Glyn M Ruck

We use exactly the same "fork tow truck" here in SA. Out in force on Friday nights near popular restaurants, nightclubs etc.

04mbc230

So I am wondering.. I notice my 06 does not have the tow away button as they have on other models.

Was this an option to get? I do have the alarm system in my car but just not this button. I know what this button does, but just wondering how much of $$$ to have this install when it was bought. I mean how much can the original would have saved without this feature?

LILBENZ230

It was one of several different things Mercedes started eliminating after 2005 to cut costs. As far as having it retrofitted now, I have no idea. Couldn't be that difficult but also is it worth it? It doesn't do anything but sound the alarm when the car is tilted. The only thing mine has ever accomplished is scaring the holy hell out of the tire guys.

04mbc230

I found something odd. 2007 models for sure had this eliminating.

As for 2006, I see a lot of east coast in the US has this button. There are a hit and miss in the West coast. It's seem like the majority of the C230 06 in the US does have it. So I am wondering why some cars don't have it? Was this an option where the buyer at the dealership negotiate to get a cheaper price and decided to delete this item out to same a few bucks for the purchase?

Glyn M Ruck

There appear to have been a lot of deletions on newer US cars - I'm sure it was done to keep sticker prices down. Your cars are so cheap over there.

LILBENZ230

Some 06s have it, others don't. It was being removed and was totally gone for 2007. What is your build date?

You also don't have rear side torso airbags or electronic oil level monitoring, both of which the 2005s have, among other things. But you do have speed sensitive steering where we do not.

You're caught up comparing the 04 you had with the 06. The anti tow alarm is entirely pointless. For one, the alarm on my car isn't loud. Second, if someone's gonna tow it away they're just gonna tow it away with the alarm sounding. As I said before the only thing my tow alarm has ever accomplished is scaring the guys that change the tires.

04mbc230

Yea.. I agree. I am tripping. But you mention a lot of things I didn't know that was also deleted.

Oh well..

Glyn M Ruck

It's the anti tow away transmission lock that is so important in a country like SA. Not the alarm.

LILBENZ230

So the anti-tow on the USDM cars has a transmission lock?

Glyn M Ruck

Matt. I had this discussion with Moviela a long while back. To my knowledge USA cars also have the lock pin in the transmission that locks it up tight so you would have to pick up the car to steal it. MBSA used to say that the SA system that locks the selector lever interlock as well was unique. I have never been able to establish absolute differences between our & your cars in this regard.

I certainly know that cars in Asia & Australia have the transmission lock that you can't defeat without an EIS key & the dash switch.

LILBENZ230

Well that certainly changes my view of the feature. I had thought all this time it was simply the alarm that sounded.