Oh, sure. They blamed it on the poor dog. Probably claim the dog has bad gas too.

Could you connect me with your dealer? My local dealer does not support flat towing. 

Thanks! [email protected]

in Reno, NV

I flat tow a 2011 Clubman S 6-speed using a Roadmaster tow bar and mounting bracket. //www.roadmaster-tow-bars.com/mounting-brackets?id=5&category=%3F&year=30&make=601&model=2508&style=3425

You remove the front facia of the MINI and remove the MINI bumper core ( which is replaced by the Roadmaster bracket.

The instructions are quite clear and use color photographs. You can review those by following the link above. It was not a problem to accomplish this. I think I had to buy a set of Metric star wrenches, but you only need 2 or 3 of them. The system uses hidden towing attachments and when not in use, it is not noticeable that the car is rigged for towing.

A non-S uses a different bracket.

I spoke with the service manager where I bought the Clubman and he found no reason not to do this. He even called the BMW regional office and they had no problem with it. (Except for the person who left their dog in the car while towing. The dog pushed the gear shift into gear and bad things happened.)

We've towed the MINI all over the US and had -0- problems.

I had forgot about the fob slot key and start button on the newer models.

The 2007+ use a fob that inserts into a slot in the dash and have a separate "Start" button. I do not recall if leaving the fob in the dash after starting/stopping the engine will leave the steering unlocked.

A previous poster mentioned, and I recall this from my '03 cooper, (and my '05 m3) -- if you start the car, then turn it all the way off, but don't remove the key, the wheel is still unlocked. Removing the key locked the wheel.

So, if yours is also the same way, just start it up, turn it off, but leave the key in.

As for accessory position...some cars are better than others about it. Generally the radio will stay powered up, etc, and I presume some of the car electronics behind the scenes stay powered on. If you're careful to turn off all the lights and radios, etc, it would seem like that should be fine though.

Don't they have an accessory position like the classics that releases the lock but does not turn on the ignition ?

This was posted on the iRV2 towd forum,

"Just found out after 8 years that on my MINI Cooper if I turn the key ON, then OFF, and leave the key in the ignition that my steering wheel doesn't lock up. Before I would turn the ignition to the ON position to keep the steering wheel from locking while I tow. Unfortunately that drains the battery etc."

My CDN SPEC 2009 and 2012 plain COOPERs both do not have a steering lock.

  Do US spec MINI COOPERS have lock steering?

And you want to make 100% sure that your MINI IS NOT IN GEAR when you tow away.

After a good many miles down the road you don't want to suddenly hear an ear piercing metal on metal sound coming from behind the RV, as the owner of a certain Mini in SoCal did a year ago!

Here is a link to a 3 page thread on towing the MINI four down on the iRV2 forum,

//www.irv2.com/forums/f85/towing-a-mini-cooper-117160.html

MINI does not endorse flat towing the MINI.... 

That said, many of our customers do in fact tow their MINIs behind RV's and we have not heard of any issues resulting from towing.

Since you need the key to unlock the steering when towing - be aware that leaving the key in the ignition for extended periods will drain the battery.

The only caveat is if you have a 'mechanical' type LSD - it can heat up the differential.  (eLSD should be fine).

If you are conservative, the dolly is a good alternative.

Ken

edit:  As for the base plate pins where the tow bar attaches - one of our customers used it to mount driving lights - a very ingenious way to hide the pins!

A number of years ago I talked with a guy who was flat towing a manual "S".  He was using the Blue Ox baseplate/towbar combination.  Very unobtrusive assembly when the connection pins were out and he had experienced no issues to that point.  Last year I also met a guy flat towing a new Clubman. He loved the fact that he couldn't feel it as a tow behind his Class A and the wagon's utility was useful . Said if he had it to do over again, he'd have opted for a convertible instead, sacrificing that utility for the bigger fun factor of the drop top.

Sure, as long as you can attach the tow bar.

I am the owner of a 2004 Mini Cooper S w/ manual 6 speed tranny and would like to tow it flat (all 4 on the ground) behind a motorhome. I have researched this and it seems that it can be done. Can anyone advise yes or no?