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

[tfro]

How else does someone win

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.

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.

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.

[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]

[CABimmer]

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

How does this attach?

[ahardm3]

How does this attach?

[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.

[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.