Second Hand Mercedes-Benz CLS Towbar

The CLS is a four-door coupé-style saloon, and while Mercedes-Benz did not fit towbars as standard to the CLS, the car was approved for towing and factory-approved or aftermarket towbars were available for it across its generations. Used towbars do therefore exist in the breaker market for this model, so it is a genuine part worth searching for. Bear in mind that any towbar you find will be an accessory fitment rather than a routine production item, so confirming it came from a CLS rather than another Mercedes platform is important when speaking to a breaker.

No — the W219 and W218 are entirely different platforms with different rear bodywork, subframe geometry and bumper structures, so a towbar from one will not transfer to the other. Towbars are mounted to the vehicle's rear chassis rails and shaped around the specific rear valance and bumper cut-out of each generation, meaning the bolt pattern and hanger brackets will differ. Always confirm with the breaker that the towbar they have was removed from the same generation as your car.

The W218 was facelifted in 2014 with changes to the rear bumper and valance, which can affect whether a towbar bracket and wiring harness align correctly with the bumper aperture. The core chassis mounting points are likely to be the same across the generation, but whether the bumper cut-out and bracket positions are identical is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration before buying. Do not assume pre- and post-facelift towbars are a straight swap without that check.

Trim level does not affect towbar fitment in terms of the structural mounting to the chassis, as the rear rail geometry is the same across CLS trim levels. However, different trims can have different rear bumper designs or valance finishes, which may affect how the towbar neck sits in relation to the bumper cut-out or whether a specific swan-neck or flange-head style was used on that donor car. Ask the breaker whether the bumper from the donor car matches your trim level if you want the neatest fit.

Yes — the CLS Shooting Brake (estate body style, W218 platform, sold 2012–2017) has a completely different rear end to the four-door coupé saloon, with different bodywork, a tailgate, and different rear bumper and chassis geometry. A towbar removed from a Shooting Brake will not fit the standard CLS coupé saloon, and vice versa. Always tell the breaker clearly which body style you have before agreeing a purchase.

Engine and drivetrain do not affect towbar fitment — the rear chassis mounting points and bumper geometry are the same regardless of whether your CLS is a petrol, diesel, or 4MATIC four-wheel-drive variant. The part you need is determined by the generation (W219 or W218) and body style (coupé saloon or Shooting Brake), not by what is under the bonnet. Confirm the generation and body style with your breaker and you can disregard the engine when searching.