Tow hooks for e36 M3

[mnichols]

My efforts are continuing to prepare my M3 for the track. The next question is how do you pull an M3 from the front. If I want to use a winch to pull the car onto a trailer, there is no hook on the front, only the rear. Has anyone solved this problem?

Second question, the stock M3 does not have any tie down loops on the frame to anchor the car to the trailer. One solution is to loop the tie down straps through the wheels, but this seems less than optimal. Any suggestions?

[jkuper]

Theres a tow hook in the front. Pull the piece of the bumper molding to the left (passenger side) of the license plate strip.

For tie downs, pull the black jack pads off and there are holes in the frame rail. Use T hooks.

[thenobot]

Nice tow hooks that will not harpoon a car in front: http://tcdesignfab.com/products.html

Scroll down the page. There's even a photo of where it goes in the nose of an E36.

[jkuper]

How else does someone win :dunno

[tfro]

How else does someone win :dunno

I prefer electro magnets.

[mlytle]

My efforts are continuing to prepare my M3 for the track. The next question is how do you pull an M3 from the front. If I want to use a winch to pull the car onto a trailer, there is no hook on the front, only the rear. Has anyone solved this problem?

Second question, the stock M3 does not have any tie down loops on the frame to anchor the car to the trailer. One solution is to loop the tie down straps through the wheels, but this seems less than optimal. Any suggestions?


$3, two inch ubolt from homer depot. put one in center of front and rear bumpers. mount it so that it slides in and out. when in it does not protrude dangerously (it is round!), out it meets the 2in rqmt for scca, cca, etc. these work better than the fancy tow hooks that screw into factory hole since they pull from the center instead of the side. easier to pull into a trailer and much easier to pull out of a gravel trap.

as prev mentioned, use the factory tie down points under the jack points to secure in trailer.

[AutoXfreak]

T-hooks. (http://www.bimmerhaus.com/w5.html)

Check the "securing you e36"

[getfast]

The next question is how do you pull an M3 from the front. If I want to use a winch to pull the car onto a trailer, there is no hook on the front, only the rear. Has anyone solved this problem?

As stated already, you can remove the small black plastic rub strip on the bumper cover just to the passenger side of the front license plate area to reveal the tow hook hole. A small flat-head screwdriver will accomplish this quickly and easily. All I did was loctite the tow hook from the factory tool kit into that hole:

http://www.get-fast.net/m3/luci23.jpg

http://www.get-fast.net/gallery/td308vir/photo76.jpg

I retrieved and installed an identical tow hook for the back from a wrecked car locally, but you can also get 'em at the dealership for under 20 bucks (72 15 8 119 188, same for all the E36 models as far as I can tell.) If aesthetics are an issue you can always just drill holes in the front & rear covers then reinstall 'em. Not the best or nicest looking setup by any means, but cheap and easy for sure.

These have been permanently on my car front and rear for a while now, which also helps with the parallel parking around town. It's enjoyable to watch a soccer mom on a cellphone back her SUV into your front tow hook instead of your front bumper cover. :D

Jon

[CABimmer]

I use T-hooks to secure the car to the trailor, got them at a online wrecker supply place. Folding Tow hook for the front and rear.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r168/cabimmer/DSCN0881.jpg

[jayhudson]

Nice tow hooks that will not harpoon a car in front: http://tcdesignfab.com/products.html

Scroll down the page. There's even a photo of where it goes in the nose of an E36.

TC Design tow hooks front & rear. I can assure you the rear one will support the weight of my car on a wrecker from T8 (Thunderhill) back to the paddock after a once over lightly.

Jay

[M3Alpine99]

CAB who's do you have?

[CABimmer]

They are off of ebay. I didnt like the ones from the usual suspects

[M3Alpine99]

Cool, That is what I thought. Are they SCCA and NASA legal for protruding out?

[CABimmer]

Got me, I dont have any rules

[M3Alpine99]

Anybody got an answer for that?

[mnichols]

Thanks everyone, the advice is welcome. I checked under the black rub strip on the front bumper and sure enough, one very dirty but functional threaded recepticle for the tow hook, and I pried off one of the jack pads and I can see the oblong holes for the T-Hooks. Any advice on where to purchase the hooks. Are the ones from BimmerHuase used by anyone?

[tfro]

Northern Tool carries them, a bit cheaper too. Any towing supply place will sell them, but those stores can be harder to find.

[ahardm3]

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-11-26182540.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-11-26182502.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-10-07140737.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-10-07140811.jpg

[CABimmer]

http://hardmotorsport.com/E36-M3-STW-Tow-Hook-HMSE36TOW.htm

How does this attach?

[ahardm3]

How does this attach?
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-10-07141115.jpg

[CABimmer]

so just drill a few holes through the aluminum beam. easy.

[ahardm3]

Absolutely no drilling completely bolt on. Comes with a press in stud

[C00kedG00se]

+1 for Adam's tow hook... HARD as nails and well thought out.



http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-11-26182540.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-11-26182502.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-10-07140737.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-10-07140811.jpg

[Niles Patel]

I had to be towed out of china beach and back to the paddock when my clutch exploded a couple years ago. It was not a smooth ride. With the bending loads those two small studs would take I'm not so sure it would make it. At the time I used the factory tow hook. I do like that it's powder coated red.
Also don't you have to be a vendor to advertise?

[CABimmer]

I have had to use mine to pull me through a ditch and a lot of mud and grass this year, worked without issue, but my car was much lighter as half my front end was left in said ditch.

I like this other one posted much better.

[TheOtherEric]

Two little bolts to attach a tow hook is nowhere near sufficient. No way. That could cause serious injury if/when it snaps.

And be careful with that folding tow hook pictured above by CABimmer. It's made of 3 or 4 pieces, so guess what .... it comes apart. Ours fell apart and got lost out on track after a couple races. So if you buy this, reassemble it with loctite.

[ahardm3]

Two little bolts to attach a tow hook is nowhere near sufficient. No way. That could cause serious injury if/when it snaps.

And be careful with that folding tow hook pictured above by CABimmer. It's made of 3 or 4 pieces, so guess what .... it comes apart. Ours fell apart and got lost out on track after a couple races. So if you buy this, reassemble it with loctite.

What are you talking about? have you ever seen what holds on you bumper shock? 4 tiny studs! which attached to your bumper shock your tow hook!

look at the factory porsche cup car hook! 2 small holes!!
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/towhooks.jpg

[widebodyye30]

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-11-26182540.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-11-26182502.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-10-07140737.jpg
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh73/ahardm3/2011-10-07140811.jpg

Do they make one for the rear?

[99MPower]

AKG foldable FTW

[ahardm3]

Do they make one for the rear? not currently

[southpaw]

I really like that one. Very low profile. but +1 on being weary regarding the structural integrity.

[benaj]

AKG foldable FTW

+1, mostly because you can get them in steel from AKG, hopefully avoiding the need to drill out that broken stud when those aluminum folding ones get snapped off by the wrecker pulling your car out of the pea gravel . . . .

[E36forever]

Always wondered why anyone needs to have a "tow" sticker.

[TeamDFL]

I despise metal tow loops and screw in hooks. The bend/break when pulled off axis or just unthread and drop out. They also punch holes in bumper covers leaving evidence of contact. Of course, I have never touched another car on track so I know nothing about that.

I prefer a strap looped around the bumper shock and poked out through a hole in the bumper.

http://teamdfl.com/towstrap/strap1.jpg

http://teamdfl.com/towstrap/strap2.jpg

http://teamdfl.com/towstrap/index-Images/3.jpg

[tammer]

I despise metal tow loops and screw in hooks. The bend/break when pulled off axis or just unthread and drop out. They also punch holes in bumper covers leaving evidence of contact. Of course, I have never touched another car on track so I know nothing about that.

I prefer a strap looped around the bumper shock and poked out through a hole in the bumper.

+1, plus they're cheap at $25 or so, and easy to replace if needed.

-tammer

[M3Rob95]

Where do u get the tow straps?

[tammer]

Where do u get the tow straps?
http://www.elephantmotorsports.com/bmw-recovery-tow-strap-p-564.html Price is up a couple bucks since I bought mine a few years ago.

-tammer

[wza360]

Hey, I hope picking up such an old thread is ok.

I have a dilemma, search throughout the internet, but can't find proper solution.

I want to mount a nylon tow hook onto front and back of my E36, picture of the hook:


https://www.dropbox.com/s/5orcovstc4i0qt3/Photo%2017-11-2017%2C%2011%2054%2042.jpg?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/5orcovstc4i0qt3/Photo%2017-11-2017%2C%2011%2054%2042.jpg?dl=0)


for now working on the front only

I have removed the front bumper and I can see two bumper amortisation mounts:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l5lelgypglfsxoc/JPEG_image-82AEEF80024F-1.png?dl=0

One on the left has original tow hook mount place. I want to leave it untouched and mount nylon hook on the right side. Reason is that just in case something is not right and my custom tow hook fails, I could use original one. Why I don't want to use original one in first place - in case of contact of my front bummer with another car it would leave a hole.

There is not place where elsewhere to mount nylon tow hook on the right without ruining original tow hook mount, as that wider part of the mount can rotate if pulled to one or another direction.

main question is - does the right side bumper shock has exactly the same rigidity in terms of pulling as the left one has? Am I safe to apply same amount of force pulling on the right side, as the left?

Thanks,
J

[wza360]

+1, plus they're cheap at $25 or so, and easy to replace if needed.

-tammer

I cant find any available anywhere online. How do they actually called? as only things I get are those with metal mounting point

[ScotcH]

We've been using these ... super cheap, and just as good as the real race ones, at least they didn't break being towed :) ... probably from the same factory:
https://www.amazon.com/Dewhel-Aluminum-Racing-Accessories-Trailer/dp/B00LMZK1N8/ref=sr_1_3

[golgo13]

I kinda want to cut the heads off two OEM ones and weld on some hex bolt heads so I can torque down some SPARCO straps or something.

Anyone have any thoughts on these?

https://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-Track-Racing-Towing-Cooper/dp/B017WNNN2Y

[Another M3]

I cant find any available anywhere online. How do they actually called? as only things I get are those with metal mounting point

Is this what you're looking for? If so, it's a BMW Motorsport part.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-209-motorsport-tow-strap/

[wza360]

Thanks everyone for comments, much appreciated.


We've been using these ... super cheap, and just as good as the real race ones, at least they didn't break being towed :) ... probably from the same factory:
https://www.amazon.com/Dewhel-Aluminum-Racing-Accessories-Trailer/dp/B00LMZK1N8/ref=sr_1_3

I have one of these. Problem is I am preparing my car for drift. I expect to have minor contacts at least. Imagine having minor contact with this thing sticking out out of the bumper - minor contact becomes way less minor with much more damage to opponents car.


golgo13

I kinda want to cut the heads off two OEM ones and weld on some hex bolt heads so I can torque down some SPARCO straps or something.

Anyone have any thoughts on these?

https://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-Track.../dp/B017WNNN2Y (https://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-Track-Racing-Towing-Cooper/dp/B017WNNN2Y)



Same with these, they will be sticking out.


Another M3

Is this what you're looking for? If so, it's a BMW Motorsport part.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-2...ort-tow-strap/ (https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-209-motorsport-tow-strap/)



This looks like it. I am not very clear how it mounts actually, but will try to figure out. For now this is closest I am getting to what I need :)

[MDGearhead]

That one from Turner just loops around the bumper shock and comes out the tow hook hole. There is a guy on here that sells something similar in the Race Car parts section for cheaper as well.


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[TXBDan]

Yep, the nylon webbing loops seem to work great and won't destroy your shins or other cars.

[wza360]

Yep, the nylon webbing loops seem to work great and won't destroy your shins or other cars.

Nice. I've just looked into my hook I have ( https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?959985-Tow-hooks-for-e36-M3&goto=newpost ) and if I cut out the metal part (by splitting metal) and remove it it would look exactly the same as tow strap suggested: https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-2...ort-tow-strap/ (https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-209-motorsport-tow-strap/)

I think I will do that, because i already kind of have it :)

The original question still remains - can I strap the tow strap on the other side, on the bumper stock on the right? I would make a dedicated hole for the loop and it would look much better and would leave original tow hook location untouched and covered