R12 000 to replace a trailer plug

[airborne]

Under new consumer laws I am allowed to get someone else to work on the car without affecting the warranty. But you know how Mercedes is. If anything goes wrong afterwards, they are going to say it is all my fault and charge me R70 000 to fix it.

The "difficult" part is probably just the removal of the bumper, find out who your closest Merc approved panel beater is and get a quote from them to replace the plug because they will be well versed and experienced in removing those bumpers including any electronic tomfoolery. I wouldn't be surprised if you put the vehicle on a lift you may even be able to get away with just removing the bottom body cover/plate below the bumper to get access behind the bumper. This isn't rocket science.

The only thing to be aware of is the lane assist/radar garbage may possibly need calibration after the bumper is refitted and that may be why Merc are reaming you on the quote but there may be a way around that - ask the panel beaters because they will know, they deal with that stuff on a daily basis.

 

[JerryMungo]

The car has done about 25 000 km. My caravan slipped off the tow bar because I did not secure it well and the security chain damaged the plug.

Bummer. Sorry man. Can you at least disassemble it to start with? Surely can’t be 10 grands labour.

 

[JerryMungo]

The "difficult" part is probably just the removal of the bumper, find out who your closest Merc approved panel beater is and get a quote from them to replace it because they will be well versed and experienced in removing those bumpers including any electronic tomfoolery. I wouldn't be surprised if you put the vehicle on a lift you may even be able to get away with just removing the bottom body cover/plate below the bumper to get access behind the bumper. This isn't rocket science.

Not a bad idea

 

[airborne]

Bummer. Sorry man. Can you at least disassemble it to start with? Surely can’t be 10 grands labour.

The op could do the job himself if he didn't mind splicing the old cable into the new one, he probably wouldn't have to remove anything in that case, it's a very simple job and there's only about 6 wire to do, save himself R10k in the process

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

The op could do the job himself if he didn't mind splicing the old cable into the new one, he probably wouldn't have to remove anything in that case, it's a very simple job and there's only about 6 wire to do, save himself R10k in the process

It's a R500 job, like I said. That's what my asking price would be

 

[Koos Custodiet]

So here's the thing. The obvious way to fix something like that would be to fit a new plug. However, because nobody is trained any higher than plug & pray, the replacement plug comes with the whole loom going all the way to some coupling station under something else behind something else which to get to you need to take the whole car apart. This makes the replacement plug more expensive, and it makes for a lot of labour, and from a stealership point of view that is a Good Thing.

Me? I would cut the wires and solder the new plug in with heatshrink tubing and call it a day.

(Would probably void the warranty on your rear-view mirror and your catalytic converter and most likely your tyres as well 'cos that's how these ppl operate...)

 

[Stonemason]

So here's the thing. The obvious way to fix something like that would be to fit a new plug. However, because nobody is trained any higher than plug & pray, the replacement plug comes with the whole loom going all the way to some coupling station under something else behind something else which to get to you need to take the whole car apart. This makes the replacement plug more expensive, and it makes for a lot of labour, and from a stealership point of view that is a Good Thing.

Me? I would cut the wires and solder the new plug in with heatshrink tubing and call it a day.

(Would probably void the warranty on your rear-view mirror and your catalytic converter and most likely your tyres as well 'cos that's how these ppl operate...)

That or just open the plug itself and connect the wires. The only problem is that you cannot remove the plug unless you unplug the wiring loom. The wiring is so tight that you cannot pull the damaged plug out to open it up - I have tried that. The whole design of the tow hook with an integrated trailer electrical connection is stupid in any case. Mercedes did this in order for the tow hook to be able to retract out of sight with an electrical motor. When it is retracted, you cannot see that there is a tow bar or any electrical connection.

I am starting to regret my choice of car. I bought the Mercedes because I needed a vehicle strong enough to tow my caravan. The only other option would have been a 3 l bakkie but I am not a farmer or a tradesman, and I refuse to be seen in one. In previous years there were a lot of SUV's that made excellent tow vehicles but these days the choice is very limited.

 

[warwickw]

Its a very straightforward repair
Any competent auto-electrician can do it in 45 mins

Agree, just make sure whoever you get is a paid up member of the RMI, and they give you a proper detailed invoice.

 

[airborne]

That or just open the plug itself and connect the wires. The only problem is that you cannot remove the plug unless you unplug the wiring loom. The wiring is so tight that you cannot pull the damaged plug out to open it up - I have tried that. The whole design of the tow hook with an integrated trailer electrical connection is stupid in any case. Mercedes did this in order for the tow hook to be able to retract out of sight with an electrical motor. When it is retracted, you cannot see that there is a tow bar or any electrical connection.

I am starting to regret my choice of car. I bought the Mercedes because I needed a vehicle strong enough to tow my caravan. The only other option would have been a 3 l bakkie but I am not a farmer or a tradesman, and I refuse to be seen in one. In previous years there were a lot of SUV's that made excellent tow vehicles but there days the choice is very limited.

If you can get access to behind the bumper surely you can release some of the tie on points of the plugs wiring to loosen the wiring?
Also you do get special tools(Temu has them) to remove the pins from these plug connectors so potentially you could remove the pins/wiring from the existing plug and then just replace the plug housing without cutting any wiring . Panel beaters will also have those tools.