BMW owners are usually quite proud of the type of vehicles they have. But sometimes, these cars are so unpredictably hard to manage that you ask yourself why you bought a BMW. For example, when the vehicle dies because of a bad motor or batteries, you just can't do anything to put it in neutral gear to just get it somehow on the tow truck.
So, in this article, we'll tell you how you can put the BMW vehicle in neutral when the engine is dead and what exactly you should do to avoid problems in this case. Also, the article will give you two possible options on how you can manage to put it in neutral (if your starter still works and if it doesn't work at all).
Why will you need to put the BMW in neutral?
Usually, we don't care about the neutral gear. Remember the last time you used it! We operate the lever to Drive or to Reverse and also put the car in Parking mode when we want it to stand still and not roll back.
But your BMW doesn't always work properly and sometimes it needs to be towed to a service station or to the dealer. How to tow it? Only on a tow truck. But how to get it on the truck?
Here are some cases you may need neutral gear in your BMW:
- you need to tow it to the nearest dealer and want to use classic towing by any other vehicle (bad idea, but still);
- you want to take your BMW right onto the tow truck to take it to the repair shop;
- you need to take the broken BMW from the highway because it's highly dangerous to let it stand there in the middle of the road;
- you want to push it a little but the engine doesn't work, so you need the neutral gear to unlock the wheels.
You can now be sitting and reading this with a smile on your face - your BMW is so reliable it will never break, you may think. But it isn't that bulletproof. All BMWs get broken from time to time, so just keep reading and remember some things you will certainly need in the future.
Two ways to put your broken BMW in neutral
So, we've studied official information and also asked mechanics to understand how it all works. First of all, forget about towing your BMW equipped with automatic transmission using any other car but the tow truck. Towing such vehicles is a very bad idea, you can just break the transmission.
Here are the two ways to unlock the wheels for some short action and one that works for newer cars:
1) If your starter still rotates and the ignition can be on
So, the engine may be dead, but when you push the start button, the BMW still makes some noises and turns some lights. This is the good news because this is the easiest way to put your car in neutral.
Here's what you should do:
- Apply the handbrake to hold your car in place and safely operate.
- Apply the footbrake and don't release the pedal until you finish the procedure.
- Push the start button - the starter will start rotating and you may immediately continue.
- Push the unlock button on your select lever and hold it until you finish with the settings.
- Put the lever from the P position to the N position and hold it there for at least 4 seconds.
- Then put it back in the P position for a while.
- Quickly put the lever into the N position and then right away to the P position again.
- Release the unlock button on your lever.
- Release the footbrake.
Now, the display should show N and the transmission should go to neutral, the wheels will be unlocked. But this won't last forever. After 15 minutes, the transmission will be blocked again. This is made for the safety of the vehicle to avoid rolling back or forward.
2) If the engine and the battery are dead
If the ignition doesn't even try to turn on, you can't use this official method because nothing will work. In this case, you will need to know where the transmission lock screw is located. It's under the vehicle near the transmission. Find it and see what kind of instrument you need for unscrewing it.
Unfortunately, there is no proper instruction for all BMW models. But usually, you will need to unscrew this bolt and then the wheels will be released up until you screw it back.
3) Does the orange tool work?
Yes, newer BMWs will have a special orange tool and you will have to insert it into the emergency gear release hole and turn. This is the easiest way and it will work with both alive and dead engines.
But most BMWs don't have this system, so remember the two options that will work with nearly all BMW cars equipped with automatic transmissions.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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