location: North Lincolnshire
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Hi James thanks very much for your reply. We have emailed MB regarding the V5, as we only purchased the car Friday i'm hoping it's still in the office and not been posted yet.

Our main concern though is that the gross train weight, also known as the gross combination weight is not stated on the VIN. Only the gross vehicle weight along with both axle weights are there.

We will see what Monday brings when the MB dealer said he would get back to us.

Why can't things just be simple!

tabatha

10/2/2018 at 11:51pm
Location: North Lincolnshire
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Thanks Rob, I hope it doesn't come to that.

We're beginning to wish we had gone with another make now.

Many Thanks

James Watt

11/2/2018 at 8:16am
Location: Costa Del West Sussex
Outfit: Tesco 4 Man Dome. Outwell Virginia 5

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tabatha, I did a quick search for your car model, but exactly which model you, I'm not sure.

But,I have some examples :-

Gross Vehicle Weight
Mercedes-Benz E CLASS

The Mercedes-Benz E CLASS Mercedes-Benz gross vehicle weight (GVW) data is shown below.

What is GVW of Mercedes-Benz E CLASS Mercedes-Benz? Used in the context of driving licences, this is the max weight the Mercedes-Benz E CLASS including the max load that can be carried safely while used on the road. This is also known as permissible maximum weight or maximum authorised mass (MAM).

E CLASS SALOON E220 BlueTEC AMG Line 4dr 7G-Tronic 2,270 kg

E CLASS SALOON E220 BlueTEC SE Premium 4dr 7G-Tronic 2,270 kg

Mine is stated as 2035 kg

Hope this helps?

Kind Regards james

Post last edited on 11/02/2018 08:41:27

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Opensauce

11/2/2018 at 9:46am
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If you buy a brand new Merc then surely you want a main dealer fitted towbar then you know everything is warrantied? Take the car back for a dealer fitted towbar. If one cannot be fitted then require the car to be exchanged for a model that can be fitted with a towbar as you advised salesman that you wanted to tow.

Unless car is secondhand bought from non franchised used car dealer? Then all you can really do is take it back & hope they will exchange it for a more suitable towcar of equal value. An Suv perhaps?

woodman2

11/2/2018 at 12:41pm
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Tabatha,

I think you are getting all worked up over this.

I have an E Class estate.

It is certainly type approved for towing, and makes an excellent tow car within the limits of the 84kg tow bar previously stated.

If you have air suspension all the better as it levels the car.

I am thinking of changing mine (2011), and would have another E Class tomorrow.

tabatha

11/2/2018 at 1:13pm
Location: North Lincolnshire
Outfit: Swift Charisma 550

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Your right woodman2, I've got myself in a right tizz over this.

The problem is the that the information we have received is so conflicting.

When we started our search we nearly bought an e220 AMG, we were practically signing the paper work, then another MB sales guy told us you couldn't tow with an AMG because of the lowered suspension!!

Now after being told yes, you can tow with the SE model, we now fear we cannot.

My husband has referred to the owners manual and it states in the "notes on towing a trailer" you cannot tow with a E220 Blue Tec SE.

The information from MB Is yes, you can tow but without the GCW/GTW a tow bar fitter will not fit a tow bar, if we do it will invalidate our insurance. Is this correct, do you absolutely need the GTW/GCW on the VIN?

Can I ask what "type approved" is, my knowledge on this is very limited. Thanks for your very helpful reply.

Opensauce

11/2/2018 at 1:43pm
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If the owner’s manual states you cannot tow with your specific model then presumably you cannot. For the definitive answer go to Merc main dealer. They will know whether they can fit towbar to your specific model.

All towbars fitted to current cars are type approved. Thats nothing to worry about. Plenty of Merc models cannot be fitted with towbars. It depends on model type. Suspension etc. With sportier models most customers will not require towing so no need for towbar fitting. When buying a Merc you need to do careful homework to ensure you get exactly correct model for your requirements. Car salesmen are well known for having zero product knowledge.

If you have been mislead at a Merc main dealer then you have a case for swapping to suitable model for towing at no extra cost.

Post last edited on 11/02/2018 13:50:16

woodman2

11/2/2018 at 2:03pm
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Just for the record, I tow with an E350 AMG Estate with a non Mercedes Tow Bar fitted.

As you have found the statement in the manual you need Mercedes to confirm the suitability of your exact model or replace it with one which is suitable.

Have you seen this.
https://www.thetowcarawards.com/tow-car-chooser/?sort=&filter_make=Mercedes-Benz&filter_model=E220+CDI+Estate&filter_year=-1&filter_price=-1&filter_verdict=&filter_kerbweight=-1&filter_miro=&filter_towing=-1

Let us know what happens.

Post last edited on 11/02/2018 14:07:28

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