UK towbars.

5668 Views 14 Replies 8 Participants Last post by SimonA, Jul 29, 2004

Apial

Discussion Starter · May 21, 2002

I just asked a local dealer if the official MINI towbar was available yet. The reply was negative, but it was to be released imminently. However the cost of £680 fitted came as an unwelcome suprise.

Is there an alternative, or will the towbar end up costing more than the whole trailer???

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

Rog G

· #2 · May 23, 2002

I recently emailed Witter on the subject, and their response:

Thank you for your recent enquiry. The towing bracket for the BMW mini is our reference BM17 - £125.00 + VAT and is now available.

monsta

· #3 · May 23, 2002

Rog G said:
I recently emailed Witter on the subject, and their response:

Thank you for your recent enquiry. The towing bracket for the BMW mini is our reference BM17 - £125.00 + VAT and is now available.

Who are Witter? Is there a web link?

spanky2k

· #4 · May 23, 2002

Go to www.witteronline.co.uk. They have the MINI under the BMW car model section.

monsta

· #5 · May 23, 2002

spanky2k said:
Go to www.witteronline.co.uk. They have the MINI under the BMW car model section.

cheers

dietcokeplease

· #6 · May 23, 2002

monsta,

mudflaps, towbar....... G8BAD will be having a field day mocking you!

String-backed-glovedDC

monsta

· #7 · May 23, 2002

I don't think he will mock, he knows my plans for the towbar...

Apial

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 23, 2002

Just been quoted £180 inc vat and fitting for the witter bar with single electrics. Its not removable like the BMW one, but it is £500 cheaper.

Swil

· #9 · Jun 7, 2002

My MINI has a towbar!!!!

I have just been to have a towbar fitted by Towsure in Sheffield. Towsure used my car to test fit their new towbar which the same as the Witter towbar they bought and then fitted to my car free of charge.

Towsure will have stock of their towbars in 3 weeks time, sounds like demand has been very high.

I will get hold of a digi camera and get some photos posted this weekend.

Sadly it is not removeable and development has not started yet on those.

Apial

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 8, 2003

John Cooper Towing Equipment.

Brinks towbars have just released (Wednesday 7/5/03) a detachable towbar to the MINI after market. I have been told that it is identical to the original BMW one that Brinks make for them already, but I will not be able to confirm this until mine is fitted next week (15/5/03)by JCTE.

The price for the towbar is normally £235 inc vat, but prices will vary from dealer to dealer. Mine is being fitted for a special price as it will be the first one that they have done. A different dealer quoted me £335 with single electrics fitted. Thats a lot less than the £680 I was quoted by a BMW dealer.

Photo to follow when fitted, without caravan of course!

PS
John Cooper Towing Equipment is in Messingham near Scunthorpe Lincs, and not connected to the other famous firm of the same name (I think!).

bakerjc

· #11 · Feb 15, 2004

Bump it up!

Apial said:
Brinks towbars have just released (Wednesday 7/5/03) a detachable towbar to the MINI after market. I have been told that it is identical to the original BMW one that Brinks make for them already, but I will not be able to confirm this until mine is fitted next week (15/5/03)by JCTE.

The price for the towbar is normally £235 inc vat, but prices will vary from dealer to dealer. Mine is being fitted for a special price as it will be the first one that they have done. A different dealer quoted me £335 with single electrics fitted. Thats a lot less than the £680 I was quoted by a BMW dealer.

Photo to follow when fitted, without caravan of course!

PS
John Cooper Towing Equipment is in Messingham near Scunthorpe Lincs, and not connected to the other famous firm of the same name (I think!).

Did you ever post pics, and what are your experiences with your setup?

Jeffrey

Apial

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 15, 2004

2

bakerjc said:
Did you ever post pics, and what are your experiences with your setup?

Jeffrey

Here are the pictures. Since taking these I have transferred the bar to my new ONE D. No problems with the bar at all. The MINI is very smooth towing due to the rear overhang being minimal. The ONE needs a bit more torque with a loaded trailer, mainly at moving off, but once on the move it is fairly surefooted. I have yet to try out the diesel, but the exra torque should make it better.

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bakerjc

· #13 · Feb 15, 2004

Many thanks...quite the quick response from a thread that is so old........

Does this conform to the 1100 or so pounds that MINI states it will pull?

Apial

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 15, 2004

The problem with the weight limit is to do with MINI. By normal standards the car should be able to tow 85% of its kerb weight ie about 1000kg, but MINI say a lot lower. This might be due to the mounting points limit. Any way the Brinks bar rating is much higher than the MINIs limit. I think that the MINIs limit is 800kg on hills of less than 8%, 650kg on slopes of less than 12%. You wil need a light weight caravan behind a MINI!

SimonA

· #15 · Jul 29, 2004

Argh!!

Hi all, I'm a little late to this thread.

Just had a Bosal removeable tow bar fitted.. it's a nice neat fit..

HOWEVER!.. I bought a Thule tow bar carrier which states that you should have a minimum D-Value on the towbar of 7.2, mine is 4.45

SO I'm not a happy chappy. £350 wasted on something I can't use.

Does anyone know what this "D-Value" of the towbar is? and what harm will happen if I use it anyway?

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

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