Hello all,

I'm new here, but I've been lurking for a while now. I'm wondering if any of you have a bike rack for your 2009+ vert. If so, which one do you have and do you have any photos of your MINI with it attached. That seems to be a hard thing to find on these interwebs...

I'm looking to buy a MINI Cooper Convertible when I move to LA, this summer and would love to be able to haul my bike around.

Thanks!

Zikes.

 

Great questions I too have been looking for this ,also I have the backup sensors and I fear this to be quite a job switching out the rear bumper and mounting a trailor mount. Please if any info it would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Peppy PW convert s

 

Mini makes one specifically for the vert -

 

How does that one attach? I know that the Mini-fini one you have to drill holes in the back bumper, and I read somewhere that they don't even exist anymore...

Thanks for posting that pic though!

Very helpful.

 

I have been wondering what to do as well. I have a S and do not want to poke a hole in the bumper grill.

None of the options are not cheap. The best bet seems to either do the factory option (not sure if it is available for the 11s) or do a hitch mounted rack. In the end, I think the cheapest options are going to be at least $700 bucks. Hitch install = $350+. Hitch rack = $250 to $350. The factory option is not cheap either, like $750 to $1300.

I did see this movie on youtube for a hitch that was interesting choice. They put the receiver between the exhaust pipes and the bumper. The company makes heavy duty truck hitches. I am guessing this was a project for someone there at the co. The video gives the contact info and claims bolt on even though they show welding it on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWp0nU_ymnY

A few others are:
http://www.minidomore.com/
http://www.etrailer.com/tv-hitch-ins...ni-cooper.aspx

Let us know what you decide.

 

As far as mini fini not being around...that is incorrect. I ordered the sportlink3 on Thursday and it was shipped today via ups. IMO, mini fini's product is by far the cleanest and most durable product on the market.

 

One other item, mini fini has been around long enough that the bike racks can be picked up on eBay and NAM for $125 to $175. Just have patience..and you can snag one at a good price.

 

The original owners of MINI Fini had financial troubles a few years back and sold it to the current owner. So yes, at one point MINI Fini did change ownership but from what I can tell, they are doing fine and nothing to worry about.

 

Thanks for clearing that up guys!

Hopefully I'll be getting my MINI in a couple months...

 

There was a complete sportlink with bike rack listed today in the NAM market place for a good price.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co.../product/17365

 

Has anyone tried attaching a regular clip-on/strap-on bike rack to one of these Mini convertibles?

I just bought a convertible Mini yesterday and have been quoted a price of $500.00 by a local trailer hitch place to install a hitch on it but I'm wondering if maybe there isn't a way to hook a regular bike rack on these. Maybe attach the top clips to the top of the hatch door and the bottom clips to something on the underside of the car?

 

I have a 2010 R57 and have the flat rack that is shown above from what looks to be a showroom picture. You're right, they are not cheap, but it does a good job. There is a piece that mounts underneath the car to the frame. There are two holes cut into the bumper, but there are caps to cover the holes when not in use. I have posted pics in an older post, but will need to go back in and find them. I'll try to post some in the next day or so that will show some close ups.

 

Yeah, the shop I talked to was pretty highly recommended and he told me that even though the minis are a pain to put a hitch on, they come out looking great. But....500 bucks is 500 bucks... If I absolutely have to, I'll find a way but if I could manage to strap a regular $50 bike rack on there I'd be a little happier about it.

Lots of things I'd like to do with the car like stereo upgrade, wind deflector, tints, etc... An extra 500 bucks wold go a long way for me.

 

This is the email I got from minifini.com. It has all the parts needed for a 2-bike rack for the R57. They are in Columbus, OH which is an 6 hr drive for me, having them install it is a definately an option. Passport Mini ballparked me up to $700 to install.

Sport-Link II Price: $324.00 Shipping: $27.75

Sport-Link Attachment Base Price: $228.00 Shipping: Shipping dropped when sent with the bike rack

Bike Rack Attachment Price: $139.95 Shipping: $22.50
The total would be $742.20


Installed here:
Sport-Link II Price: $324.00
Sport-Link Attachment Base Price: $228.00
Bike Rack Attachment Price: $139.95

Installation $250 provided you do not have rubber mudflaps. Extra charges
if they are in place.

Total would be: $941.95

 

Depending on what kind of bike you have, I'd consider a regular 1-1/4" hitch from minidomore and add a tray-style rack that holds the tire instead of the frame like a Thule T2, Yakima holdup, or Kuat Sherpa. Personally, I'm not a big fan of hanging my bike on a rack like the minifini and others.

 

This is what I did. It worked out pretty well as the hitch actually mounts behidn the bumper (Provided you dont have an S) and when you want to access the hitch, you just pop out of piece of trim from the bumper.

I ended up getting a Yakima flat bed rack. If I had to do it all over again, I would have gotten the Cycle On Pro or a Raxter. Ive owned pretty much every hitch mount out there and those two are the best Ive ever used. I just bought the Yakima because of the $2.99 overnight shipping from Amazon.

 

This is how mine ended up looking. I got rid of the Yakima rack and got the Kuat. Best move I ever made.

 

Some more info -- Check with minidomore. They just came out with a hitch for the 2011 R57. I helped them out by testing an early prototype that wasn't quite right but they finally modified it and are now selling a finished product that works great.

I'm not sure about 2010 and 2009 but I know they have one for the 2011s and I'm pretty sure they have one for the earlier model years too.

 

Their hitch looks okay but no way would I use that bike rack if I had a nice bike. Im sorry but my bike costs almost half of what my car did. Im not going to have it flopping around behind my car on one of those types of racks.

 

I am considering installing the Mini Fini Sport-Link II 1-1/4" hitch assembly, and I am researching bike rack options. Does anyone have a Kuat Sherpa, Kuat NV Core or Kuat NV rack on their Cooper S convertible? Any pros/cons or other bike rack recommendations?

 

Not sure how many bikes you want to carry, but take a look at the 1upusa rack -- it's aluminum sculpture. They only sell direct to keep the cost down, but it's still spendy... but worth it.

http://1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html

I'm not sure how easy it is to get to the hitch pin on the hitch you're looking at, but another nice thing about the 1upusa is the way it attaches -- no hitch pin... just tighten a screw that wedges a ball into the corner of the receiver. This also acts as an anti-wobble feature.

 

The 1up rack is basically a rip off of The Raxter. Thats a great rack, its pretty cheap and works fantastic, Fastest loading and unloading of any rack Ive owned and Ive owned pretty much every rack out there. Make sure you get the Antisway nut with the Raxter tho.. it helps a ton to keep the rack stable.

 

Thanks for the reply. I need to carry 2 road bikes.

 

I'm pretty sure the "rip off" is the other way around, but regardless the Raxter is a lower cost option of the same concept -- steel and plastic versus aluminium. You get what you pay for.

Here's a thread over at mtbr with tons of feedback on the 1upusa.

http://forums.mtbr.com/car-biker/1up...ew-602461.html

You'd want the 1-1/4" version for 2 bikes. I have a 2" receiver version set up for 4 bikes on our Wrangler and it's awesome.

Good luck with your decision and shoot up some pics when you have everything all set up... I see a convertible in my future, so I'm curious.

 

I work for Minifini and I can't say a whole lot at this point but I can tell you that we have an exciting new bike rack design in the works. We are hoping to have it out in time for the Dragon so keep your eyes peeled!