I, today painted my tow hook with multiple coats of super glossy red paint. It looks dynamite. I want to put it on, but I have an M7 grill, which doesn't have a popout like the stock one does. I would like to know if anyone on here has done it, and what the most efficient and best looking way to do it is with the M7 Grill. Also if you have any pics of it they would be appreciated very much!

Thanks!

Chili aka "Mikey"

 

MSFITOY did it and he has lots of great photo inhis gallery. It looks great on the M7 grille.

 

I would also like to know. My best idea is to take the whole front end off and screw a short bolt of the same thread pattern into the base. Then re-attach the bumper and the bolt should almost be touching the grill. This would tell you exactly where to cut the hole. Unless someone comes up with a better idea, I'm planning on using it for my Out Motoring driving light bracket install as well.

 

I found this photo. I don't know who's car it is though.

 

I've read that its not recommended to leave a towhook installed when not in use because it could interfere with proper airbag deployment.

 

I hadn't heard that. I just put mine on tonight.

 

that's my car... thanks

what I did was install the grill and bumper. Go to Home Depot and get some black "Hole Grommets 3/4" inside diameter #74134, Buchanan brand . Go home and cut a small hole in the grill with some clippers, right in line with the tow hook hole. Then go a little bigger until the tow hook goes through. Then cut until the grommet fits... Mine looks perfect as you can see

 

where do you guys get tow hooks?

 

Go to the boot of your MINI. Open Hatch. Lift up carpet in back. You should see a battery, and near it you should see a styrofoam chunk/case. Pull it out. Open it and there is your tool kit along with your tow hook!

 

So what do the grommets attach to? Do they come in black?

 

dealer can sell the tow hook, but i hear they charge an arm and a leg

i think outmotoring sells them

 

the outside of the grommet has a groove in it, it is approximately the thickness of the grill. So you squeeze the grommet to make it smaller, insert it into the hole and then expand it 'around' the hole... not sure how to explain this any better...

 

no I totally get it! it's like a pulley or something right?

 

I just dynoed my new hook and got 25 more horsies Yeeeee Hawwww

 

Were you using the good old butt dyno? I would have thought it would have been worth at least 35hp since you can get 20hp out of a (type R) badge.




Anyone concerned about the airbag issue?

 

Design vocabulary called the "eye candy" factor. I look at it and go, "Damn...that looks faster!"

Air bag issues?

 

how is yours installed MSFITOY?

 

The same as the stock piece...righty tighty, lefty loosie

 

no i mean with your M7 grill

 

I coated my tow hook in "Plastic-Dip". The same stuff you put on tool handles and it looks sweet. I need to snap a pic of it

It doesn't add as much hp as MSFITOY's hook but it gets points for DIY

 

There is two photos I took today of my brake caliper paint job. It show the tow hook. I use the G2 caliper paint on the hook as well. It looks good (I think) but on a HP level maybe 2 or 3 tops!

 

MSFITOY This is what I was refering to. Has anyone heard of problems concerning this.

 

What would cause the problem? Is it because it would push the bumper earlier when another car hit the tow-hook side in an impact?

 

I'm not really sure.

Maybe it would hurt how the sensor reads the accident because the bumper takes a little of the initial hit. The hook might cause it to register the impact diffently. That is a wild guess. I had not heard of any concerns untill I read post # 5. I just painted and put mine on so I'm going to risk it.

 

Pretty sure it won't affect airbag deployment - that is based on g-force loading, from what I've heard.