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Towing a boat with E450 sedan?

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Old Sep 20, 2025 | 09:03 PM
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From: Sarasota area, FL
Current: 2020 E450 with self-driving capability
Towing a boat with E450 sedan?

Hey everyone.

I have a 2020 E450 sedan with only about 40k miles and I'm thinking I might like a little boat. It would be just a little fishing boat, fiberglass hull 14-16 feet long with an outboard motor of around 40 hp.
My golf course development here in the Sarasota area also abuts the Manatee river and I understand the juvenile tarpon (3-4 feet or so) fishing is supposed to be the best in the world.
We have our own boat ramp onto the river and nobody every uses it so I think "why not me?"

The problem is that Mercedes has zero guidance on towing with this car. You can tow quite well with the station wagon version but the sedan is an unknown.

U-haul will happily sell me a hitch but I'd buy one elsewhere and install myself. It doesn't look like a tough job.

Can anyone give me a bit of guidance? I can't imagine that towing 1500 to 2000 pounds would be that big a deal.




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Old Sep 21, 2025 | 01:54 AM
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s213E
Only use original Mercedes tow bar wiring, otherwise you may experience a lot of problems with the electronics in the car.
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Old Sep 21, 2025 | 07:18 AM
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Here is a starting point for info at mbusa.com.
Mercedes-Benz Towing & Hauling For Sale | Mercedes-Benz USA Parts
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Old Sep 22, 2025 | 10:02 AM
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I have had it done on W213 privately, and I have ended up paying over £800 because of the coding that had to be done.
Also you car must be "tow bar ready" from the factory.

Mercedes didn't want to do it, as I have the boot to open by foot.
That feature is now not working properly.

Hope this helped.

Last edited by velryba; Sep 22, 2025 at 10:04 AM.
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Old Sep 22, 2025 | 10:41 AM
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W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
I put a 1 1/2 (???) on a 350 wagon for a bike rack...NO lights attached as everyone said it's a nightmare due to detected voltage issues and warning lights galore.

My swipe (foot) to open is broken and non-stop allerts if i do not disable proximity sensors. I would rent a truck at UHaul to tow (or tow with our GLS ir RV)
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Old Sep 26, 2025 | 04:18 PM
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Yeah. MBUSA parts doesn’t believe my model and year exist. They show nothing at all for a 2020 E450 4matic sedan.



Originally Posted by ua549
Here is a starting point for info at mbusa.com.
Mercedes-Benz Towing & Hauling For Sale | Mercedes-Benz USA Parts
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Old Sep 26, 2025 | 04:57 PM
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My local dealer's parts department shows 2 items - 205-310-54-00 and 205-310-39-00. I've inquired as to the availability and cost. I'll post their responses, if any.
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