I want to put one of these tow hooks on my mini...and leave it on! but my hubby says someone will come along and unscrew it and steal it!!! its like $60
do you have any advice on special screws to prevent theif? I don't want to glue it on!! I like the way it looks on a mini cooper...

 

Well, you could always use some red "Loc-Tite" or similar threadlocker. I know you said you didn't want to "glue it on", but if you use threadlocker on it, you'll still be able to remove it, just not by hand (at least, not without a big wrench or a length of pipe through the tow hook eye.)

 

I've got mine locktite-ed on the bumper, I'm just running the OEM one with some good brake caliper paint, that seems to have been more durable than the plasti-dip I had on there previously.

Otherwise I do think your other option is really just to trust the common decency of the public around you for not trying.

 

I use the tow hook for my license plate, and it's just screwed on there. I do worry about it being stolen, but it's a risk I have to take since I frequently remove it.

I had to remove it when I took my car to the dealership for service. I also remove it whenever I wash my car.

I don't know, maybe you can electrify the tow hook

 

Is it required to remove, when you take your mini into the dealership for service????? and why do you have to remove it when you wash your car???? problems? thanks..

 

I have taken my car to the dealer with the license plate holder on and they don't care. Heck my MA has one on his Mini. You don't have to remove it to wash your car unless you want to make sure that you have cleaned your entire bumper. The only time you would have to remove it for service is if the dealership had to do something to your car that required taking the bumper off.

 

it was just for the routine maintenance stuff. I think they wanted me to remove it because they were gonna put it through the car wash.

I custom made my license plate holder, so it's really close to the bumper making it hard to clean behind it. I'm using the black, plastic license plate backing, so a lot of people don't notice it's not screwed onto the bumper.

 

Can I ask why you want to leave a tow-hook sticking out of your bumper?

 

I have NEVER understood why people do this.

 

Why ask why? People are going to do what they want. These tow hooks are designed for looks. It gives the car a race car look even if more than half of the people who have them on their cars haven't even ran a lap at an auto x event let alone a serious track event. That's why people have them sticking out of their bumpers, just for an aggressive look.

 

Worried about someone stealing a tow hook? Don't think about it too much or you will start to really worry about what else is easy to steal from the outside of the car.

 

I think some people may do it to protect the bumper from people who don't know how to park.

 

These tow hooks have a lock nut on them. So all you need to do is tighten up the lock nut and no one will be able to remove it w/o a wrench.

 

I've never seen a Mini or the like at an autocross with a tow hook sticking out of the front bumper.

 

yea i don't get it but a lot of people don't get why i have a minidomore hitch

enjoy your mini. put the thing on and drive it!

 

because it looks kewl, MAN

 

A lot of modifications you do to a car can easily be stolen. I don't know who would want to steal a tow hook however. Just htfu and buy it if you want.

 

There have been a couple of postings here on NAM about people getting their tow hooks stolen, so I think the OP has a legit concern. However, as someone else mentioned, if you tighten it properly it will be impossible to remove without a tool.

I'm firmly in the camp that thinks it looks perfectly silly to have the thing dangling off the front of the car in normal driving, and I often wonder why it's cool to have one in the front, but not the back?

Still, to each his own.....

 

Many series require you have them installed at the track so when you end up in the gravel it's faster for them to toss the hook on there and pull you out, resulting in less full course yellow time for everyone.

And the "pull-to-inflate" ones are funny.

Each to his own when it comes to styling, some people like CHROME and some people like BLACKEDOUT cars it's all a matter of personal preference and isn't modding your MINI about making just a little more your own the whole point anyways? Regardless if you're into looks, power suspension or otherwise.

 

They need driving lessons more than an ugly hook sticking out the front of he car like an abscessed growth. Why not use a short pole and have even more clearance?

 

Your tire valve covers are much more likely to be stolen. Now start worrying about them!

 

now i do like the idea of a short pole...perhaps sharpen a steel pole to a lance so you can go after idiots in front of you.

 

I painted mine with invisible paint...now I have the best of both worlds: a cool hook on the car, but no one can see it to steal it!

 

Speaking of...someone stole one of mine! WTF. It's the stock ones too that just say TPMS Inside...weird..

 

Can I ask why you chose the color and options for your Mini, when you could have had one exactly like mine instead.