Does anyone have a bike rack that they use with their mini? We are expecting to get ours at the beginning of May and are looking into options. It looks like the one that mini sells will cost around 800 bucks for the entire install (according to the dealer!) Ouch. Also, not crazy about putting holes in the rear bumper. Any other ideas?

 

My response from the other thread follows - but I also might add that this bike rack solution is very sturdy and very flexible - since the mount permits a lot of other fixtures other than the bike rack - see web site below for all the possibilities.... I can't imagine carrying a bike on the cabrio any other way except for a trailer actually - this setup keeps potential damage away from the car (no "lean on" racks or roof racks that leave dimples in your top) and that is worth the premium to me.

The tubes are not in the bumper but actually project from the grill beneath the bumper. They are shiny stainless steel and look like the muzzles of a couple of artillery cannons. The look is actually rather cool I think - not ugly or obtrusive at all.

For all the world they look like the car-mounted machine guns on the Aston Martin DB5 (James Bond car) in Goldfinger. Since they are rear mounted, they also might be useful to eject oil slicks or flames or tacks or something. One of those switches on the dash must do something back there....

Anyway, I love my little tubes. The company that is now building out its line of fixtures not only has the bike rack but a tow hitch for this set up. They are planning a ski rack as well (I am very interested in that one - since I have a cabrio).

Here is their web site -

http://www.minifini.com/

Hope this helps -

Bill

 

Flankmank, I have the solution for you! Check out www.miniaturetrailers.com. We offer a hidden receiver hitch that resides behind the bumper and uses the small opening in the bumper for access to the receiver. Our receiver hitch is $325 shipped anywhere in the US.

For your bike carrier, I recommend the 3 bike carrier from Bike Nashbar. It is cheap at $79, very sturdy, and works great with our receiver hitch.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...reid=&pagename=

We developed this receiver hitch initially for my MCSC when I was looking for more space and the ability to take my bikes along but couldn't use a roof rack!

 

I saw this hitch and it does look appealing since it does not require any drilling in the body of the car. Any suggestions on who would install this? Can this hitch take any hitch rack? I want to get a rack that is easily removed and I think most of them connect to the hitch with hard ware. Saris seems to make one that doesn't use hardware to connect.

 

A number of customers have contacted local MINI tuner shops, the dealer, or local hitch installation shops for install and have been satisfied with the results.

As for the Nashbar bike carrier above, it uses a 1/2" hitch pin that is easily installed and removed. It does come with a 1/2" bolt also if you wish to make a more permanant installation.

 

Brent, (sorry for the 2 year delay question :D )
Do you ship to Canada?

Flankmank, did you get a bike rack?

 

Yes we ship to Canada.