Anyone know of any attachments for the Sport Link other than the bike rack? Maybe a Class I hitch?

 

Out Motoring informed me that Mini Fini has been bought and will produce the tow link sometime in the future. I also am waiting for the tow link. I want to set up a small trailer to take my slicks out to the track along with other items. I keep checking the exterior items http://www.outmotoring.com/

BLUMENE

 

This looks like a good alternative to the sport link... This is from an advertiser on the NAM site:

http://www.miniaturetrailer.com/

 

The company that now ownes the pattents is located in Columbus Ohio and is in the process of getting a hitch to market. I met the owner at a MINI breakfast he is a very cool guy and sounds like a pretty good business man as well. Look for some cool options in the future.

 

I already have the Sport Link with Bike rack. So I wait!

BLUMENE

 

Yeah, same here! The Sport Link is really a novel way of attaching things to the back of the car. I also like the fact that it's an OEM option.

I've had people ask me why I have 4 exhaust tips. The answer: it's a 4 banger!

I just wonder whether the groove and pin design can truly pull 1400 lbs as claimed, and whether it's safe for a MINI to haul that much (handling, braking etc.)

More info:http://www.minifini.com/Shop.aspx

 

My MA swears that they are designing a ski rack and a shelf tray for the Sport Link but I have found no corroboration of this. Would love the ski rack but I wonder whether I could fabricate something simple that could clamp into the bike rack and hold skis instead.... Hmmm... new product idea !!

I tell curious onlookers that the extra ports are for the machine guns, oil slicks, and flame throwers - when they scoff at this I show them the line of switches on the dash....

Bill

 

I like that!!

 

I have the sport-link with the mini-fini hitch.I pull a teardrop trailer that is about 700 lbs loaded and have no problems at all. WE are going on the Dragon in may,this will be the test!!!

 

Where did you get yours? Mini Fini has them listed as unavailable.

 

I have found that the MINI can pull, and stop well over 1,000 pounds.

The MINI is light in the rear, and can be pushed around
by the trailer if you do something sudden.

Here is some information I put together a while ago for my web site.

MINI TRAILER TOWING CAPACITY:
You should make your own decision about towing things with an MC(S), and
how that might affect your warranty.
I have a 2004 MINI Cooper S. On page 76 of the owner’s manual under
"Determining cargo limit" it says.
"6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult the manual for transporting a trailer
to determine how this may reduce the available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle." (The 2005 owners manual says the same thing.)
I do not know what trailer transport manual they are referring to,
but this statement certainly is not "no trailer towing or you lose your warranty”.
I n 2004 I found specifications on WWW that APPEARED to be MINI specs.
On two European MINI web sites I found that the MINI (not S)
is rated for towing a fair size load.
On the MINI One, MINI One D, and MINI Cooper; an unbraked trailer should
not exceed 550 KG (1,210 pounds). For a trailer with brakes the
capacity is 650 KG (1,430 pounds). The UK and Ireland sites had a
Tow Hitch listed as a MINI part. It said on one site, 650 KG, and on the
other site it said vertical load (tongue weight) is 75 KG.
For the MCS it said "trailer not possible". (Sure not with the MINI hitch!)
I have been told that folks in Europe do not drive 75 mph when pulling a trailer.
This may be the reason MINI chooses not to make trailer towing equipment
available in this country.

 

Jdewey,
Thanks for the great info.

Mini Fini is sending a batch of the Tow Hitches to paint next week so they will open their eCommerce page to sale of the hitches next week as well. Delivery should begin within a couple of weeks.

They will produce more bike racks after that and if demand is high enough, they will do ski/board racks later (maybe in time for next season)

More history: BMW effectively drove the original Mini Fini out of business with their pricing demands. A Columbus, OH group bought the company and is now in the process of gearing up production again. It's unclear whether BMW will continue to offer the Sport Link feature as an option in the future, but it will obviously be available on an aftermarket basis.

 

I got mine from mini-fini before they quit production.

 

Me, too. I got the next to the last TowLink produced.

 

Fotunately, more coming in the next couple of weeks.

 

tow link now available from minifini.com shipping starts 04/03/06 cood luck
Mickey