1st Gen R53 Cooper S Can someone please measure something for me?

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by BruceK, May 5, 2016.

  1. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

    Feb 24, 2015
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    (Hey, get your mind out of the gutter!) :biggrin5:

    I don't have my first generation car with me right now (its still under going hail repair) and I want to order a trailer hitch so I can tow my classic Mini to the Mini Meet in San Diego next month.

    I need to know the distance from the bottom of the backup light in the middle of the rear bumper (or the central rear fog light on the later first generation cars) down to the ground. Once I have that data point, I can figure out whether to buy a hitch receiver that adds height or drops height in order to mate up with the towbar I'll use for my classic Mini.


    So if you have a R50, R52, or R53 I'd appreciate your help. Thanks in advance!
     
  2. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    On my car, 14-1/2" from the ground to the center of the light. Might be 1/2" a 1" higher on a non-lowered car. But I'm not very low in the back.
     
  3. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    Thanks. So your car is lowered slightly?
     
  4. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    I thought I was pretty clear about that. But yes.
     
  5. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    And that's with the car unloaded, and no one sitting in it. Which can affect ride height considerably.
     
  6. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

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    My 03 S with stock suspension measured 14" from the bottom of the backup light to the ground.
     
  7. Ernesto

    Ernesto Club Coordinator

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    Stock 2002 Cooper 15 inches
    [​IMG]
     
  8. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    Thanks very much everyone! Looks like there is a little variance between cars/models -- but that's to be expected. This is just the information I needed.
     
  9. Ernesto

    Ernesto Club Coordinator

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    and good to know mine is the longest ;-)
     
  10. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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