Factory ball mount (drawbar)?
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
Factory ball mount (drawbar)?
I found these pictures in a 2012 post about the ML towing Pkg. Does anyone know if they still furnish this with the newer ML's? I looked all around the spare tire compartment and found nothing.
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
After doing some research I found out that they stopped including these in 2013. If anyone has one they are not using, I would be interested in buying it.
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From: Calgary AB
2012 ML350 BT, 1998 BMW 540i/6
I'd like to keep mine, but this is the perfect thing to buy at an auto wrecker for $20. There must be one near you...
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
No luck so far at a wrecking yard. I'm sure there are other people like you that have owned their car for 4 years and didn't know it was there. In that case they don't need it. I'll buy it and use it.
Last edited by gkgeiger; Apr 30, 2015 at 07:18 AM.
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From: Western Europe
2017 GLS 350d
It might sound stupid, but if a car does not have it in the trunk, are you sure you will be able to mount it on? Isnt there a special kit to have fitted on the car in order to hook that up?
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
I'm not sure what you are referring to, other then my car came with the towing package. All W166 cars use the same hitch so the coupling should work.
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From: Indianapolis
car
My 2012 came with the ball mount. Although a nice touch in theory, it fit so loosely in the receiver that it rattled considerably. It's surprising that the one they included is such a poor fit. Now I usually use an aftermarket one I've got which fits perfectly. I'll keep the factory one as a backup, however.
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
When its not needed to tow, you slide it out of the part under the bumper so you can walk behind the car and not hit your shins. For example, see the following illustration (The ball has not yet been installed.): http://www.carid.com/hidden-hitch/tr...FUEV7AodqF4ASg
Last edited by Barry45RPM; Apr 30, 2015 at 11:17 AM.
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2019 GLS450
My 2012 came with the ball mount. Although a nice touch in theory, it fit so loosely in the receiver that it rattled considerably. It's surprising that the one they included is such a poor fit. Now I usually use an aftermarket one I've got which fits perfectly. I'll keep the factory one as a backup, however.
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
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My experience with my 2014 BT was that the hitch receiver was so low that I needed a draw bar and ball with a lift rather than a drop like the one in the photo.
Last edited by DUTCH; Apr 30, 2015 at 08:14 PM.
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'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
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From: Western Europe
2017 GLS 350d
Cant you just unscrew the ball and screw it back on the other side of the arm so that it raises instead of drops? It looks like the coupling is symmetric.
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From: Peoria, IL
2007 C350 2015 ML400 1968 Ford Mustang
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From: Land of OZ- Mornington Peninsula
ML350 BT soon......pleeeease. GOT IT NOW....Wooooo
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
Thread Starter
Senior Member
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
In Europe some cars have an electrically folding self storing hitch.
Last edited by DUTCH; May 4, 2015 at 09:02 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
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From: Land of OZ- Mornington Peninsula
ML350 BT soon......pleeeease. GOT IT NOW....Wooooo
The knob on the right rotates to lock and unlock. It also has a key lock for total security. Has to be the easiest I've ever put in or out.
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Ohio/Florida
'10 C300, '15 ML250BT, '22 M850i Vert
After over 40 years in the auto industry I know about ball mounts. What I want is what I showed in the very first post., but thanks anyway.
