What is this small square plug on the rear bumper. See the middle of this photo. Is this maybe a pop off cover for access to a socket for the tow hook like the one in front?

 

Yep, rear tow hook cover.
Should not be used, was designed to only ever be used to help load/move the car on the boat for shipping OS.
Takes a small black screw-in tow hook that the dealer is meant to remove before sale.
My car (bought used) still had this tow hook but did not have the front tow hook (much bigger and silvery coloured), go figure!

 

Thanks! I wonder if it could be used to pull the car onto a flatbed tow truck? Seems like if it is strong enough to use for a shipping tie down it should be strong enough to pull the car onto a flatbed.

If it could be used this way, and we could get our hands on one of those black tow hooks, or learn what the thread spec is for that hook, that would solve the problem of not being able to access the front tow point if you fit a P& style grill, which is in my plans.

 

Probably not a good idea as I have read somewhere on these forums that the rear tow hook should NOT be used for towing, such as towing a car out of a gravel trap on a race track or onto a flatbed, apparently the attachment point is not designed for much of a load.

Edit - found it on an old thread:

Edit 2 - maybe it can be used to pull the car onto a flatbed or to drag it out of a gravel trap, coz all that doc says about towing is quote: "Damage to the chassis can occur if the transport fixing for the rear is used to tow other vehicles."
But I wouldn't risk it.

 

As OzXFR says, it's not designed for that. My understanding is the front eye can take it but the rear one is only to hold the rear of the car in place during initial shipment. As I recall, the eye is at a 45 degree angle downwards, and straight rearward force would bend the mounting point.

 

I just went out to my car to test this out, as I still have the little black rear tow hook.
But it was a failure, I could not get the little cover off, it's very tight fit around the edges and I couldn't get anything in there to lever/pry the cover off without massive risk of scratching the bejeebus out of the cover and/or the bumper, so I gave up.
I *think* the eye is parallel with the bumper skin at that point and the underside of the bumper skin is sloped about 30 degrees down so it would make sense that the towing eye is also sloped down about 30 degrees.
The fact that the cover fits so tight suggests to me that it is not meant to ever come off!

 

It will come off. If you can't pry it with a trim tool from the front you can push if out from underneath the car. It will pop off.

 

I like that red trim line... pinstriping? Nice look on that black beauty!

 

Yes, just a simple red pinstripe. And, by the way, it's a Dark Blue Sapphire metallic (1AM). Black is just way to common don't you know......

You might be able to see it better from this angle....

 

thank you for posting the new shot.. yes, gorgeous in blue!

any recommendations for the red striping you used? off the shelf? 3/8 or 1/2 inch?

 

Striping was from Auto Zone, and I think the size was 1/8 or smaller. The size is really up to you but I wanted something very subtle. Applying it was easy, just a good clean with alcohol and then I just followed the crease between the bumper and diffuser. After a couple of tries I got it to where I liked it. I also did the small lip in front of the front splitter. I mean, I did invest in this tape so I thought I might as well use it..... happy that I stopped when I did......

 

OK, that settles it. Rear tow hook not suitable for towing the car, even just onto a flatbed. Thanks to all for explaining why!

Sapphire is beautiful. If I were ordering that is the color I'd choose. I wonder why it is rare?

 

My MY21 was delivered with both tow eyes - both black. But the rear one I received is not the fancy two-toned, hinged that appears on GeorgeIII's vehicle. Nice touch, even though not really necessary. That and the pinstripe complement.

Is that OEM? If so, I can't imagine that the delivery port would chuck it, as per the instructions on the doc that OzXFR found. Or, did you find a third party source for it? It looks like something you might find on a Hummer.

 

You should have received one silver-colored hook which goes on the front and some folks also received the smaller black hook which goes on the rear which we all know is not for towing. These tow hooks are not interchangeable. The front hook is larger than the rear hook.

The silver one I had chromed and installed it as you see in one of the photos above (No.11). The black rear tow hook I cut as finding a left hand thread in that size was next to impossible. I then welded the thread to the red tow hook I got on Amazon and voila, a perfectly useless tow hook which oftentimes makes me smile.

 

Congratulations on your Legion of Merit Medal. Hard earned and not many out there.

 

Thank you very much......

 

My dad wears his mini ribbon on his lapel to this day.