Just installed the factory hitch on my 04 ml350

[2bmj]

I looked for the connector to plug the wiring harness into behind the removable panel near the driver’s side rear wheel. I could not find it there. [:(] I found it buried down below near the bottom of the access hole. After trying to remove the inside trim and board to get at it, I realized that the MB techs are not going to go through this trouble to get at it. Looking on the outside of the truck after removing the bumper cover I saw two vents right about where the connector is. Removing the front vent gives access to the connector. Now, I could feed the harness up from underneath the truck and plug it in. [:)] Remove the vent by pushing forward or backward releasing the 2 clips on each side of the vent. The connector may be accessible this way on the 03 too.

[S4toML]

Thanks for the tip, I plan on adding the factory hitch soon.

[myxtreme320]

Yeah, that'll be very helpful. Thinkin of doing that too maybe this summer.

[bobalvis]

For those of you planning to install a hitch, there is one on eBay now, auction # 7935426064.
Bob

[Benza]

bobalvis - 11/19/2004 5:35 PM

For those of you planning to install a hitch, there is one on eBay now, auction # 7935426064.
Bob

Just be careful,
From what the picture on that auction looks like he is missing quite a few parts.
IMO, that is not an OEM hitch.
If someone does buy it from him (which IMO would be a bad move) you need to buy Microencapsulated hexagon screws that can only be used 1x, not to mention the harness and other parts that seem to be missing.
This is what the parts from a OEM hitch look like:

[JimB]

I agree, I feel sorry for the person who bid on it, The L brackets are missing to support the frame/chassis, and something else. But it is OEM though.