I have the factory fitted retractable towbar (SA code 550) on my car and a couple of weeks ago it decided not to retract (luckily it is locked out else our caravan would still be on the campsite!). When you hold the switch you hear the initial whirl of the motor but it stop s after about 5 secs and nothing happens. Interestingly there is no warning message or lit up warning light in the dashboard.

I have checked all of the towbar fuses (all good) and clearly it is getting power to the motor. The car goes to MB for its service next week, but of course is now out of guarantee... I suspect that a mechanical gear or something has broken in the motor drive in the towbar but does anyone know if this is a common fault or am i just really unlucky? I have written to ORIS (who make the towbar) but due to contractual reasons with MB they cannot repair or advise.

Grateful if any dealers/service gurus on the the forum can help so i know how much i need to argue my case if the dealer comes back and says i need a new bar.

Thanks

Remove cap to check connections if fine best to wait for dealer as advised.

Thanks for that excellent upload. I can wait until it goes to the dealer on Monday (its been 3 weeks now), but it is frustrating that as a mechanically minded and competent person that I cannot find out any info about the towbar (until now) to self check the obvious things. My fear is that the dealer (who i do trust as they have given me fantastic service for he lat 10+ years) will look and say new bar because something is broken with the motor drive and they can only supply a whole unit (there is a BMW E60/61 Forum with similar issues caused by a broken plastic gear drive , but one of their members has 3d printer a new one!).

PS - is there a microswitch somewhere in the electrical socket to let the car know a trailer connected (VW group and BMW seem to do this for this type of towbar) or does it rely on the CANBUS sensing power consumption via a light connection or earth via Pins 3, 11 or 13?

I'll let you know how i (and my wallet) get on.

I had exactly the same problem. It self corrected and the only thing I could think I had done differently after numerous attempts to make it retract was the fact I tried it with the engine running. I think it makes a different noise as it locks into place on retraction so I have sprayed wd40 all over it. As the car is near the end of its lease I will raise the issue on its service but shalll not waste too much energy on it. Might see if it is working the day it goes in.

I shall try it now with the engine running as that is the only thing i haven't tried!!

Fingers crossed. If that works then i think it might be worth taking it apart over the winter and having a look.

UPDATE - I did try before it went to the dealers to retract the bar with the engine running but it didn't work

So from the dealer - it is mechanically broken and no single repair parts are available via Mercedes parts system (a la what i have read on VW and BMW forums). As it is locked out it is safe to use (re-assuring as we towed back 300 miles on our summer holiday after it failed to go in), and they have now asked Mercedes Head Office in Germany what can be done under any form of guarantee (as the car is now 10 months out of its UK 2 year from new guarantee). They are being as helpful as they can (so fingers crossed).

If all else fails then i shall either buy a new hidden detachable (not really what i want to do) or more likely a second hand electric one (they are between €300 and 600 on ebay) and fit that and then take the current one apart (that'll make an interesting Youtube video).

Sorry to hear your news. as i say mine was making a different noise think i may leave it retracted and just tell the dealer i had had an issue do not want to get stuck with it extended. Its lease is up mid Sept but the service plan will cover the last service. However my new vehicle has been held up with all the chip shortage have no idea when it will arrive nor how mercedes plan to keep me mobile🙄

Sounds like deja vu when we were both ordering our current cars 3 years ago...

I too have this problem on my 2017 220d estate with factory fitted retractable tow bar. Although 4yrs old it has hardly been used for past 21 months due to UK Covid-19 restrictions/self-isolating. Servicing agent says "motor has failed" due to "lack of use" during pandemic lockdown and, as no MB warranty in place, a complete new tow bar suggested at estimated cost £1800! My appeal to MB UK for Goodwill contribution was refused on clearly wrong information that it was "not used for 2yrs" despite agent downloading "activations", so I have challenged decision.
Seems that Mercedes-Benz buy from ORIS/BOSAL but they don't even last 3yrs despite, in my case, being used regularly but only every 3-4months. A fellow caravanner with a 3month older E-Class estate has exactly same problem so they surely aren't 'fit for purpose'.
Since original posting, a red tow ball symbol is now permanently showing on my dash and switch red LED in driver's door is constantly flashing as a result of servicing agent trying to manually activate tow bar. So car came out worse than when it went in!
Update Dec '21: Replacement now fitted under Warranty Direct cover but I have kept old tow bar for examination. It does not appear to be the motor which responds to 12v supply so have requested help/guidance from Bosal who have taken over Oris or at least a wiring diagram as I suspect that it may just be a faulty relay/module or even a shorted connection as motor housing had a considerable amount of moisture inside, probably from condensation. Pictures available if anyone interested.

S 213 E220d estate 2017 with factory fit Retractable Tow Ball fitted Collected caravan out of storage Tow ball deployed and returned no problem Took caravan off car onto drive at home Tow ball retracted no problem. Just come out side to connect caravan to car Tow ball will not deploy Tried assisting with hand nothing Red light on switch in taIl gate lighting red When operating switch noise inside tow bar trying to deploy but not deploying , have tried pulling tow ball down when operating switch but to no avail Any suggestions please. Tow ball diagram appears on dash when switch activated but goes off when releasing switch .

@delboy0127 I feel for you. I took mine apart and I think there was some problem in the rachet mechanism as everything else moved OK. When mine failed I did alot of online research and found issues with this bar (it is fitted on many cars) and there were some recalls, but none seen for the 213. At least I know I wasn't the only one. I also don't buy what @Endeeo was told about lack of use. My first bar was deployed many, many times and often without a load or only with bycycles.

When the weather warms up I can do a YouTube video on the broken bar (I still have it) to see if it helps you? That said there are no user fixable parts so you have two choices - either a new bar (was €1300 tax free fitted in Sep 21) or buy a used one from ebay and fit it yourself (its only bumper off and four bolts (need new ones but their only a few €/£'s with plug and play wiring). Might be worth posting on mbclub.co.uk (I am also an active member on that site with the same Name if that helps to track down the site) as this forum is more US based to see if others are now having issues?

Hi Delboy & Bfgslkman,
Just to clarify, it was Lookers MB service who stated the cause as "lack of use". I disagreed vehemently as after chevcking back with home calender it also had been used near bi-monthly. They claimed to have "download usage data" but would not share it. Even took my complaint to MB UK but just dismissed.
I too have kept towbar on which motor is fine but sensor or relay prevents operation and further exploration would cost. Warranty Direct insurance paid for replacement which will also prob jam in time but then I'll just put back on the jammed-out one.
Delboy, I did find, AFTER new bar fitted that door switch & boot switch did not operate identically. I don't know why, but if you haven't already, you could just try the other switch to see if it works. Sorry if this seems a ridiculous suggestion bu anything to help.

Definitely sounds like the usual dealer garbage! Interesting if you could expand on the different switch operation. On mine the one on the tailgate works all the time the tailgate is open i.e. rest of the car locked through to engine running. The one in the door will only work if the engine start button is pressed at least once (so ignition on) and is engine is running the car must be in park. Is yours different?

I never noticed any difference before retraction problems but maybe always used door switch, so probably just as you say, engine needs to be running for door switch to work. Now I regularly use tailgate switch just to check operation which should NOT really be necessary on a car at this price!

In North America, MBUSA doesn't offer a tow hitch of any kind for E-Class vehicles.. To the rescue is the firm Stealth Hitch. Here's a link to their non-motorized E-Class offerings.. I'll be a buyer fitting the killer Stealth Hitch to our 2023 E-450 wagon (S213) .. I'd personally viewed this brand of hitch installed on a 2020 E-450 wagon (S213) which had two styles of attachments; 2inch receiver (USA style) and a hook lever with a 2inch ball end.

UK Gents,,, have a look at the $900. (USD) quality Stealth Hitch ..www.stealthhitches.com

Removed Mercedes factory fit towbar refit with detachable swan neck problem solved £545 pounds

Hi - I have exactly the same issue with my electric tow bar on my GLE - fortunately stuck out. Dealer has just quoted me £2.3k to supply and fit new mechanism! Declined their kind offer and tow bar will remain stuck out,

martin

Remove Mercedes factory fit tow bar. Have detachable fitted problem solved it cannot happen again and much cheaper £545 pound in my case

Yes I would have done that if it wasn't under warranty, but fortunately it was (by about 4 weeks!)

I have the same problem on the same car, 2017 plate. MB have just quoted me the same price £2307.60. Like you I will leave it out now I've painted it!