On 2/04/2015 19:03, wrote:
I was quoted $3,500 to $4,000 by the Mercedes Benz dealer to install a factory tow hitch on to a ML 350 Bluetech 2011! I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and if so, where did you go to have the work done and were you happy with it? I live in Southern Cal.


Some years ago I bought a factory tow hitch for a W163 from a dealer in
Long Beach for about $500. It seemed easily possible to instal that
myself although I actually onsold it without fitting it.

Its successor (W164) came with a hitch - Bruce's advice is good.

The main difference, of course, is that the 163 had a chassis. Your 164
(or 166?) doesn't. Makes tow hitch fitting an order of magnitude more
difficult. You may not need a dealer but you will need a knowledgeable,
non-dealer, M-B specialist who will probably be cheaper.

In my experience (fairly extensive) M-B dealers are to be avoided if at
all possible. Make a friend of a good, independent Euro/M-B specialist
workshop. Your wallet and the reliability of your car will thank you
for it.

GC