I have worked with Curt Manufacturing in WI to get a hitch installed on my 2008 Mini Cooper S. They were great to work with and I am quite pleased with the result.

I hope to see the hitch listed on their site soon here. Perhaps you can contact them directly to see if they are selling a hitch for our cars yet.

/ james

 

I'm interested in getting a hitch mount for a bike rack for a new MCS, but the exhaust pipes are smack in the middle of the back bumper. How does this work? Do you have photos of your install? Thanks!

 

I will try to get photos.

From the external view of the car, the only way you can tell I have a hitch is the 1-1/4" cut out at the very bottom of the corrugated body panel.

The entire hitch is not visible. The only part I have discovered that is remotely inconvenient is the hitch pin location, but I don't see how that could have been done any differently and still retain the non-obtrusive appearance.

 

Please post some pictures, it should be good to see another alternative.

 

Also check http://www.minidomore.com/

 

The Minidomore looks like a lovely setup, and would be my choice for serious trailering, but $325 is a lot if you just want to carry a couple bikes occasionally. The Curt will probably be available from JC Whitney for $100 or so, which is much more my speed.

 

The first is an obvious rear shot.
The next 2 are shot looking at a slight upward angle from behind the passenger rear tire.

I will post another set of photos after I mount my bike rack. I had to order keys for the hitch lock, since I misplaced the originals ;-)

 

Thule fold up hitch-mount bike rack... works better on my mini, then it had on my old jetta

I am a bit worried about getting a ticket for blocking my license plate, or the tail lights. I need to look closer to see how impeded the view is.

 

No spare tire attachment?

 

i have a hitch-hauler thing I picked up for my Land Rover, which I converted to work with the smaller receiver size. It would haul a spare tire ;-)

I want to get one of those things that can haul a dirt bike and install that. That would like ridiculous.

 

The Curt hitch for the single/non-centered exhaust late Minis (that is to say, the non-S) is now available. it's Curt #11160 and sells for about $135.

It goes on by removing the bumper, and sandwiching the hitch mounts between the bumper mounting plates and the body, like the Minidomore.

 

I've been waiting for the Non S model to come out. I want to see pictures of the hitch on a non-S if someone is working on an installation now.

 

Not the best picture, but it shows where it comes out.

 

Can anyone offer me a reason to buy the minidomore hitch over the curt for my 09 S? It looks like the same hitch to me (without the $200 up charge).

 

i installed the mini do more hitch on my 05 s this past weekend. took about 1.5 hours which included dinner. i thought about waiting for another manufacturer to make one, but i have been impressed with mini do more (i bought the tachon) and they are ohio based (i am in ohio). no regrets.

 

Looks like we missed you by a week. Check out the hitch systems for ALL MINI' at http://www.autoxcooper.com/MINI_Cooper_hitches.html

A system for every MINI and easy wire kit too.

 

$228 for the 11160? Isn't that a bit steep?

 

Better yet check out the www.minifini.com one.

 

Does the 11160 fit the Clubman, non-S?

 

Well take a look at the other designed for the MINI on the market and after you do ALL the math on ALL the parts you need I think you'll see $228 is a deal and it ships for FREE with AXC. Curt sets the prices I don't.

The MINIFINI is a fine system, but it's a system that reqs at least two parts to get the same use and ends up costing more then twice our system.

Yes it will fit and so will the 11130.

 

It looks like the curt hitch for me. Found it for $115 at hitchesonline (I've ordered from them before). Not sure what shipping is, but I'm sure it isn't $113.

"The Curt 11130 Hitch with draw bar fits ALL MINI Cooper S models from 2002 to 2010. Without cutting anything." - you still have to cut the valance. Just an FYI

 

WOW, they must sell a million of them to make a dollar. Not sure why they are that low. I was told by Curt to sell them at MSRP. The FREE Shipping is being paid for by AXC. I have emailed Curt and asked them about this other dealer. It wouldn't be the 1st time an on line dealer made a mistake in adding a product or under cutting other dealers.

If you need that hitch buy it from them at that price cause matching that price will cost me cash.

 

I suspect they buy in bulk. I have the same issue in my line of work.

 

Just recently installed the minidomore. Curt looks to be the same basic design. Wish I could have saved my self some $$$$$.

idioteque - I just got the same bike rack. How do you like it?

 

I'm interested in this hitch for my Clubman S, assuming it will fit. Minidomores hitch for the Clubman has had some issues with bolt hole alignment that have supposedly been resolved. Has anyone actually installed the Curt hitch on a Clubman S? Where does the receiver come out on the bumper or valance?