Towing a Mini Cooper

[Jack Friel]

Does anyone tow a standard shift Mini Cooper? I have a 2002 standard shift Mini. I need to learn the ignition sequence to allow the car to be towed four wheels on the ground, so that the unlocked front wheels can turn in either direction, and, of course, without the engine running. Thanks. Jack Friel

[robertkathy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFp8lOLUKBw

mine goes in the car hauler but this may help

[aether_one]

I believe your Owners Manual simply says to place the ignition switch in position 1.

[WanderingToo]

Flat towed our Mini over 7500 miles behind our motor home. No problems of any kind. Ours was a 2011 manual.

[ThomB]

Ours is a 2013 with a 6-speed. We’ve done about 30K miles in the past 2.5 years.

[brania]

Turn key to acc position . Turn back left to off position. Leave key in ignition. In our 05 Cooper the steering wheel does not lock if this procedure is followed.

[pdeinc]

We tow a 2009 Clubman S and it couldn't be easier. We use a wireless Tow Mate light bar so no additional wiring needed, no steering lock to worry about, no key in ignition to deal with, just hook up and go! Oh yeah, put it neutral first .

[Roadhogger]

We have an 09 mini convertible, stick shift, and have towed at least 2-3000 miles with no issues. Mechanic said it would smoke the tranny. ??? It does rack up miles on the odometer when towed. Thinking of possibly pulling through rest area or large parking lot, let my wife or passenger drive the RV while I run the engine and shift through a couple of gears to assure that transmission components get Lubed.

[pdeinc]

Originally Posted by Roadhogger

We have an 09 mini convertible, stick shift, and have towed at least 2-3000 miles with no issues. Mechanic said it would smoke the tranny. ??? It does rack up miles on the odometer when towed. Thinking of possibly pulling through rest area or large parking lot, let my wife or passenger drive the RV while I run the engine and shift through a couple of gears to assure that transmission components get Lubed.

Not that I'm an expert but I think your mechanic is wrong! Unlike an automatic, there's no pump to circulate oil in a stick shift, it's just the gears rotating in an oil bath so running in neutral has no effect on the tranny.

[FORTRIDER]

Getting ready to set our Mini up for towing and looking for base plate info. Which do you use, Road Master or Blue Ox? I did notice with the RM you do not have to cut one of the braces as you do with the BO.
Think I will also go with a magnetic light setup, worked well on another vehicle as long as I remember to keep fresh batteries in the lights.

[ThomB]

Originally Posted by FORTRIDER

Getting ready to set our Mini up for towing and looking for base plate info. Which do you use, Road Master or Blue Ox? I did notice with the RM you do not have to cut one of the braces as you do with the BO.
Think I will also go with a magnetic light setup, worked well on another vehicle as long as I remember to keep fresh batteries in the lights.

Look at the TowMate tow light. It’s rechargeable.

As for the base plate. I didn’t cut any braces when installing the BlueOx base plate?

[pdeinc]

Originally Posted by FORTRIDER

Getting ready to set our Mini up for towing and looking for base plate info. Which do you use, Road Master or Blue Ox? I did notice with the RM you do not have to cut one of the braces as you do with the BO.
Think I will also go with a magnetic light setup, worked well on another vehicle as long as I remember to keep fresh batteries in the lights.

I went with Road Master for the reasons you stated and was very satisfied with the installation.

I use Tow Mate lights and as another poster stated, they are rechargeable.

[FORTRIDER]

Can someone tell how much drop down they needed to get to the proper towing height?
I know this can vary a bit with different coaches but hoping to get an overall aprx. drop down measurement.

[nomoreosama]

10 inches for me....