rm7boy

Hey guys,

I am looking for a hitch for my E550 sedan to attach a bicycle rack but I have been given the run around so far. I have called a few places for quotes on hitch, installation and bicycle racks. Some places are saying that there is no hitch available for this car, other places are saying there is an available hitch, but it is for the E350 and they are not sure of fitment until they try. I then called Curt hitches because online it says they make one for the sedan but the hitch shop said they don't. The answer I got from the engineers at Curt is they do not make one for the sedan... ? Does anyone know if there are hitches out there that will fit on this car or have had one installed successfully?

Thanks for any help.

Edit* it is for a 4 matic as well, not sure if that makes a difference though.

Abrown3mtg

I saw a write up on this once. They ended up extending the aftermarket hitch. Definitely will require some fabrication work and welding. Why not do a roof rack? Those are simple bolt ons.

toyman

I have an E350 4matic, and I ordered and installed the Curt 11001 Class 1 hitch this summer. Drilling 2 holes was a PIA, but the hitch works well with my bike rack. They 'recommend' a strap that goes from the hitch to the top of your trunk, but I don't want to mar the paint and I've had no issues. If you search Curt 11001 Class 1 on Amazon, it's $125.

rm7boy

I think that was the hitch I was quoted by one shop but they weren't 100% sure. When I called Curt they said they did not have a hitch that would fit our sedans. Is your E350 a sedan or a coupe? Also what do you mean by a strap? Is the hitch stable enough to support a tray bike rack with 2 downhill bikes in it? I am ecstatic if the hitch fits, and is capable of carrying my bikes.

rm7boy

I am stuck with rear of car carry only because I live in a Condo that has underground parking that is too for my car fit with bikes on top. In order for me to load/unload my car each time I would have to make sure there is a open parking space in front of my building, pull my car out, pay for parking, go back upstairs to get the bike, and then load the bike repeat if I need 2 bikes. It is also a really busy street with packed with stores and people all the time, so finding a parking spot out front is nearly impossible during the day.

toyman

Mine is a '12 sedan. On Curt's website it only lists the coupe and cabrio for the 550,and the sedan and wagon for the 350? Odd. Anyway you'll have to figure that out. I'd download the instructions and compare the pics to your car.

The Tongue weight is 200#. If you download the instructions there's wording in the upper right giving the part number and info on the strap. Basically a stabilizer that goes from the rack to the trunk.

I've carried 3 bikes on mine. Works well.

rm7boy

So after pretty exhaustive research there is no hitch available for the E550 Sedan unless I get one custom fabricated. I am pretty frustrated about that, as now I really don't have anyway of carrying my bikes.

toyman

Really??? What ended up being the difference between the 350 & 550 that the 350 hitch won't work??? I honestly thought that Curt had it wrong on their website and the hitch was different between the coupe/cabrio and sedan/wagon. I can see that, but very unusual that they have a hitch for the E350 Sedan and Wagon, but not the coupe or cabrio and a hitch for the E550 coupe and cabrio, but not the sedan and wagon. Very odd.

Arrie

Man,
Go with the roof rack like they do in Europe. Why ruin the car looks with the hitch at the back?