Does Every Mini have the Tow Hook or is it only the "S" ?

 

they all have the holes for them. you just have to buy them and install them

 

I found my hook in the "tool kit"

I'll bet you have one there as well.

 

i cant find the hole for the tow hook anywhere!

 

Should be int he "tool Kit" If oyu want a spare you can pick one up and the dealer for ~$25 (Before any discounts) I've seen a few Vendors stock them for ~$35 Then there are the EBay Tow hooks for ~$40 and an aftermerket one that looks like th EBay variety but if functional, that is price at or above $90.

Personally I'd only run OEM, I've got one, I really should pick up a second. There is a hole passenger side about the height of the fog lights, little screwdriver to pop it out, and there is a circle on the bumper passenger side you can pop that out as well and insert it there if nessacry.

 

Here is about the height it is on the front (While I know you have an MC it is a point on the frame that it connects to so it should be in the same approximate location in referance ot the frame not the body work)


Those are parking not fog lights.

 

I believe the threaded tow hook hole is a European thing. All the new cars over there are required to have that sized threaded hole. That way any tow truck can hook up to any car.

Hard to tell if your average tow truck driver in the US of A would carry one of the tow hooks, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Seems pretty rare that you would ever actually need it, no?

 

Every MINI comes with a tool kit from the factory. In 02-04s MCS it came in a small tool kit in the boot. All MCs its in the tool kit above the donut spare. In 05-06 MCS they are in a small styrofoam bundle next to the battery in the boot.

 

HERE are some better photos. I think I still have enough rubber paint for one or two more hook coatings as well.

 

You MAY find your tool kit in one of the side removable boot pannels (thats where mine was from day 1 ... maybe the dealer puts them in ???)

 

Here it is on the new (05-06) MC body work


rehsper- Most US tow drivers will be clueless about it and some even refuse to use it, unless you want to risk serious damage insist upon its use. Also most Racing sanctioning bodies require 1 or 2 in order to get out on a road course, you get stuck in the sand or gravel pits the drop a rope in and just pull you offf instead of lifting it. When ina trailer or on a flat bed it is the safe secure point wher you won't harm the tranny, brakes or alignment by using it.

 

I know why it's there and what it's used for. I just can't figure why anyone would want to make it a "feature". Looks like a good way whack ones shins.

 

Because they think it makes their MINI look more like a bona fide race car.

I think they're silly on a street car too.

 

I also dislike them because to the casual observer, seeing a tow hook on a MINI might lead them to the conclusion that they are prone to going off the road often; and in need of rescuing. Nothing could be farther from the truth, given our MINI's excellent handling!

Yes, on a a Hummer H2, a tow hook seems to make sense, both visually and functionally. On a Ford F150 pickup truck, a tow hook surely makes sense, because it might actually be used, and used often.

 

My front license plate is mounted in the tow hook hole.

 

I like the way it looks thats why i put mine in.

 

Mounted on the car they also act as a stop for other cars bumbers before they crack the paint.

 

Mine is on now, it'll stay on until I'm consistantly dinging (ice warnings, and the raods are still extremely crappy) It also goes on when I'm at the track, I used to run it more but the paint kept fading so I stopped. I'll also soon be swtiching to a tow hook lisence plate mount.


I thought I was once going to have a car wreck they cut me off so close to this day I can't figure out how they didn't hit it.

 

FYI.
I wanted to know if I had a tow hook for my MCS in the bag...I did.
Curious as I am I wanted to know if it would fit... and it did not.
As it turned out the starting thread was so bad that it would not go into the vehicle. I had to file it clean before it would go in.
Do check the tow hook and be sure it will fit in the event that you will need to use it.

 

I always had a hook in both the front and rear when I was up north in the winter. And I had to use one last summer when I blew a tire and went for a wild ride into a 10 foot deep ditch. One came in the tool kit, got the other from the dealer in Winnipeg for free.

Mark

 

wow! thanks for the link to the coating. i just found my tow hook last night!!! i had no idea there was another compartment under the boot good work, detective.

 

How much is a can of that rubber paint? is that in spray form or do i need to use a paint brush?

 

Read your owners manual about the tow hook.

Mine has been used to help be secured on a Dyno and also to be pulled up on a rollback. Wait until you break and have to be pulled up on a rollback. NO WAY are you gonna have em hook onto your frame, especially if you have an Aerokit. The hook is there for a reason......thus the term "TOW HOOK"

 

so, I'd like to paint mine red and put it on the front. my car is pretty stock with blue and chrome... no stripes, but i think a touch of red would be cool.

i saw imagox's thread about painting them with the rubberized paint...

just curious... since they just screw in, is anyone worried that:

a) the tow hook will get stolen
b) someone will hook a chain up to their Hummer and tow the MINI away?

or am i just extremely paranoid?

 

Yes, look for the bent coat-hanger under the first-aid kit. It's shinny gold...