I have a Mini Mania trailer hitch that I removed from my 04 MCS and need to install on my 05 MCS Cabrio. I am planning to flat tow my 75 Mini panel van to Mini Meet East.

I have had the covers off a Cooper and an S several times and it is easy. The Cabrio's bumper is different because of the boot hinges and the back up alarm sensors. I don't want to screw it up. Has anyone had to remove a Cabrio rear bumper cover that can tell me how to do it?

 

I got the Cabrio bumper cover off. It was no more difficult than the Cooper or MCS. The boot hinges actually fasten to the body just above the bumper structure and are not attached at all to the bumper. There are plastic hinge covers that snap on to the lower hinge bracket and then to the bumper cover. They just pop off. All the rest of the fasteners are basically the same as other MINI's.

The Mini Mania trailer hitch from my MCS fits exactly the same on the MCS Cabrio but was a little more difficult to install. Part of the install procedure requires lowering the exhaust system and the heat shield. On the Cabrio there are several chassis strengthening members that all bolt together under the exhaust pipe. This limited how far the exhaust would drop and made working above the heat shield a bit more difficult.