New MB Eclass no longer viable for towing.

Posted on 16/11/2020 20:19 by easyonthegas

Update after fitting a detachable Westfalia towbar to a MY20 E class estate. The towbar company can now code the dedicated electrics but I had the dealer do this for me.

Towbar operation is same as previous MB's although on this towbar brand the drop down electrics is on the offside so I needed to shorten my flex length off the van.

Only other comment is that the front and rear tyres are different size so NO spare, NO inflation kit as the tyres are run flat and the manual states they can run for 50 miles. Hopefully I will never need to test this claim.

Have towed over 1000 miles this summer (UK only obviously) and the car tows very well and is as stable as any I have had.

Posted on 17/11/2020 10:37 by EmilysDad

Lots of Mercs have staggered wheels .... even my Smarts do, and as Cyber suggests, as long as the wheel diameter is similar it'll be OK. It doesn't matter about the width for the amount of time the spare would be fitted. But have you room for a spare? Some Mercs have an AdBlue tank in the spare wheel well.

Posted on 17/11/2020 11:03

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Posted on 17/11/2020 10:37 by EmilysDad

Lots of Mercs have staggered wheels .... even my Smarts do, and as Cyber suggests, as long as the wheel diameter is similar it'll be OK. It doesn't matter about the width for the amount of time the spare would be fitted. But have you room for a spare? Some Mercs have an AdBlue tank in the spare wheel well.

Posted on 17/11/2020 11:48 by Rufs

I know punctures are a rare occurance these days, but not good if you have to wait for the breakdown services to provide a flat bed capable of taking your car to the nearest garage to repair a puncture and towing your caravan if attached, I would also think that if you ran for 50 miles on a run flat tyre whilst towing caravan the tyre is likely to be of little use, which would mean buying a new tyre, expensive puncture. I guess you could unhitch and leave the caravan behind until you get the tyre repaired. Me thinks i will not be buying a Merc

Posted on 17/11/2020 13:54 by KeithL

You cannot repair run flats anyway.

Remember someone at a tyre depot I was visiting going over a nail in the road just outside the centre after having new run flats fitted on the front. He drove straight back in and was told he had to fit another new tyre because they are not permitted to fix them. Very expensive 20 yards that was for him. 

Posted on 17/11/2020 13:54 by KeithL

You cannot repair run flats anyway.

Remember someone at a tyre depot I was visiting going over a nail in the road just outside the centre after having new run flats fitted on the front. He drove straight back in and was told he had to fit another new tyre because they are not permitted to fix them. Very expensive 20 yards that was for him. 

Posted on 17/11/2020 11:48 by Rufs

I know punctures are a rare occurance these days, but not good if you have to wait for the breakdown services to provide a flat bed capable of taking your car to the nearest garage to repair a puncture and towing your caravan if attached, I would also think that if you ran for 50 miles on a run flat tyre whilst towing caravan the tyre is likely to be of little use, which would mean buying a new tyre, expensive puncture. I guess you could unhitch and leave the caravan behind until you get the tyre repaired. Me thinks i will not be buying a Merc

Posted on 17/11/2020 14:26 by EmilysDad

a lack of spare isn't just a Merc problem though 😉

Posted on 17/11/2020 14:26 by EmilysDad

a lack of spare isn't just a Merc problem though 😉