[Angib]

So who is going to photograph the VIN plate of their new F56 Cooper to see if Mini have homologated it for towing, so that it can be legally fitted with a towbar in the UK? I've read elswhere that Mini have decided to not bother homologating any F56 Mini for towing, due to low customer demand, and it would be nice to know the answer.

What is needed is someone with a Cooper (not an S, which have never been homologated for towing) to photograph the VIN plate from their car. It is in the door shut on the left side and there is no need to show the whole VIN number if you are concerned about that.

It would be good if it was a Cooper without an optional spare wheel, as that used to prevent a towbar being fitted on R56 models and maybe Mini's computer production system is clever enough to not show a towing weight on the VIN plate if a spare wheel is fitted.

Here is the plate from my Roadster, showing that it is not homologated for towing as the second line of weights (which should be the maximum car + trailer weight) is blank.

 

[MintMark]

My cooper with a spare wheel looks like your example... nothing in the second row.

 

[profiteroles]

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/october/1315720


Magazine WhatCar have been having a Cooper on long term test and mentioned the non-towing issue in this month's update. Also applies to the 5 door

 

[Stingray82]

In Canada we are told that towing with any gasoline turbo car is a "no-no".

I would be tempted to ask what you would want to tow with such a small car but I have seen the YouTube videos showing a tiny European car chugging by with 30 feet of travel trailer behind it...

 

[jeremybingham]

I had a towbar on my mr2 mk2 .I am a windsurfer and it towed the kit on a small trailer beautifully! Great for transporting garden rubbish to the tip and keeping the.car clean too. Dec think mini has missed a trick here.

 

[dinger]

I know this might sound a stupid question,but is the tow bar for a bike rack.??????

 

[jeremybingham]

You can get towbar mounted bike racks, roof ones or ones that hang off the rear hatch. Mine has a gap as in the picture.

 

[Peterg]

There is a bike rack available that attaches to the two rear towing eyes.

 

[dinger]

There is a bike rack available that attaches to the two rear towing eyes.

That's want I am after however the only place you can get one at the moment is in Germany via there dealerships.

 

[Stingray82]

Did I misunderstand? Is the tow bar for towing a Mini behind your RV? I am surprised there would be laws regulating that?

 

[Dalboyne]

I've been having a real argument with MINI Customer Support in the UK over this!

What I can tell you is that NONE of the new generation of MINIs are homologated for a towbar, as they can't tow ANYTHING!

The official statement from MINI says:

"the F55 and F56 MINI do not produce enough torque, due to its power to weight ratio, for towing."

I'm pretty sure thats rubbish, but they refuse to provide any data to back up this statement, and they dont want to talk to me any more about it!

So, after many happy years and loyal years of MINI ownership, and with enormous sadness and reluctance, tinged with anger at MINI for taking away a facility we already had with our Clubman, we are being FORCED to look elsewhere for our new car!

In case MINI read this, we WOULD have ordered a new 5-door by now, except for your unacceptable decision to treat gebuibe customers like me as a pariah. And all becuase I want to CONTINUE either carry my bikes on our towbar-mounted bike rack, or haul our little camping trailer on holidays in Europe, as we have been doing for years.

 

[Angib]

"the F55 and F56 MINI do not produce enough torque, due to its power to weight ratio, for towing."

Yes, that is clearly crap as the turbo engines produce superb low-down torque. And previously it was only the torque-less Cooper that was homologated for towing.

But approval for towing is a marketing decision and BMW/Mini don't see enough reason to homologate the F55/F56 for towing - given how many Minis are tart's shopping cars (for tarts of both genders, I should stress), that seems quite reasonable. Mini expect those who want to tow to have bought a Countryman, I guess.

 

[jeremybingham]

Sad as many people would rather bung their rubbish for the tip into a trailer rather than mess the car up. As you rightly say there are I am sure lots of lower powered cars that still tow

 

[Angib]

As you rightly say there are I am sure lots of lower powered cars that still tow

This old photo seems relevant - that Bond has all of 10hp and even though the little Weferlinger caravan is an ultra-lightweight, 10hp ain't much. I've always assumed the bicycle was carried so that on steep uphills, it could be added to the front of the Bond to assist - like steam locos, "double-heading"....

 

[kevmcv]

I'm also desperate for one of these for my bikes. I bought an ex-demo car which doesn't have the factory fitted roof rails and as yet there's no after market roof bars. Have you got any links for me to see the German ones?

 

[kevmcv]

That's want I am after however the only place you can get one at the moment is in Germany via there dealerships.

I'm also desperate for one of these for my bikes. I bought an ex-demo car which doesn't have the factory fitted roof rails and as yet there's no after market roof bars. Have you got any links for me to see the German ones?

Ooops, that was my first post...to avoid confusion, I'm desperate for the rear bike rack not that caravan!

 

[Pwnography]

In Canada we are told that towing with any gasoline turbo car is a "no-no".

I would be tempted to ask what you would want to tow with such a small car but I have seen the YouTube videos showing a tiny European car chugging by with 30 feet of travel trailer behind it...

I used to tow my jetski/pwc behind my fiat 500. Perfect vehicle for the job since it's not much weight to pull around, and the short wheelbase makes it the easiest thing in the world to reverse.

 

[Stingray82]

So who cares what Mini says, just hang a hitch receiver on the back of the car and tow away.

 

[Schroefie]

Towbar from Enganches Aragon

In Spain Europe there is a company where to buy a towbar for the F55/56 and they can also deliver bike, luggage, ski or dog carriers. Search for Enganches Aragon.


In the Netherlands we've the same problem, it's not allowed to tow a trailer behind the F55/F56, it's a shame. That's why i still have a R56 Cooper to tow my camping- or motorcycle trailer. Hopefully BMW/MINI will change there minds and approve towing behind the F56 Cooper, if they do i will buy a F56 right away.



Milco

 

[jeremybingham]

They've not bothered to homologate the f56 for towing. You can with an f54 though. The 4x4 versions rated at 1500kg which would pull our van! Now theresc a thought! And of course the Counrtyman will!

The torque thing is total rubbish. We tow a 1300 kg caravan with our Dacia Duster 1.6 petrol. About 105 bhp and not much more torque! Tows fine! Need to use those gears though!