Hi

Where can I get the tow hooks that hang down? Preferably in red

 

If you mean like this one...



You can get them from Outmotoring.com

 

Outmotoring lower bumper brackets

 

Any one have an issue with the color fading? I have a red tow hook and within about 4 - 6 weeks it turned from a bright red to a dull pink.

 

The tow hook pictured below is over a year old and as you can see it hasn't faded at all.
The tow hook is anodized red not painted red which might make a difference.

 

Thanks for letting me know your hook has not faded. I got this from Outmotoring which has provided awesome products. I sent them a message last night to see if they have seen this issue.

Thanks again.

 

OEM tow hook. I had it painted red when a company was refurbing my rear calipers. So far, no chips, dents, fading or anything else and I have done 6000 miles and a few track days with it stuck out there.

 

Man, there must be some pretty dumb people walking the streets these days...

I shudder thinking how your roof might have turned out if this guy did the job

Sweet looking MINI! I've got a pure silver too, and I like how the red hook looks on yours...now I can't decide if I want it in silver or in red...black would not be visible enough against the black of the bumper grill, I guess...

 

Any of you stock tow hook keeper inners not like the way they "clock"? When
it ends up not being horizontal or perpindicular when screwd in?

 

When you put a permanent tow hook up front on your Mini; one of those flashy alloy jobs...it becomes a MINI BINKY. Think about that and your "relationship" with your car.

 

I've been looking at tow hooks and some of the ones I have seen on ebay state that they are for show only. Truth to this?

 

I have been looking into a plate holder in the front that screws into the tow hook receptacle:
1) Are there any other spots where one could be easily mounted
2) There is a tow hook receptacle in the back no? Are they the same size?

 

the rear towhook is indeed the same size

 

Yes. One example below. E-bay ones are mostly for looks.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html...ID=TOW/E36/E46



E36 and E46 Racing Tow Hooks
Part #: TOW/E36/E46
Applications: 1992 - 2005 (E36 E46)
E36 and E46 Racing Tow Hooks - collapsible, now mandated by BMW CCA Club Racing. Available in red and black. Folding design meets SCCA, CCA, NASA, and NABR and Grand AM (2007) tow hook regulations. Hook is made from 6061 T6 aluminum and is hard anodized. The inner diameter of ring is 2". When in folded position, tow hook sits behind the furthest point of the bumper. Available in front and rear sets only.
Price: $139.95

 

Outmotoring.com sells this really nice anodized towhook that is functional.

 

i want to buy this but i'm afraid someone will just unscrew it and steal it instead of just pullying i xD, is it hard to take of with bare hands or does it have like a lock or something?

 

I bought this guy on ebay:


States that it has a 1.5 ton towing capacity and looks very similar to the OM one.

I threw Outmotoring.com $33 for 2 beltline blackout kits instead

 

The tow hook I have also came from outmotoring.com and the only issue I've had is that it faded to a light pink color in about 3 months time. I spoke with the owner of outmotoring.com at MOTD09 and he said I could send it back and they would replace it. But, he did say that he couldn't guarantee the next one would not fade. It looks like it is somewhat of a hit or miss proposition as to whether or not the color sticks or not. I've talked with folks a other MINI meets that have red hooks that are still as red as they can be after a couple of years.

In the end I decided to dismantle it and I painted the "hook" part with red caliper paint and it looks great. It is easy enough to take off so if I get nicks I'll just sand it down and repaint. The red caliper paint is a much richer color of red than the original anodized color was so that's a bonus.

Take care.

 

Outmotoring now has a supply of new Tow Hooks that are powder coated (instead of anodized) Red or Black to prevent fading.

 

I'm kinda off subject now, but this was my daughter's first mod, so I had to post

OEM Hook colormatched. I painted it...


...She installed it. She was so proud that she could help Daddy work on Butters.

 

Mine. Front and Back...

 

This may sound silly, but would a little rub down with some Armorall every now and then protect against the fading? I too have the red hook, and when i opened it, i gotta say, I thought it would be a little more red but iv had it for a month now and it still looks good plus no rock chips! (yet)

 

i just put on the OEM one today. i may plasti-dip it in the future though so it fits in with the black grill.

 

rickdaustin,
I recently bought the outmotoring hook as well, and it too faded within 3 months. I was a little bit weary about painting the hook because I thought that the paint would not stick properly. Did you have any issues with your paint sticking? Did you clean it before hand with anything special? Thanks!

 

I just sanded it a bit with a fine grit sand paper. Probably something like 180 or maybe 220. The paint sticks well and I've had no issues other than rock chips. I usually repaint once a year.