Carrying bikes with S212

[Cactussed]

Guys

Seems a towbar can't be fitted to an E63, so has anyone put 4 bikes on the roof before?

Cheers

[Scrump]

Is there a technical reason a towbar can’t be fitted (such as different exhaust system which is physically in the way) or is it just that the car is not type approved for towing?
If it is the latter then you can have a towbar fitted for carrying a bike rack, you will not (legally) be able to tow with it though.
Some towbar fitters will fit a tow bar to non type approved cars as long as a disclaimer is signed.

[Tall_Blk]

Yes.
On a S213

[Cactussed]

Hmm. The tower is a type approval issue, that's all.
I've done some digging and the chassis is the same so it'll fit fine. The AMG bodykit may need some alteration.

I need to check if insurance are going to have a problem. I've no intention of towing anything,

[Dog Star]

Cactussed said:

Hmm. The tower is a type approval issue, that's all.
I've done some digging and the chassis is the same so it'll fit fine. The AMG bodykit may need some alteration.

I need to check if insurance are going to have a problem. I've no intention of towing anything,

I had a towbar - actually it's "bike rack adapter" - fitted to my R230 (facelifted SL350, again a car not type approved for towing) by a company called AHK Priesbrecher in Germany (we made a mini break of it). This was fitted and supplied with all TUV paperwork for the vehicle for type approval with the cars VIN etc.

I rang my insurers and told them I'd had a towbar fitted and it lowered my premium by £20.

This is my car on the company's page for that vehicle....

https://www.ahk-preisbrecher.de/Anhaengerkupplung-...

[AC43]

Cactussed said:

has anyone put 4 bikes on the roof before?

Yes I bought a set of Thule Aerobars and 4 x Thule carriers for my S212. I can get 4 x adult bikes up there.

It's a bit tight but I face them alternate directions & swivel the handle bars 90 degrees. I sometimes take some of the pedals off for the same reason.

I've been all over the place with them inc some long trips through France. On the move I'm barely aware they're there. Never had any frights despite some, err, spirited driving.

Easier to store when you're not using them, too.

[Cactussed]

Thank you for that. I'm still exploring the towbar route but if that proves fruitless, then helpful to know I can fall back on the roof option.

[Dog Star]

OP - is your bodykit the same as on the "AMG Line" normal estate?

My old one had a Westfalia and it was invisible when removed (ie. the holes were underneath). I cannot imagine that the actual bodyshell and hence towbar attachment points are any different on the E63.

[MarcelM6]

I spoke to my local towbar fitting company (used before with other cars ), and got a very firm no when asking for a towbar for my E63.

Maybe the exhaust routing causes issues?

[AC43]

Dog Star said:

OP - is your bodykit the same as on the "AMG Line" normal estate?

My old one had a Westfalia and it was invisible when removed (ie. the holes were underneath). I cannot imagine that the actual bodyshell and hence towbar attachment points are any different on the E63.

AMG's are generally not homologated for tow bars.

That's the issue.

[AC43]

MarcelM6 said:

I spoke to my local towbar fitting company (used before with other cars ), and got a very firm no when asking for a towbar for my E63.

Maybe the exhaust routing causes issues?

As above, the issue is that AMG's are not put through the approval process.

[Dog Star]

AC43 said:

AMG's are generally not homologated for tow bars.

That's the issue.

There’s nothing to stop one being fitted for mounting a bike rack.

[Mr E]

4 on the roof (alternate direction) with Thule mounts.
3 in the boot with wheels off.

But I’d have thought a “bike mount” tow bar was possible.

[Dog Star]

Mr E said:

4 on the roof (alternate direction) with Thule mounts.
3 in the boot with wheels off.

But I’d have thought a “bike mount” tow bar was possible.

It is

https://www.ahk-preisbrecher.de/Anhaengerkupplung-...

Translation

https://www-ahk--preisbrecher-de.translate.goog/An...

Those come with all the TuV approval reams of paperwork.

[MarcelM6]

AC43 said:

As above, the issue is that AMG's are not put through the approval process.

I was very clear with them that it is for bike carrying only. Surprised that would require type approval

[AC43]

Dog Star said:

AC43 said:

AMG's are generally not homologated for tow bars.

That's the issue.

There’s nothing to stop one being fitted for mounting a bike rack.

Fair enough.

[AC43]

MarcelM6 said:

AC43 said:

As above, the issue is that AMG's are not put through the approval process.

I was very clear with them that it is for bike carrying only. Surprised that would require type approval

Based on the posts above, looks like you can fit one for carrying.

My first two Mercs were AMG's and I gave up trying to find a solution.

These days I'm more than happy with roof mounts anyway.

[Dog Star]

AC43 said:

Based on the posts above, looks like you can fit one for carrying.

My first two Mercs were AMG's and I gave up trying to find a solution.

These days I'm more than happy with roof mounts anyway.

I became obsessed with this whole type approval issue as I’m into my (beer)cycling holidays but I have an SL, so the roof option just isn’t available (and our bikes are ebikes so the strap / sucker things won’t fly) and a bit of digging uncovered the place linked above. Basically these “bike rack towbar adapters” are available for pretty much anything now - I guess due to the number of cars that can’t tow either because they’re performance derivatives or EVs (Brink have a dedicated range for EVs).

Just about anyone could make one up for you, I guess, however I just went for the trip to Germany and a company who had the product and who provided a raft of approval paperwork (“just in case”).

[AC43]

Dog Star said:

AC43 said:

Based on the posts above, looks like you can fit one for carrying.

My first two Mercs were AMG's and I gave up trying to find a solution.

These days I'm more than happy with roof mounts anyway.

I became obsessed with this whole type approval issue as I’m into my (beer)cycling holidays but I have an SL, so the roof option just isn’t available (and our bikes are ebikes so the strap / sucker things won’t fly) and a bit of digging uncovered the place linked above. Basically these “bike rack towbar adapters” are available for pretty much anything now - I guess due to the number of cars that can’t tow either because they’re performance derivatives or EVs (Brink have a dedicated range for EVs).

Just about anyone could make one up for you, I guess, however I just went for the trip to Germany and a company who had the product and who provided a raft of approval paperwork (“just in case”).

Yeah, must admit I used to find it infuriating. When my C43 estate was on the ramps, I'd peer at the floorpan and could clearly see where the tow bar would attach. Or I'd see a 200CDI chugging around with AMG bumpers. And a bloody tow hook. Grrr..

All the time I "wasn't allowed".

What you've discovered makes perfect sense. Brilliant.

[MarcelM6]

I've checked the VIN plate on my E63 estate (2014) and have a line of numbers above starting with an 'e'

e1*2007/46*0200

Googled it and it took me to a 426 page EU legal document about Type approval for towing. I will try and wade through but does anyone know if these numbers confirm that the car IS type approved for towing?

Going down the rabbit hole...