Where can I find a hitch (either 1.25 or 2 inch) to install my Thule Bike rack on the EQE 350 Sedan?

 

I’m waiting to find a hitch for my bicycles before I order the car.

 

That is why they invented roof racks. No way in the world any one of my S Works goes on the back bumper so some moron can rearrent me.. seen that so many times.

 

Roof bike racks lose about 15% mileage in my experience which is why I like hitch mounts.

 

I’m a little over 70 and no longer have the energy to raise electric bicycles to the car’s roof.
I’ll find a hitch (either 1.25 or 2 inch) for the EQE (like I have on my 2018 E-Class) or I’ll purchase another car that has one or on which I can have one installed.
Question : Does anyone know if a company makes one that I will purchase?

 

I'm sure there are by now many aftermarket support options for EQE in terms of hitch mounts. I think MB even possibly specifies a hitch rating (not in the US), though I may be wrong? I'm certain you could find a shop that could weld one on to the frame.

 

If you ask a US Mercedes salesperson about a trailer hitch on a sedan they look at you like you've got three heads. It's a ROW thing to have a hitch. When we lived in Dublin they were common on S classes. Even saw one on a new BMW M5 the other day in Israel.

In my case with the SUV even at 6'-2" tall I can't reach that far with my mountain bike. Being 70 doesn't help either.

Eco Hitch in Washington state offers them for the SUVs I understand.

 

I hope that Curt or another custom hitch manufacturer will come out soon with a hitch (either 1.25 ou 2 inches) for the EQE Sedan, so I can use my Thule bicycle rack on this car.
I’ve written to Curt and they still haven’t answered.
Still looking … :-)

 

Seriously, if Curt did have a human read your email the thought process (as a business owner) would be "some tree hugger in a 1%er EV that sells infinitesimally low volume wants us to make a hitch for the Benz......." and delete the message. That is just the reality at hand.

 

But … they had one for my 2018 E300.
By the way, I don’t hug trees

 

There are a TON more E than EQ. I have a Curt on one of my W212 and on our GLS...the GLS took us a while to get "due to production times". I would bet they tool up, make about 50 of them for stock and move on. The GLS 450/550/580 are not too common, more common that then EQS.

To that, I have a Thule that is rock solid on the GLS. On the E with the adapter to the smaller hitch....yeah, it shakes rattles and rolls. Even with the silly brace thing to keep it in place. Makes me very uncomfortable to have about $25k in bikes on a rack that is wobbling around.

99% of the time they are on my roof rack on my E. Just safer for everything involved (assuming I dont pull into a parking garage ;-)

 

I agree there a lot more E than EQE.
I’ve driven the new 2024 E-Class and didn’t see much difference with my « old » 2018 E300.
However the EQE was more pleasurable for me. That’s why I’m considering it to replace the 2018 car.
PS - If you use the Thule trunk strap, the bicycles no longer wobble.

 

Trunk strap would be neat....but, I am in wagons.....I am sure it wont break or fall off, makes me nervous.

I live in (thankfully) in a "No Fault" state. So, someone rear ends me I prefer they not hit my bike(s). I would rather they total the car (replaceable) than the bikes (not so much).

2023 S-Works Epic Evo
2023 S-Works Turbo Levo
Full custom Litespeed w/Campagnolo Super Record (non-EPS) - mirror finish....

That is why I got the "extra" W212 - to move bikes and bike stuff around and not care if the car got dirty :-)

A surgeon I work with who is a competitive paddle board guy is looking to get a new E63 wagon so his roof rack is a bit lower than his current Suburban...I had to ask him a few times if he knows what an E63 is.......

 

Curt's answer this morning:Dear Pierre,

CURT has not yet confirmed a fitment for the vehicle specified below. I have captured your information for our Product Development Team to express interest.

We do strive to be first to market and when a unit is available you will be able to review with any preferred CURT Dealer: Store Locator (curtmfg.com) locally or online.

So ... I guess all is not lost.

 

let me know if you find one from curt etc. i might have to pull the trigger on the Austalian Tow Hitch Company but that comes with a tow bar and bike racks in USA use a receiver so I would have to buy a Rack with tow bar capability like Westfalia has but both over seas so have to roll the dice. Or fabricate a receiver on the tow bar.. so messed up MBZ doesnt make a tow hitch for EQE etc.

 

EVs with bike racks = bad combo. You will lose good mileage. Think 3x if you will do this.

 

I can’t see why I’d lose so much mileage with a Thule rack attached to a receiver in the back. Anyway, electricity is not very expensive.
I will not purchase this car if I can’t use it to transport my bicycles once in a while

 

@bellavance , I'm sure there's a way to get either a hitch mounted or to use the roof rack mounts. I'd probably go for the roof rack mounts, they look nice and versatile.

 

I prefer a roof rack for IC cars, but not EVs due to the range hit. Unfortunately neither Thule or Yakima make one that fits with a sunroof.

 

At my age, because of the bicycle’s weight, even without the battery, I wouldn’t use a roof rack.
If I purchase the car, I’ll find a company who could custom build a hitch for me.

 

Yeah, I'm 70 and I have enough fun getting my "lightweight" 40 pound e-mtb out of the back of the car. One of the downsides of being old enough to buy expensive cars and bikes.