c4004matic

Can the E400 be equipped to tow, and if so,how much?

konigstiger

To start EPC OEM diagram & parts, sure others will contribute aftermarket info.

c4004matic

Thanks for the info. Any idea of the towing capacity? Its not on the website.

Im considering an E400 wagon vs a GLS450. I like the interior and electronics of the E much better than the GL, on the other hand, the GLS is a much better 7 person carrier.

konigstiger

“As with the old E-Class Wagon, the new model features rear air suspension as standard. It provides automatic self-leveling, allowing a payload of up to 1,653 lbs. (750 kg) and a towing capacity of up to 4,630 lbs. (2,100 kg) depending on the model.” http://wardsauto.com/technology/wago...e-class-lineup

c4004matic

Thanks. I guess that clinches the GLS since I was looking for more towing capacity. Ill just wait till they redesign the electronics in a year or two. Our MDX is still going strong.

Diesel Benz

I'm confused, is 2100 kg really not enough for you? I thought US cars are hardly used to tow much more than a motorcycle or such?

c4004matic

I have a 3200 kg boat-trailer combo that I havent been able to tow since I sold my F 150.

Fedcomprop

​​​​​​These cars will handle quite a bit. They do quite well off of the highway as well. They handle far better than a truck, for less $ in many cases. Don't really understand the SUV deal, with 99% only getting off road when they miss the driveway. A lot of imagery, marketing, and possibly compensating for something I guess...

andy_W

I'd say it can be used as an utility vehicle!

Bfgslkman

Please be aware that the down weight (tongue) limit is 84KG - not sure how that motorbike on the back works with that. Also when you order from the factory then a more powerful cooling fan is fitted (600w as opposed to 400w i think). Otherwise the towing weight is limited.

Hope this helps

Fedcomprop

I simply posted the picture of my vehicle as an idea piece for owners who could be surprised by how useful these cars are without stretching mechanical capabilities, or who might know others who think they must suffer a ridiculous SUV for recreational uses.

Load shown behind my car with moto-bike and trailer is only 2200 lbs plus a 240 lb off-road desert race bike with a total of about 350 lbs being carried at the hitch point of the extended trailer tongue.

Further regarding load capacities, including tongue weight: please see the link in the thread above for the UK based W213 'Practical Caravan' towing test and review and notes below. Look up the overall trailer weight and tongue weight of the 'caravan' trailer being pulled behind the W213 Estate through a slalom course under extreme braking and acceleration conditions.

My w213 car is equipped with OEM factory automatically adjusting rear suspension, a 5000 lb aftermarket hitch that would handle almost 1000 lbs of tongue weight (if I were uninformed enough to load it that way), and a driver with a couple of degrees of experience and common sense. This includes enough presence, for example, to only tow or haul with the transmission in 'sport' mode so as not to 'lug' the drive-train, cruise control turned off on any up or downhill road section, etc.

The car is an absolute tractor in stock form as one will find when reading w213 reviews, specs and capacities listed for it in the UK and EU. The specs for US customers may have been written by lawyers with the US consumer and court system in mind who both seem to not not take into account a possible lack of customer common sense when agreeing to hear consumer cases against car and equipment companies, foreign and domestic. Mechanical common sense and situational awareness is always required when towing with any vehicle.

In addition to a previously pictured 3800 lb Airstream 'Nest' under tow off highway in the high-desert of California, the other previously pictured practical use for the car and hitch is also shown.

Fedcomprop

See link below:

murman

Does a hitch system address proximity sensors in the back of the vehicle, i.e. shut them off? I've seen SUVs that have a shut-off for just that function.

Fedcomprop

Proximity sensors have not been an issue. Possibly they adjust for the constant behind the car, don't know.

mercedes.fan

I have towed some kind of heavy trailers with my e200 (filled with furniture when moving etc), it has been sketchy at some points but it worked fine according to me. Proximity sensors is not an issue, the car senses when you connect a trailer and will adjust parking sensors and also turn off blind spot warning. This is for an eu car though, like in Sweden the electronic trailer hitch is basically standard equipment with most e classes here equipped with it. It works great for me, but I dont tow heavy stuff like boats and car trailers like you americans.

mercedes.fan

Yes it does, I have the factory tow hitch on my E class and the rear sensors turns off automatically when you connect a trailer. It also disables the blind spot monitoring when towing.

Bfgslkman

I think you have misunderstood my reply. The vertical load of a factory fitted towbar is 84kg. So when i put my Thule bicycle carrier on the back (24 kg empty) with 2 x e-mtb bikes (ea approx 24kg) the total load is 72kg, which as there are no wheels to take the weigh means all of this load is vertical (known as drawbar or noseweight). When i tow my caravan (2000kg max weight) this is OK as the car will tow 2100kg, but even though i can load the caravan to 100kg downweight at the hitch, i can only load it to 84kg because that is the max limit for the towbar (factory fitted with upgraded cooling fan). My car has air suspension, but the limits are the same for steel or air sprung cars.

Personally i trust nothing practical caravan says, but they will normally say only tow 85% of the kerb weight and adhere to the vertical (noseweight) limit.

Hope this clarifies.

Clearly your caravan is very small and lightweight in relation to the car so no issues (possible with the noseweight with the motorbike in there for both car and caravan hitch), but a motorbike on a bike carrier - clearly way over. The highest i have ever seen for vertical loads is 150kg and that is normally reserved for full size SUV's (x5, ML, Range Rover etc).

Bfgslkman

It will also disable the rear fog lights on the car when the electrical connection is made so that they do not reflect off the front of the trailer/caravan and cause glare to the driver.