Tow bar fitting recommendation

Try indespension- branches in major towns, prompt service and a good price. A choice of approved wiring loom at a slightly higher price.

Obviously choose the best price, quality, and value for anyone else making that choice and there is no right/wrong choice only your choice, but two points to consider when making that choice for anyone else.

The one fitted by the dealer and/or factory fitted may be subject to the same guarantee or warranty as the rest of the car, I checked and ours is.

Secondly car electronics are very complex and perhaps/maybe the one fitted by the dealer could be a better choice?

Like I said no right or wrong answers just points to consider. 

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You need to check that you're comparing apples with apples when comparing fitted prices of aftermarket & factory fit. I believe that many factory fit bars come complete with upgraded cooling fans that you won't get from your local towbar fitter. My ML has a factory fit bar & has a towing setting which alters the Airmatic suspension & gearbox shift changes ... definitely factory only. I understand they are very expensive .... All hail the used car market! 

All valid points  - but I was quoted in excess of £3K for an 'after fit' bar for my used car by the supplying MB dealer.  They explained that the upgraded cooling etc which MB insist on is to ensure that the vehicle can handle the declared maximum trailer load (in my case 2200kg) "up an Alp in 40 degrees c "

I'm vey happy with what I have for a saving of some £2400 thank you.

I knew they could be expensive from MB but not that expensive!!  😱 I'm sure there are more towcars without an upgraded cooling fan than with 👍and very few will be towing over the Alps 

Just remember that additional cooling that dealers talk about is not really engine cooling but additional gearbox cooling. For the engine you can always keep your eye on the temperature gauge but you're blind with gearbox temperatures and if that cooks you'r in deep and very expensive doo doo.

I made that mistake with a Ford Scorpio back in the day and the gearbox overheated and basically blew up. Never made that mistake again.

Suggest it might be worth checking with MB that the additional cooling is for engine only or if it's for engine and gearbox before you make a potentially expensive mistake.

That thought had occurred to me before I went ahead, and consulted with a very large MB forum, asking if anyone had experienced cooling issues for engine or transmission whilst towing . None had, and a number were tugging much bigger loads than my 1300 kg Swift !

Modern auto boxes are considerably more sophisticated and better engineered than they were in the days of the Scorpio and others , some 30 years ago.

They certainly are but at the end of the day always best to check.

Even the simplest rebuild on an MB box was about 9k a few years ago never mind the cost of a new one if it did go bang 

 

Whatever......