skytiger
1st March 2014, 10:43 PM
I though I'd share my experience of fitting a towbar to my Clubman Cooper S.
I bought a Westfalia detachable towbar and 13pin wiring harness from http://www.pfjones.co.uk/mini-clubman-r55-2007-detachable-1.html as it was the best price I could find.
First job was removing bumper.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-24164852_zps874692aa.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-24164852_zps874692aa.jpg.html)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-24164948_zpse1a6b4b4.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-24164948_zpse1a6b4b4.jpg.html)
Then removing crash beam, only a couple of bolts hold it on.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25114342_zps2daaf5fd.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25114342_zps2daaf5fd.jpg.html)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25114254_zps1a9b300b.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25114254_zps1a9b300b.jpg.html)
The towbar attaches to the points the crash beam was removed from previously.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154829_zpsbaa62354.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154829_zpsbaa62354.jpg.html)
This is a close up of where the detachable towbar attaches to, I covered the steel towbar bracket with waxyol to save it rusting down the line. Also with 13pin socket fitted.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154905_zpse0397af7.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154905_zpse0397af7.jpg.html)
Once the wiring was fed to the OSR wheel arch and through into the interior, I refiited the bumper and got on with stripping the interior for the wiring harness which has to go under the drivers side dash through the bulkhead then onto the battery on the passenger side below the window.
First was the rear pillar cover, I removed the airbag cover to reveal a torx screw.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124000_zpsbaab9090.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124000_zpsbaab9090.jpg.html)
Then the tie down points in the boot were removed.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124047_zps773fb700.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124047_zps773fb700.jpg.html)
There are screws holding the panel which the seatbelt goes through then just plastic clips to prise off.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124612_zpsb4baa4da.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124612_zpsb4baa4da.jpg.html)
The rear seats need to be removed sorry no pics, then these two clips on the rear quarter were next.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25125309_zpsf577b383.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25125309_zpsf577b383.jpg.html)
The drivers seatbelt mounting near the floor needs to be removed the rear seat back mounting bracket then the drivers sill panel. After all these are removed the panels can be removed to run the wiring after this I didn't take any more pics as the wiring instructions were nipping my head suffice to say read them a few times before tackling this and it's not too difficult just time consuming.You can see inside from this previous pic seats removed and trim panels.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154829_zpsbaa62354.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154829_zpsbaa62354.jpg.html)
Towbar on ready for some towing, I really wanted it for a towball mounted cycle carrier but I do have a small trailer for various duties aswell.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25174503_zpsc3a6e702.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25174503_zpsc3a6e702.jpg.html)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/2013-01-14135423_zpse9698421.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/2013-01-14135423_zpse9698421.jpg.html)
Sorry it's not a comprehensive step by step guide but I was trying to get finished so missed some pics to show some of the process.
I bought a Westfalia detachable towbar and 13pin wiring harness from http://www.pfjones.co.uk/mini-clubman-r55-2007-detachable-1.html as it was the best price I could find.
First job was removing bumper.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-24164852_zps874692aa.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-24164852_zps874692aa.jpg.html)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-24164948_zpse1a6b4b4.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-24164948_zpse1a6b4b4.jpg.html)
Then removing crash beam, only a couple of bolts hold it on.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25114342_zps2daaf5fd.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25114342_zps2daaf5fd.jpg.html)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25114254_zps1a9b300b.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25114254_zps1a9b300b.jpg.html)
The towbar attaches to the points the crash beam was removed from previously.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154829_zpsbaa62354.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154829_zpsbaa62354.jpg.html)
This is a close up of where the detachable towbar attaches to, I covered the steel towbar bracket with waxyol to save it rusting down the line. Also with 13pin socket fitted.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154905_zpse0397af7.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154905_zpse0397af7.jpg.html)
Once the wiring was fed to the OSR wheel arch and through into the interior, I refiited the bumper and got on with stripping the interior for the wiring harness which has to go under the drivers side dash through the bulkhead then onto the battery on the passenger side below the window.
First was the rear pillar cover, I removed the airbag cover to reveal a torx screw.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124000_zpsbaab9090.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124000_zpsbaab9090.jpg.html)
Then the tie down points in the boot were removed.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124047_zps773fb700.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124047_zps773fb700.jpg.html)
There are screws holding the panel which the seatbelt goes through then just plastic clips to prise off.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124612_zpsb4baa4da.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25124612_zpsb4baa4da.jpg.html)
The rear seats need to be removed sorry no pics, then these two clips on the rear quarter were next.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25125309_zpsf577b383.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25125309_zpsf577b383.jpg.html)
The drivers seatbelt mounting near the floor needs to be removed the rear seat back mounting bracket then the drivers sill panel. After all these are removed the panels can be removed to run the wiring after this I didn't take any more pics as the wiring instructions were nipping my head suffice to say read them a few times before tackling this and it's not too difficult just time consuming.You can see inside from this previous pic seats removed and trim panels.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154829_zpsbaa62354.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25154829_zpsbaa62354.jpg.html)
Towbar on ready for some towing, I really wanted it for a towball mounted cycle carrier but I do have a small trailer for various duties aswell.
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25174503_zpsc3a6e702.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/Cubby%20Pics/2012-11-25174503_zpsc3a6e702.jpg.html)
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/skytiger26/2013-01-14135423_zpse9698421.jpg (http://s229.photobucket.com/user/skytiger26/media/2013-01-14135423_zpse9698421.jpg.html)
Sorry it's not a comprehensive step by step guide but I was trying to get finished so missed some pics to show some of the process.