Picking up tonight and bike rack question

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psl

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Hi all! Glad to have found this forum, I ordered my mini SE the last week of Feb. and am just going to pick it up tonight! Never had a mini,never had an electric car (last car was Prius) so super excited! My one concern is my bike - I assumed (obviously wrongly) that I could put a hitch on my mini for my bike rack but research is showing me this is not easy and maybe not even possible. The other option is the roof (I don't want a bike rack that holds my bike by the frame so no trunk racks) but I don't have roof racks on my mini. Thoughts? Am I just out of luck for a hitch? Can I get roof racks installed? Would love some advice! Thank you all!
:) P
 
psl said:
Hi all! Glad to have found this forum, I ordered my mini SE the last week of Feb. and am just going to pick it up tonight! Never had a mini,never had an electric car (last car was Prius) so super excited! My one concern is my bike - I assumed (obviously wrongly) that I could put a hitch on my mini for my bike rack but research is showing me this is not easy and maybe not even possible. The other option is the roof (I don't want a bike rack that holds my bike by the frame so no trunk racks) but I don't have roof racks on my mini. Thoughts? Am I just out of luck for a hitch? Can I get roof racks installed? Would love some advice! Thank you all!
:) P
Click to expand...

https://www.insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/mini-trailer-hitch.11656/#post-169134

This is the best hitch option, the other ICE MINI hitches (that typically go above the exhaust) fit but require a poorly placed hole cut between the painted and plastic bumper pieces. This one just needs the undertray cut.
 
I'm going to try my old Yakima Super Joe 2, but I don't get too uptight about scuffing the paint. If that doesn't fit I might invest in a SeaSucker, as they seem to get good reviews and I like the clean look. Not sure if anyone here as experience with either of those options on the 3 Door MINI.
 
I went down this path discovering that it's actually quite difficult to install a roof rack w/o the factory installed rails. I luckily discovered this right before mine went into production so I was able to add the rails at the last minute. I had not added the rails I would have went with a SeaSucker setup. Even though it's a bit of pain I like the wheel off roof racks, the bike seems more secure and there's no frame contact. Congrats on getting your car soon, mine just showed up to the dealership this morning! I already have my rack...we'll see how big of pain it is to haul around the wheel in the tiny mini trunk (I'll have car seats in the 2nd row so folding the seats isn't a convenient option). Worst case they do make roof mounted wheel holders...that I don't want to buy.
 
If they can add them at the factory, they can be added now. It will be a PITA but they can be added. The reason they are added at the factory is because the screws are sandwiched between the headliner and the roof. I had to do something similar with my Astra.

I know it is a new car and we hate to take things apart, pull down the headliner, drill the holes, screw the rack on. realoem has the diagrams, and a reference to instructions.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sh...56E_Mini_Cooper_SE&diagId=51_9620#51137331932
Here is a picture of the underside of the rail
https://c1552172.ssl.cf0.rackcdn.com/1080378_x800.webp
 
Tommm said:
reality check. roof racks can be added. It will be a PITA but they can be added. The reason they are added at the factory is because the screws are sandwiched between the headliner and the roof. I had to do something similar with my Astra.

I know it is a new car and we hate to take things apart, pull down the headliner, drill the holes, screw the rack on. realoem has the diagrams, and a reference to instructions.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sh...56E_Mini_Cooper_SE&diagId=51_9620#51137331932

https://c1552172.ssl.cf0.rackcdn.com/1080378_x800.webp
Click to expand...

Installation includes drilling out two special rivets holding on the curtain airbag gas generator, removing the airbag clips with a special tool and reinstalling those special rivets/clips when done...

Not impossible but definitely not something most people are equiped to do.

See attached for instructions and page 26 of RCRIT....pdf for the referenced ISTA 72 12 060 procedure (airbag removal)
 

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