I have an 05 MCS on order. I didn't notice any tiedowns underneath the cars at the dealer. For those that trailer their cars to races, how do you secure your cars to the trailer? I've heard that tying down via the rear trailing arms is a no-no, as they are easily bent.

 

The Mini has an eyelet that screws into the bumper for the tiedown. When you receive your car, its one of the things that your MA will go over with you. Stores in the boot and there is a small cover that goes on to the bumper to hide the threaded hole.

 

HI CincyMini! I'm assuming that you're in Cincinnati. What kind of racing are you planning on doing with your Mini? My hubby and I started auto-xing this year when he got his Evo and I'm waiting for my Mini to be built in January. In the area we tend to go to Scarlett Oaks and Wright State to auto-x. Maybe we'll see each other next year. Have fun waiting for your Mini!

 

I don't think it would be that good of an idea to tie down the car using the tow hooks, probably tying down the frame would be your better bet. There should be plenty of places on the frame to tie off from, heavy-duty thick steel is your best bet. :smile:

 

Nope, the tow eyelets are NOT for tieing down to a trailer.

The jacking blocks on the bottom of the car are removed, in their place is a slot (common to all BMWs), in that slot you insert what's called a "T Hook" that has an eyelet. To THAT eyelet, you put your strap hook on, crisscross the straps attaching to the trailer and that's it.

Believe it or not, some people have hooked to suspension components and/or used wheel straps, I recommend against that.

Brian
(trailering my '02...the RIGHT way)

 

by any chance, is the "T" hook someone referred to the same as the "T" hook used to tie-down C5 corvettes ? if not, where might one buy these ?

JC in StCharlesMO

 

Jerry, did you ditch the zed ought six for a Mini?

Carl in St. Louie

 

Bob Tunnel sells the T-hooks that fit BMW's:
http://www.tunnellracing.com/

Cheers,
Dave

 

Brian, et al:

Once you remove the jacking blocks for towing purposes, how do you safely jack up the car? Does this create issues when you take it to the dealer for service?

Jim Z
O5 MCS on order

 

My jack has a flat rubber pad, so I simply place that in the same location as the hole, or where the block used to be. If your jack has "teeth", put a block of wood on it to jack where the holes are.

I've towed my car TO the dealer on the trailer, it wasn't an issue, and I wouldn't expect it to be since the cars have those holes there for a reason. Now, I'm sure a non-race friendly dealer would want to know why you're towing it, or why the blocks are gone. But, the blocks install within a minute total. Removing them takes about 5 minutes if you're not fast.

Not sure what Bob sells them for, but when I called him and he didn't have any, they just referred me to Northern Tool.

Brian