:cornut:I've had a good $80 tow hook from a reputable(unnamed) dealer on Margi(08 R56 MCS/JCWm) for 2yrs. 2 mos ago after a wreck, Margi was pulled up onto a tilting bed tow truck, no problem. 1 mo ago my daughter, in her SUV, gingerly and slowly pulled Margi up my gently slopping drive way and 'DING', snapped the hook shaft clean in two:mad2::mad5::incazzato:. Cars nose to a$$ going in a straight line. Any one else had a defective tow hook? More importantly, where do y'all suggest purchasing a new one that's not made out of pot metal? Jason
Your $80 tow hook was notgoodenough....... OEM tow hook works just fine for it's intended purpose..... And they are not made out of pot metal. Designed by the factory MINI engineers using up old cold war Russian armament metal melted down and recast in Romania.... So there ya go.....
Most of the aftermarket tow hooks are purely cosmetic. If you're going to actually pull a MINI, I'd personally use the OEM tow hook.
I wouldn't trust any of that bling stuff, OEM for me. I found another in the trunk of a BMW in the scap yard, same thread size.
FWIW Jason I've been told by a corner worker that some of those tow hooks are not suitable for towing. He told me they request that they be removed when they spot one at a track day. There are good ones out there, but also junk. I use an oem one when I'm on track.
The bolt that attaches through the bumper to the chassis itself.Snapped in half at the 'locking nut' that keeps it from vibrating out. Jason Addendum:I didn't see the above posts soon enough. I bought a "Rennline" $120 that's(they told me)SCCA approved for track use. I also always have my OEM Mini hook in the BOOT. THANKS GUYS
:cornut: Thanks MM. I could get a 1000 lashes,have my dog tags bent, my birthday terminated and have my case set before Nathan and the Moderators for judicial review for that one little slip.:lol::lol::lol::lol: Jason
Tow hook cover - R56 I am planning to install a Rennline tow hook but have a question before I start. I have an R56 and it looks as if the tow hook cover may have some sort of tether that attaches it to the car. Is the tether screwed to the bumper or otherwise attached to the bumper cover? Is it typical to simply cut the "umbilical cord"? Paul
Its that simple eh? Great! I like the Rennline hook..its well made with one exception. It comes with a short piece of clear plastic tube to be used as a spacer. IMHO that is a weakness, so I am machining a spacer of the correct length out of a piece of 7050 aluminum bar. Thanks for the help.
Installed the Rennline. Its nice but I need to machine about a half inch off the thread .. I think it protrudes out a bit too much.
I don't understand the whole leaving your tow hook hanging out thing in the first place.....to me it's like having your shorts sticking up out of your pants. And why only in the front? Why not one in the back too? Unless you're on a racetrack....that is. Same with driving in clear weather with your fog lites on - makes you look like you're too dumb to figure out how to turn them off.