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Intended to install an original mercedes tow hitch on me GLE450e
Bought almost all the pieces needed.
Found the chassi mount pieces do have a short arm that extends forward and should have a sideways bolt from inside the spare tire area.
Unfortunatly a 450e have a big battery there and block access to the holes.
As this reinforcment seem important i give up on installing my hitch.
I found in europe all alternative suppliers also have these reinforcment arms.
So i do belive this bolts should be there for any heavy tow.
The only thing i did not yet buy was the trailer tow control module 167 900 12 09 80
Online dealers sell this for $114
And once installer a dealer. Or independent with xentry access can add. The code 550 to activate the tow settings.
If anyone is interested i will sell my kit
Tow bar 167 310 25 00
Reinforment arms 167 310 05 00. And 167 31 06 00
7 pin trailer connector. 020 545 40 26
Nuts to mount the reinforcement arms N 000000 008299
Cable harness fusebox to tow module 167 540 12 09
Cable harness to the 7 pin connector 167 540 73 33
M14x1.25 40mm bolts of 10.9 strength
The only thing i did not yet buy was the trailer tow control module 167 900 12 09 80
Tow bar 167 310 25 00
Reinforment arms 167 310 05 00. And 167 31 06 00
7 pin trailer connector. 020 545 40 26
Nuts to mount the reinforcement arms N 000000 008299
Cable harness fusebox to tow module 167 540 12 09
Cable harness to the 7 pin connector 167 540 73 33
M14x1.25 40mm bolts of 10.9 strength
I think it's a good post for whoever attempts to retrofit the hitch on regular ICE vehicles as it has part numbers. That's assuming ICE vehicles don't have any other mounting gotchas.
Nice I'm in LA. I will check the part numbers as this will be for a 2020 gls 450. I think the hitch part is the same not sure about the reinforcement mounts. I just need to confirm that.
I think it's a good post for whoever attempts to retrofit the hitch on regular ICE vehicles as it has part numbers. That's assuming ICE vehicles don't have any other mounting gotchas.
I keep trying to find out what internal reinforcements might be made in the 167 cars.
I know the 166 and 164 had internal reinforcements that were installed at the factory, but only if you ordered it originally, and they were difficult to retrofit.
The fact that MB no longer sells a retrofit hitch kit makes me wonder if you have identified all the parts that actually go into a full-on OE hitch.
I had a reinforcement done on my 164, which was essentially a strut from receiver base reaching back to the differential mount.
If I were in your situation, I think I would consider that reinforcement in to the pieces you have found.
One must take caution on a hitch retrofit on for the V167. There must be a valid reason why MB is not selling those as a retrofit anymore. One would think of the reinforcement required for the hitch just like on the previous GLEs.
In europe there are multiple alternative hitches sold and a independent garage can even do the needed software update to activate tow functions. Without need for a dealer visit.
all of the alternative hitches are approved by authorities and do have this little reinforment arm.
Stealth hitches in the US doesn't have the reinforcement bar but bolts on 4 each per side replacing the crash bar. I wonder if the oem replaces with reinforcement due to the hitch only using 2 bolts per side. 🤔
Stealth hitches in the US doesn't have the reinforcement bar but bolts on 4 each per side replacing the crash bar. I wonder if the oem replaces with reinforcement due to the hitch only using 2 bolts per side. 🤔
I have had stealth before on other car. May not be same capacity as OEM
Where/How do the reinforcement arms go? Seems like a simple pull the fascia, bolt it on deal. YouTube shows how to remount the aluminum bumper on top of the newly installed hitch. My W166 oem tow pack still has the aluminum oem bumper unlike the instructions for “replace the aluminum oem bumper with the hitch”.
the reinforcement arm(s) mount points aren’t shown anywhere I can find.
I keep trying to find out what internal reinforcements might be made in the 167 cars.
I know the 166 and 164 had internal reinforcements that were installed at the factory, but only if you ordered it originally, and they were difficult to retrofit.
The fact that MB no longer sells a retrofit hitch kit makes me wonder if you have identified all the parts that actually go into a full-on OE hitch.
I had a reinforcement done on my 164, which was essentially a strut from receiver base reaching back to the differential mount.
If I were in your situation, I think I would consider that reinforcement in to the pieces you have found.
they (MB Dealer) now sell all the parts OP lists. Note the hitch itself is 2k. Should’ve just paid the 650 but hind-sight is always 20/29.
Also note from my research that the OEM Tow Pack has upgraded heavy duty springs. The part numbers are listed in the catalog as “HD Springs”.
QUOTE=Nisse;8906963]Hi
Intended to install an original mercedes tow hitch on me GLE450e
Bought almost all the pieces needed.
Found the chassi mount pieces do have a short arm that extends forward and should have a sideways bolt from inside the spare tire area.
Unfortunatly a 450e have a big battery there and block access to the holes.
As this reinforcment seem important i give up on installing my hitch.
I found in europe all alternative suppliers also have these reinforcment arms.
So i do belive this bolts should be there for any heavy tow.
The only thing i did not yet buy was the trailer tow control module 167 900 12 09 80
Online dealers sell this for $114
And once installer a dealer. Or independent with xentry access can add. The code 550 to activate the tow settings.
If anyone is interested i will sell my kit
Tow bar 167 310 25 00
Reinforment arms 167 310 05 00. And 167 31 06 00
7 pin trailer connector. 020 545 40 26
Nuts to mount the reinforcement arms N 000000 008299
Cable harness fusebox to tow module 167 540 12 09
Cable harness to the 7 pin connector 167 540 73 33
M14x1.25 40mm bolts of 10.9 strength
I have had stealth before on other car. May not be same capacity as OEM
it’s those support arms… neither stealth nor Curt retrofit uses them. Both of the above are rated for 8000/800. Having not yet dug under the fascia… does someone have the tech manual showing the install of the support arms? Seems to me that the “the battery was in the way” or “had to slightly lift the battery” comments don’t make sense. Can’t you just tack weld it? Or alternatively… if neither stealth or Curt et. Al. Are using the support arms……WTH?
After snooping around and utilizing a little common sense, I figured out (from carefully examining the illustrations) where the reinforcements go. The original bumper bar attaches to empty cavities. the two reinforcement arms (167-310-05-00 and 167-310-06-00) plug into the cavity and then are bolted to the body from the side. Apparently you also need the gaskets if they aren't there already. None of the aftermarket folks apparently utilize these support brackets.
After snooping around and utilizing a little common sense, I figured out (from carefully examining the illustrations) where the reinforcements go. The original bumper bar attaches to empty cavities. the two reinforcement arms (167-310-05-00 and 167-310-06-00) plug into the cavity and then are bolted to the body from the side. Apparently you also need the gaskets if they aren't there already. None of the aftermarket folks apparently utilize these support brackets.
They don't, and therefore I wouldn't trust them over 3500 lbs. Maybe not even then.
After snooping around and utilizing a little common sense, I figured out (from carefully examining the illustrations) where the reinforcements go. The original bumper bar attaches to empty cavities. the two reinforcement arms (167-310-05-00 and 167-310-06-00) plug into the cavity and then are bolted to the body from the side. Apparently you also need the gaskets if they aren't there already. None of the aftermarket folks apparently utilize these support brackets.
I heard it’s a different rear bumper. I may be wrong.Then it’s the regular bumper vs the AMG bumper.
01-12-2024, 07:46 PM
