Hi All, I'm new here.

I'm getting myself this Easter a 323 BJ 1.6 GXi with 51,000 miles on the clock. I do however need to get a few things for it due to what I want to do with it

I ride my bicycle a lot, so I need a bike rack. I've put my heart on a pendle one which carries four bikes and fits to a type approval tow bar. I had a quick google and search on this forum for tow bar information - but I can't really find a lot.
So which one should I get? I obviously don't want to spend too much, and would need instructions with it for me to fit it.

Also - depending on how I feel the handling is, I might want to get a front strut brace (don't want the rear one as it will get in the way of the boot), so any advice on that?

Also, are there any other modifications that you think I should do to improve the car. I don't want to chav it up - I would like to keep it looking and sounding pretty standard. Other things I was thinking about was a few extra power slots, Cruise control (although the only neat solution seems to be a mazda one which is £200 - so I might not bother!), and I might get an OBD II monitor so I can read engine diagnostics with my PDA (doubles up as my tom tom too!).

Thanks in advance for your help

With regards to the Strut brace if you can find someone breaking a BJ Sport this has one as standard! You could also try fitting the Sport bodykit to your car.

With regards to the tow bar Witter and Bosal do one for this car!

Does anyone know if a towbar can be fitted to a 2003 sport?

It can, I've seen one, but unfortunately it had a big chunk cut out of the rear skirt.
Not something I would be happy with.

Zippy, welcome in mate, have you considered roof bars?
I have them for mine, and a bike rack, albeit only for one bike, but I'm quite sure you could get 4 bikes up there. The roof bars take a maximum of 75kg.

I have considered roof bars, and decided against them for several reasons:

1. It's a lot of effort to get 4 bikes up there.

2. It's fairly costly once you get 4 bike rack things for the roof (although probably comparable to having the pendle bike rack and tow bar out back)

3. It uses a hell of a lot of fuel

4. it voids warranty on your forks - you can snap the droupout quite easily if you're not paying attention

5. After a 24 hour race, my arms just won't have the strength to get the bikes up there!

I'm e-mailing a few different suppliers for advice at the moment - trying to get a two bolt flange type that doesn't involve cutting the bumper, if not some kind of removable swan neck one

I was hoping someone here might have got one for there car - but I'll post up what I find out.

hmmm - with you there - not keen on hacking lumps out of skirts... I had in my head a swan neck one - Im speaking to the dealer today Ill ask if they did a mazda supplied one.

Clarky

Right, it would seem that all tow bars would require some of the bumper to be cut - but most don't require a visible section to be cut i.e. the PCT tow bolt flange one takes a chunk 60mmx15mm out underneath the bumper.

Having had a look at towbars - cars look fugly with them, so I would like a detachable two bolt flange type - but I don't seem to be able to find one. Anyone able to help? Failing that I'll live with a detachable swan neck one...

I'll keep you all informed, and I welcome any advice


Hmm, most towbars are just over £100.

The thule/brink one - which is detachable is £236
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brink-Detach-Towb ... m153.l1262

i have recently asked about a mazda tow bar which i was told would be £147.25
however this did not include electrics
i have been quoted £260 for a non mazda to be fitted
am wondering if anyone has fitted thier own
also if anyone has details on bumper removal
all the best
COLIN

I plan on actually getting a towbar with removable tow ball (so it doesn't look fugly) sometime between the 27th of June and 30th of August...., I'll report my findings back then.

The service manual for the 323 (posted somewhere on this forum) has details on removing the bumper.

Hi,

I have a genuine Mazda towbar in a very good condition which I don't/won't use and could take off and sell if there is interest in my doing so....?

It isn't as easily removable as those made by Thule but you can remove the hitch and ball bit from the hanging bracket by undoing two bolts. The electrics are located on a bracket, which is hung from one of these two bolts.

On removal of the ball/hitch you could either leave the electric plug in place, or do what I do which was hang it out the way under the car from a hole in the towing bracket. Once the ball/hitch is removed it all looks very neat.

You could probably replace the standard nuts with wing-nuts to make the unit more removable.

The whole assembly does not look disimilar to this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bosal-Swan-Neck-T ... 1|294%3A50

If anyone wants it let me know and we can talk about a fair price. If not I will just leave it there. I go on holiday on Tuesday night so wouldn't have a chance to take it off and send it until the 25th(ish)

Thanks,

Linzo

id ahve one custom built by me n my dad XD
so it went in a U bent round the bumper n detatched :P

Both interesting offers. in an ideal world I'd like a removable type approval (as opposed to simple ball hitch) as it's for a bike rack mostly.

@Linzo - will I have to cut my bumper?

@Lewp91 - how much would you two charge!?....and don't you have a BG!?

Yes, unfortunately you would have to cut your bumper, but I think that is normal form with tow hitches for these cars.

It looks like a slot of around 60mm (L) x 15mm (H) would need to be cut. If i take the towbar off mine, I will just have to tidy the hole up (i.e. make a better job of cutting it than the pleb who installed it in Mazda) but I think it will look fine.

Linz

I've just ordered one of these Brink (i.e Thule) £350 towbarswith detachable towball. Saw it on t'internet for £96.49 it cost me in total with delivery and delivery insurance...

I also had a look at the instructions, and it would appear that the bumper cut is only necessary for the sports bumper ( I hope)...the instructions are here if anyone else wants to confirm?

I'll do a how-to when it arrives and I get round to fitting it. I kinda want it for my scotland / Sleepless in the Saddle 24 hour race trip so I can just shove some bikes on the back...

Er, can someone tell me what electrics I need / the instructions for them. I er got confused and never ordered any at the same time....I thought there might be a car specific kit or something

have seen a black sport with a brink fitted
went over and lay down in the car park yo see what it was like
you are right this had a very small curve taken out of the valance
might look at this myself
was supposed to have one fitted yesterday

Well they phoned me up today....it's out of stock, and no longer in production...so I can't get my bargain towbar...

This was the one I ordered....as you can see, a rather large reduction