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Hi,
just went to have hitch installed at U-Haul this past weekend. installer said they cannot install the hitch as I have a single muffler that runs across the back and not 2 mufflers as the install pictures show. says the muffler is in the way of where the hitch will go.
anyone else experience this?
Hi,
just went to have hitch installed at U-Haul this past weekend. installer said they cannot install the hitch as I have a single muffler that runs across the back and not 2 mufflers as the install pictures show. says the muffler is in the way of where the hitch will go.
anyone else experience this?
U-Haul told me that they can't install the hitch on my 2015 GL350. The dealership is giving me the run-around about what they can do. I asked if their $2500 quote included the brake controller and they couldn't answer me. Does anyone else know if they (the dealership) can install everything that would have come with the factory ordered hitch, done through the dealership? Thank you for all this useful info!
U-Haul told me that they can't install the hitch on my 2015 GL350. The dealership is giving me the run-around about what they can do. I asked if their $2500 quote included the brake controller and they couldn't answer me. Does anyone else know if they (the dealership) can install everything that would have come with the factory ordered hitch, done through the dealership? Thank you for all this useful info!
My local dealer parts quoted 900 for hitch only, no wiring or install. Install should be very straight forward with bolts. no drilling. We ended up getting a 2014 that had the hitch from factory so we're all set..
IF thats all you need, go after that... good luck!
They told me the same, tell them to call Curt Manufactoring, they straightened them out. Evidentially 2015 isn't in their system, at least it was not about 8 months ago.
Connecting the full wire harness is a big job. We are talking removing panels from rear cargo hatch and the ENTIRE driver side interior up to the dash, again, from a video I saw here.
Which would make sense, since my dealership quoted me nearly $3k for full SAM/anti sway interface and installation.
Uhaul can add a brake light package for about $80. You could install your own wireless brake interface also, for about $250. You won't have the anti sway feature though.
If I had to do it over, the $500 option is worth insisting on before signing the deal.
They told me the same, tell them to call Curt Manufactoring, they straightened them out. Evidentially 2015 isn't in their system, at least it was not about 8 months ago.
Connecting the full wire harness is a big job. We are talking removing panels from rear cargo hatch and the ENTIRE driver side interior up to the dash, again, from a video I saw here.
Which would make sense, since my dealership quoted me nearly $3k for full SAM/anti sway interface and installation.
Uhaul can add a brake light package for about $80. You could install your own wireless brake interface also, for about $250. You won't have the anti sway feature though.
If I had to do it over, the $500 option is worth insisting on before signing the deal.
I can't find this youtube video, can you possibly track it down and link it to me? Also, who is your dealer, they sound much more knowledgable than my dealer, I may have to call yours to get the details.
I've read the numerous posts about getting a trailer hitch onto an X166 GL which doesn't have one. The "kits" are available from the dealer for ~$1000 but does not include install or reprogramming.
I'm fully capable and patient enough to remove/replace the interior bits to get the cable in place. If the X166 is anything like all other German cars, there are wire/tubing raceways. Are there any pictures/diagrams as to where these are? I cannot imagine one has to pull up the entire carpet or all of the seats. I just would like to know what route the long cable from the SAM to the front takes.
I figure that if I can do the labor of installing the hitch (removing the inner bumper) and routing the cable, I could then save money on the overall install. It would then become a STAR programming exercise for the tech at the dealer.
Unfortunately I did not have the time to do this myself. I did weeks of research and dealt very closely with the dealer on my install. I had to verify and re-verify that all the SAM updates were done correctly (took them two tries).
I am attaching a picture of the wire routing for you. If you need more help I can refer you to the best Mercedes tech ever. He will charge you $40 one time and he will answer ALL of your questions based on your specific VIN number. It was worth every penny for me.
Unfortunately I did not have the time to do this myself. I did weeks of research and dealt very closely with the dealer on my install. I had to verify and re-verify that all the SAM updates were done correctly (took them two tries).
I am attaching a picture of the wire routing for you. If you need more help I can refer you to the best Mercedes tech ever. He will charge you $40 one time and he will answer ALL of your questions based on your specific VIN number. It was worth every penny for me.
This is great Eric.
I'm considering doing both of our 2014 vehicles, the GL350 and ML350, so that they behave in the same manner. My research suggests that many of the parts are the same. I'm also watching a thread in the W166 forum where someone has done the hardware and wiring install. Says that just the programming was on the order of $200+.
Did this page come off of the DVD? (I've got one on order).
Can you share the part numbers for items 20 and 22?
I'll PM you to get your guy's contact info. Thanks again.
I noticed that the hitch i bought does not come with those long, bar, support looking things (see pic below). Can anyone tell me what are those and where can i get them? do i need them?
I'm betting they're the long member items listed in the ML hitch kit from MercedesPartsPeople. BTW their kit price is very good. A quick online check confirms these part numbers are available most anywhere.
(1) 1663100118 / Long Member
(1) 1663100218 / Long Member
Does Mercedes have a towing package? If so, I bet it includes a transmission cooler. I would NOT add a hitch to a vehicle and tow with it unless I could verify that it had the transmission cooler.
Very appropriate comment. From my '14 ML350 OM....
"If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the cooling system and drive
train may be necessary, depending on the
vehicle type."
Do people build the adapter harness described in the PDF to hook up the brake controller to the green connection or is there some pre-built adapter available somewhere? I'd hate to cut or otherwise modify the factory wiring. I guess maybe I could use those plastic "tap" style connectors to get into those wires.
Thanks, but since I have the factory tow option and pre-wiring it seems so trivial to install the quality wired brake controller I already have. I just need to know if anyone has any tips on the connector itself.
I am attaching a picture of the wire routing for you. If you need more help I can refer you to the best Mercedes tech ever. He will charge you $40 one time and he will answer ALL of your questions based on your specific VIN number. It was worth every penny for me.
I would love to get your tech's contact information. I have questions about my vehicle's history that I need someone other than my dealer to lookup.
On the topic of Tow Hitch/Trailering..
I tow a heavy Boat /Trailer combo,7000lbs combined on the Scales.
It uses Hydrolic Surge brakes vs electric as it is a Boat trailer, so there is a bit of a Clunk as you take off.
On my past Tow Vehicles you could barely here or feel it.
On this MB GL550(2013) it is MUCH louder, you can hear it through the Cabin.
As you drive down the road you can here every little thing with the Hitch.
Is this common on a GL550...Is it not a Body on Frame chassis?
Is the Tow Hitch mounted different than other SUV and Trucks?
i just ordered a trailer brake controller, but it only comes next week. I need to do a roundtrip of 300 miles this weekend, with about 5000lbs trailer, which will include some steep up- and downhills. So question is, is it safe to drive without trailer brake controller or it is NOT recommended at all?
From a legal standpoint, I believe that trailers over 2,000 lbs must have operational trailer brakes. From a safety standpoint, you are rolling the dice. I tow a 6,000 lb trailer with my GL, and personally, I wouldn't leave the driveway without working trailer brakes.
As a side note, I ordered my Tekonsha P3 brake controller on Amazon Prime and had it in two days, but I believe there's a 1 day shipping option. Took me about 1.5 hours to install.
I am looking to buy a GL and I wanted to make sure option 550 "Trailer Coupling" meant that I have the whole trailer system with the computer integration?
I am looking to buy a GL and I wanted to make sure option 550 "Trailer Coupling" meant that I have the whole trailer system with the computer integration?
Yes, it means a factory installed trailer hitch. Not sure what you mean by computer integration. The Comand system will know you have hooked up a trailer when you insert the trailer lighting plug into the car's receptacle.
03-28-2016, 10:31 AM
