R63 Trailer Hitch Question
 

I live in Europe and am looking at buying an R63. I need one with a trailer hitch (to haul sheet rock and other building materials, as well as firewood - I have a trailer rated for 1500 lbs), but the best deal I have found (by several thousand euros) is on an R63 that doesn't have a hitch installed. I called my local Mercedes dealer and gave them the chassis number. They told me that the R63 I am considering is not compatible with the OEM hitch (something to do with the wiring harness not being compatible). I'm not interested in installing an aftermarket hitch. Has anyone here been told that their R63 was not compatible with the OEM hitch and been able to install one anyway and have it work? If so, part numbers and how to info would be appreciated.

People have installed them on R class. Not sure about R63, but the wiring harness should be the same as the R500. You may need to trim some bodywork, and you may have to replace the rear SAM module (but I don't think so) to program the electrics, but the Mercedes hitch should work.

Try accessory part number B66850077. That number works in the U.S. It contains everything but the separate valance panel to hide the hitch. That would be about $100 USD.

Regards,
Jerry

Hello, i retrofitted Westfalia 313 222 trailer hitch and bought used original wire harness. Just plug to rear SAM, code with SDS and ready to go... Not visible until you bow on your knees.
You can tow 2100kg.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...43bc549c0f.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...80b1a4fa91.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...ba9879504f.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...2590b3a99e.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...3f4597c45e.jpg

I've bought an R63. It has a retrofitted Westfalia hitch (I assume that is the same one that MRsedes installed on his R63), but when it was installed there was apparently no attempt to make clean cuts in the diffuser
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...178a7e3116.jpg

I'd like to replace the diffuser with one that has the opening for a hitch and get the 2 piece cover for the hitch hole. This will require moving the electrical connection for the hitch as it currently sticks out beyond the line of the diffuser. I've found a diffuser that is mat black, but it isn't scored for cutting the hole for the hitch. My local Mercedes dealer has found a diffuser that is prepared for a hitch, but his computer refers to it as the "U.S. Version" and it has to be painted. Does anyone know what the difference would be between a U.S. and European diffuser for the R63? Does anyone know of a "European Version" diffuser that is prepared for a trailer hitch? The Mercedes dealer did find another diffuser that was prepared for a trailer hitch and was made for the R Class "with the AMG package". It said it worked the the V8 motor, but did not specify that it worked with the 6.3 liter motor, so he thought it was probably for the R500 with an AMG package, but he wasn't sure.

I have continued to look for a Mercedes factory hitch (in case I want to replace the Westfalia hitch), but I have not found the B66850077 mentioned above. I have found part number A2513100195, but this doesn't appear to include the removable ball, only the receiver hitch. At this point, I will wait until I get the car home and can take a closer look at the existing hitch set-up.

Well, it looks like I may not need to haul wood inside the R63 anymore (see #168). I finally got the OEM trailer hitch installed in place of the after market Westfalia hitch. When I bought my R 63, there were two problems related to the trailer hitch: 1) the black plastic diffuser had been cut up (unnecessarily) to accommodate the after market trailer hitch assembly; and 2) the actually ball hitch would not lock into the receiver. The European hitch assembly is quite different from a U.S. receiver hitch.

You can see the mutilated diffuser in the photo in the previous post. The diffuser was cut to accommodate the electric socket, but this was unnecessary because the socket swivels down and it only sticks out so far because it uses an adapter. If you remove the adapter, the socket swivels up behind the diffuser out of the way, and when you want to us it you swivel it down and insert the adapter. A real shame.

Here's a photo of the hitch ball that is pushed up into the receiver to lock it into place:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...41fdfc405b.jpgYou can't see it in the photo, but on the back of the hitch ball, at the base of the section that goes into the receiver, there is a piece of metal that points up. As the ball is pushed up into the receiver, this piece of metal is pushed down by the receiver, which releases a spring, causing the locking wheel (with the red key in the middle) to flip, which in turn causes three ball bearings at the top to pop out into a groove on the receiver, locking the hitch ball assembly in place. The cross member on the after market Westfalia hitch was perfectly straight, and while I think it would work fine on other R Class models, on the R 63 the hitch receiver is too close to the aerodynamic panel on the underside of the car and it prevents the hitch ball from going all the way up into the receiver. It flips the lock before the ball bearings are in the groove, which means that it could easily fall out.

Here's a photo of the Westfalia hitch with its straight cross member:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4c0b712e70.jpg
And here is a photo of the OEM hitch with the cross member that is not straight (it's upside down, but it makes it easier to see the shape of the cross member), which brings the receiver out enough for the hitch ball to go all the way up into the receiver and lock in place:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...989372bab5.jpg
And here it is on the car:
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...94fe0e68a5.jpg
I also replaced the diffuser with a different version made for R 63s with a trailer hitch. It has a precut hole to access the receiver and electrical socket (which doesn't swivel on the OEM hitch). When you aren't using the hitch, you remove the hitch ball and the socket adapter, and pop in a cover over the hole in the diffuser. Because the diffuser is black and curved, unless you are very close to the car, you can't even see where the hole is.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...753aba0110.jpg

Hey, 1955W196S. Would you explain a bit of what you mean about the European and US hitch assemblies being different?

I just bought the silver R63 that briefly appeared on Autotrader last week, and I'd love to be able to pull my motorcycle trailer with it.

- Mikey, the guy so new to MBWorld that he hasn't setup his signature, yet...

In the U.S. receiver hitches have a square opening that faces behind the car, parallel with the exhaust pipes. Into that opening you slide the piece that includes the ball and it is locked in place with a bolt. The European receiver hitches have the receiver pointing down toward the ground. Mine has a round opening. The ball goes underneath and is pushed up into the receiver and locks in place. It is held in place by 3 ball bearings that pop out into a groove on the inside of the receiver. You can see the part with the ball as the first photo in my previous post. In that photo, you can also see one of the ball bearings that holds the trailer hitch ball in the receiver. straight down from that is a three pronged wheel that you turn to release and remove the ball. It has the red piece in the middle. That red piece is the key. Once the ball is in place in the receiver, you turn the key to lock the release wheel (so the ball can't fall out of the receiver while you are towing). When you want to remove the ball, you insert the key, turn it, pull out and turn the wheel, and the ball should fall out of the receiver.

I hope that helps.

Oh, that configuration is a European thing. Got it. I like that setup; it looks way better when not towing a trailer.

Thanks for the info!

So when should you get your R63?

I picked it up yesterday!

Here is a link to two short videos on the R63 AMG rear diffuser and tralier hitch: R63 Rear Diffuser and Trailer Hitch

Hi 1955W196S and MRsedes . I am debating purchasing a R63 available on the local market here in Europe and a trailer hitch is a must for me. Could you all share the part numbers for the wiring harness, the special trailer valance for the bumper and the original trailer hitch as well?

The valence part number I cannot find, and otherwise i think Ill have to purchase the ECS R class electrical connectors and the BRINK removable tow hitch from Rameder. I have had the most luck with Brink hitches and their compatibility with Thule bike racks vs any other brand (probably bc they were a daughter enterprise)

Please let me know if you have these part numbers and if there are things I must look for when reviewing the vehicle.

Thank you in advance for your help.

p.s. 1955W196S: I have followed your journey across the various platforms you post on and its been a joy and pleasure to read up on your ownership experience!

The original trailer hitch assembly is A2513100037 , but that doesn't include the removable hitch (which the French call the col de cigne our swan's neck).
My removable hitch has the part number A1633150399 (I think that is an ML63 part number, but it works on my R63)
I also have a part number A2513100195 . I'm not sure what that is. When I did a search, nothing came up.
If you buy a used hitch assembly, make sure it comes with the side bars that attach the hitch to the frame of the car and the electrical plug socket and wiring.

I don't have a part number for the wiring harness (it came with my hitch).

The part number for the diffuser (valance) is A2518852325.
The part number for the frame that goes inside the diffuser, around the opening for the hitch is A2518850565.
The part number for the cover that goes over the opening when the hitch is not in use is A2518852223.

Please verifiy all these numbers before ordering (or buying used). It's been several years since I bought all these parts.

Thank you so much! This helps a ton!

You're welcome. Also for information, the Mercedes hitch was made by Oris.