What bike rack

[Carol]

I tried a couple of Thule before l got the Pro User , also it was displayed by one of the organisers of the Marco Polo VW meet in 2019 , might be able to get from the shop

 

[Jamboree]

I tried a couple of Thule before l got the Pro User , also it was displayed by one of the organisers of the Marco Polo VW meet in 2019 , might be able to get from the shop

I was very interested in the Pro User product line --- however I've tried to contact them via their website eMail and have not received a response, Also - their website is broken in soo many places that I'm not sure they are even in business any longer. I'm concerned giving money to a company that can't even keep their communication platform working.

 

[Carol]

Hi ,Just checked I purchase Pro user from Hollandbikeshop.com. Just logged in everything seems good, als o purchase cycle parts for Cube acid ,much cheaper than UK shops.Can always pay using Paypal then no worries. I once ordered someting on ebay paid with paypal and item was rubbish.So i contacted the company got no reply, emailed paypal and within days had a refund, they didnt even want me to send it back,

 

[Carol]

Maybe they also got pandemic problem

 

[GeorgeG]

Hi ,Just checked I purchase Pro user from Hollandbikeshop.com. Just logged in everything seems good, als o purchase cycle parts for Cube acid ,much cheaper than UK shops.Can always pay using Paypal then no worries. I once ordered someting on ebay paid with paypal and item was rubbish.So i contacted the company got no reply, emailed paypal and within days had a refund, they didnt even want me to send it back,

That’s why I never use eBay. It’s rigged to protect the buyer as otherwise the whole business model would collapse. You increasingly hear horror stories of utterly disreputable buyers (scammers in modern parlance) having no intention of paying for things by demanding a refund on the fraudulent basis that the item was not as described, or damaged, or not delivered. eBay rarely investigates and, as you say, they don’t even have to return the goods. End of rant.
I use Gumtree (no fees) and buyer collects and pays cash.

 

[Carol]

Well I never suggested using e-bay , I suggested paypal as you were concerned about Hollandbikeshop.com,
Try reading the reviews

 

[GeorgeG]

Well I never suggested using e-bay , I suggested paypal as you were concerned about Hollandbikeshop.com,
Try reading the reviews

eBay owned PayPal for a number of years until about 5 years ago. They still have a close relationship and operate the same ‘protect the buyer at all costs’ business model. I was just making the point that it’s great for buyers but risky if you’re a seller, particularly of high value items. Just saying .... not having a dig. Apologies if you took my comments the wrong way.

 

[Jamboree]

Here's the deal --- if you are selling a product on your website, and I can't get enough information from that website about the product --- then I don't think I'm going to risk my bank account on your product.

Sadly - the product on this website is probably the "better" / more to my needs then any other product on the market --- but we will never know.

 

[BabaJen]

I have an Atera 2 e-bike carrier.

Weighs in les that 15 kg, doddle to pur on and off the van and easy to lift 2 heavy bikes on to. Downside is you can't tow anything else with it so I'm also having to fit a cycle rack to my caravan to be able to tow that and carry the bikes.

 

[lenju]

finally I got a ATERA STRADA DL3 and I have to say that our MB V Class 2019, the tail gate clears by half inch. So far so good!!!

 

[Carol]

That’s brilliant , is it the 3 bike carrier

 

[Jamboree]

.

 

[Kiwi Ange]

I considered Thule, but my local dealer wasn’t convinced any of their models would work with the MP - and he fitted my towbar so he knew the issue with clearance. Personally, I’d be very cautious about buying a Thule, especially by internet without demonstrating that it works.

Hi George. Did you have an official Mercedes tow bar retrofit at a Mercedes dealer...? Would be good to know where and if you'd recommend them.

 

[Carol]

Mine is a Pro User plus 2 , takes 2 e bikes , and has tilting action to allow bikes to tilt whilst locked on , and tailgate opens , also has new continental socket that plugs direct into Mercedes electrics,

 

[GeorgeG]

Hi George. Did you have an official Mercedes tow bar retrofit at a Mercedes dealer...? Would be good to know where and if you'd recommend them.

Apologies for late reply. I had a very good quality Westfalia removable tow bar fitted by a specialist. When I negotiated a ‘free’ towbar with the supplying dealer, even they were going to use a third party specialist as the official Mercedes cost is, from memory (see earlier posts in this thread), over £2000. They assume you’ll be towing the maximum weight and fit an updated oil cooler and do loads of other stuff which is completely unnecessary if you’re just going to fit a bike rack. In the end they knocked off £500 and I arranged fitting myself with a trusted local fitter that I knew.

 

[Kiwi Ange]

Apologies for late reply. I had a very good quality Westfalia removable tow bar fitted by a specialist. When I negotiated a ‘free’ towbar with the supplying dealer, even they were going to use a third party specialist as the official Mercedes cost is, from memory (see earlier posts in this thread), over £2000. They assume you’ll be towing the maximum weight and fit an updated oil cooler and do loads of other stuff which is completely unnecessary if you’re just going to fit a bike rack. In the end they knocked off £500 and I arranged fitting myself with a trusted local fitter that I knew.

Many thanks George. Who did you use to fit the towbar and what tow bar did you go for...?

 

[GeorgeG]

Many thanks George. Who did you use to fit the towbar and what tow bar did you go for...?

Hi Ange, I’m in Dorset and used Dorchester Car Radios who I’ve known since the 1970’s. They branched out into tow bars a while ago - the idea of the owner’s son who is a friend of my son. He is an excellent and very experienced auto electrician, but not much use to you in London.
I had a removable Westfalia tow bar fitted, which I’ve had good experience with before. When it’s removed (for most of the winter) you don’t notice the shallow cut to the rear bumper on its underside.

 

[Kiwi Ange]

Hi Ange, I’m in Dorset and used Dorchester Car Radios who I’ve known since the 1970’s. They branched out into tow bars a while ago - the idea of the owner’s son who is a friend of my son. He is an excellent and very experienced auto electrician, but not much use to you in London.
I had a removable Westfalia tow bar fitted, which I’ve had good experience with before. When it’s removed (for most of the winter) you don’t notice the shallow cut to the rear bumper on its underside.

Many thanks George

 

[JEAK]

I bought a towbar rack direct from Mercedes in Germany. Amazingly, the carriage was only €7, it took 3 days to arrive and returns were free. It is manufactured by Atera and is pretty much the same as an Atera Evo3, except one of the ‘arms’ is different. Also, it came with a high quality canvas bag for free which is sold as an accessory in the UK for about another £50. At the time of purchase - August 2018 from memory - it was on offer at Mercedes Germany for £100 less than the Atera at the Roofbox Company.
I’ve bought a lot of stuff direct from Mercedes Germany, including flyscreens, Brandrup accessories, etc. There service is quick, efficient and good value. Of course a lot depends on the FEX rate as you have to pay by international bank transfer in Euro.

Do you have a link for the German website - daft question but is it in German or is there an English translation.

 

[GeorgeG]

Do you have a link for the German website - daft question but is it in German or is there an English translation.

The Mercedes accessories website is: mercedes-benz-serviceshop.de
Just click on the Union Jack at the top to convert to English. The people you deal with if you have any queries all speak English. Unlike the Mercedes HQ staff and dealers, they know what they’re doing.