vandygrabass

Hi gang -

I just purchased a 2011 CPO glk350, and it came with the OEM trailer hitch. I do not want this hitch because we'll never use it...I asked the dealership if they could remove it and they said it's a complicated process that involves replacing the hitch with some new parts and altogether would be $1500 to remove it.

Does this sound accurate? Does anyone have any other information about removing the OEM hitch??

And by the way, if anyone is willing to remove the hitch/have it removed, it would be free to keep. We will never have a use for it.

If it is truly going to be $1500 to remove, I may just look into having the rear square part that sticks out cut off by a welder...

thanks for any info!!

Victor

Marek_Norway

Hei Isn't it removable? On european models you can simply (with small key) remove visible part of hitch and push electrical socket into the bumper...

fabbrisd1

Frankly - if I lived in metro DC - I would keep the hitch as a blessing !

It's a frame mounted hitch - which means in the event of a rear-end collision - the energy of that rear hitch gets translated to the frame directly - reducing the collision energy transmitted to the cabin/passengers.

NYCGLK

Yea that hitch mounting is pretty intense. Just put a nice cover and keep it. Not like you have to look at it when you are driving.

n8nu

Even if you never use it to haul anything, is great to have to tie the door down in the even you have something really long in the back of the GLK.

107123210

I would keep it. With the black plug inserted it is hardly noticeable. When you come to sell car down the road, it will be an added value. It is quite expensive to ADD a hitch. We never tow anything, but do use our hitch for a bike rack. I ordered it with our 2014 GLK for that purpose.

BTW, re the comments - I believe the European cars use a different design of hitch. There is no folding away with the NA model.

MBKLUE

Yes, that is correct and it has a higher tow rating. A friend of mine who's knowledgeable in that area says the Euro design is better than the NA.

+1 on keeping the hitch. And when you read about the hell some people go through here to install an aftermarket one... almost seems criminal to remove a "proper one" that is already there and was paid for!

mjhawkins2346

This will expand your potential market and asking price when you go to sell it. It's a big deal, expensive and hard to add to a car missing it.
Just because you're not using a feature today......