New MB Eclass no longer viable for towing.

no rusting of the steel rim at all? ... 🙄

surface pitting maybe, something like you get on brake discs if car has been standing in wet for a while, it is 7 years old,  I did raise this issue with my local Kia garage when i first bought the car, it was not new, but garage had sold it from new. They told me that when car is serviced they spray with something similar to that white stuff they put on the hinges etc. I asked if i should wrap in some sort of protective cover, they said no, let it breath. There was some talk of them rusting on a post on here some months ago so i did have a check then, caravan mechanic sprays caravan spare tyre/cradle and mover with a silicone substance says it stops them going rusty, seems to work.

Our Sportage KX4 has full size matching alloy spare in boot well , which on all the later models have either "skinny or repair kit" so we are sticking to our now seven year old (35000 on clock) it should last us out

Back to E classes and towing. the 2016 E class 220Se has no gross train weight figure shown on the VIN , consequently on the gov.uk site, they state

If your VIN plate doesn’t list a train weight, you should not use your vehicle for towing.

How many E class owners are aware of this.

I cannot speak pre 16 or post 16, but a friend of mine has this specific 16 model.

I've been looking at the e300de Estate hybrid as a towcar and thought I had finally been given an answer as to retrofitting a towbar.

I've also been in contact with MB Technical Services regarding retrofiiting a towbar and 13 pin electrics onto a new 2021 E200 diesel estate. Two dealer had asked their own in-house experts and both had stated that this model could be retrofitted. The plate on the car shows 2100kg as Max Braked Towing capacity.

I now have a response from MB Technical. Quote: "We need your chassis number in order to provide any information". 

I had already explained that the car was to be a new 2021 factory build and hence I didn't have a chassis number. The response. "I need your chassis number"

I've spent many hours trying to obtain the definitive answer and without success. MB Technical have been as useful as a chocolate teapot. Essentially, they can't be bothered. Two can play that game. The replacement for my Volvo XC90 will be another Volvo XC90. Business must be good at MB.

I may have the definitive answer now direct from CSUK at MB. Italics are my input.

In general a retrofit to the 2020/21 E Class E220D Estate is possible however it depends on the optional equipment specified with the car.

If the car is fitted with a third row of seats or rear axle carrier bars then it cannot be fitted. The retrofit should not impact the vehicle warranty. If fitted by a third party the vehicle will need to be coded either by the fitting company or a MB dealer. The maximum nose weight will be 85kg.

The technical spec for the E220D Sport Estate shows 2100kg braked. Also, it cannot be specified with a third row of seats. So, it would appear that we have the answer. 

That ties in with the information that I had and which I relayed in my post of 26th Jan.

Reference my post of the 9th. Can anyone tell me what rear axle carrier bars are, and/or what they actually do? 

It is quite shocking the lack of technical information that MB will give to owners of their own cars, especially when asked about things they know little about - towing capacities. However Volvo were the same when they tried (and failed) to fit two tow bars to their own cars - one without a stop signal connection in the wiring - glad I never needed to explain that to Mr Plod.

Moan over - the car data plate will show your towing capacity and E class estates can tow up to 2100kg and if only the AMG line type vehicle not AMG, they can be fitted with a range of towbars.

The E class is a good towbar - very stable, has self levelling rear suspension, and is quite economical - had mine for over a year

 ... and is quite economical - had mine for over a year

which one? petrol or diseasal? 4 pot or 6 pot?