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OK, maybe someone has been down this road and can shed some light on this. Please correct me if any info I state is incorrect; it seem astonishingly difficult to get CORRECT and ACCURATE information on what should be a seemingly easy dealer fit accessory! Some preface: I am wanting to put a trailer hitch on. Simple enough. I am avoiding(for now) the aftermarket stuff especially when it comes to the wiring. I've had nightmares in the past with "universal" trailer wiring/adapters and am hoping to avoid such issues if I can, even if it costs a bit more. This pertains to a 2016 Metris passenger van WITHOUT the factory installed tow package.
So.... here we go!
Sooo... what the heck is really needed to do a field installed OE tow kit??? As much as MB hypes the towing capacity, you'd think they would provide a simplified one-number part package with all the goodies and instructions. Dealers could make some coin installing these in the field. Owners could retrofit.
Now, before I flush out aftermarket alternatives, and I know there are some, I really want to get a handle on the OE arrangement and need some hard data like part numbers, etc. Anybody on the board a tech guy at a dealership?? Anybody got an "in" with MB Vans? This is one of those things that just shouldn't be this hard for a commercial vehicle!
So.... here we go!
- Metris' ordered for the US have trailer prewiring installed at the factory (even if they don't have the factory tow package hitch when they leave the factory). I believe this is true, but have difficulty confirming this! I believe it was stated in a MB press release from 2015 and dealer confirms this from MB training.
- The dealer fitted hitch kit is more than just the tow hitch. That's the easy part and probably no better or worse than the tow hitches available aftermarket. I'm referring to the big chunk of hardware that bolts under the van. BUT IT TAKES A BIT MORE THAN THE BOLT-IN HITCH TO TOW. The hitch CAN be found and that is the easy part; but it is just the hitch alone...
- Trailer wiring. Here's where it all gets weird. IF these things come "prewired" than logically there should be some kind of "pigtail" harness to plug into the rear wiring (somewhere) and terminate in (likely) a 4 pin flat plug. Makes sense, no? Parts guys can't seem to find this component! A call to MB Vans left them scratching their heads! This part exists for the G-class and Sprinters, and in Europe for some of their sedans and wagons.
- I've seen reference to some kind of "module" that plugs into the rear of the vehicle's harness that does "something" to possibly the Blind Spot Assist system so it doesn't go nuts. I've also found reference that it - or a "program" that is installed - also "activates" or somehow compensates for potential vehicle/trailer sway by doing something with the stability control. Parts guys can't find this module either. MB Vans stumped. References to a dealer fitted OE tow package on the Vito in Europe is the source of this, but I can't find a part number or succinct description. Seems to exist in the field fitable OE towing package for the G-Class & GLK & M Class. This module is shown in a crappy YouTube video that conveniently provides useless part numbers - but it was specific to a Metris - so there is a confirmed sighting of a mystery towing module.
- I've found references that to do what I am stating above could take "20 hours of shop time" (several internet references) to which I call B.S. Mercedes can't be any more stupid about towing hardware than any other OE manufacturer and NOWHERE is that asterisk after the towing ability that says in the fine print "when properly equipped" indicating that all towing stuff has to be installed on the vehicle at the time of manufacture.
- A reasonable OE field fit-able tow package consisting of the above components (hitch, module, wiring, and some kind of programming) is available for the Sprinter, G-Class & GLK & M Class. Seen it. Dealer's put in a bunch. Not that hard. Internet is full of stuff like "dealer quoted $2,500 to put it in my Metris" but no list of parts or substantive evidence that it truly is that difficult. I suspect the dealer couldn't find a succinct part number/numbers or technical guidance and "high balled" the guestimate.
Now, before I flush out aftermarket alternatives, and I know there are some, I really want to get a handle on the OE arrangement and need some hard data like part numbers, etc. Anybody on the board a tech guy at a dealership?? Anybody got an "in" with MB Vans? This is one of those things that just shouldn't be this hard for a commercial vehicle!