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Thread: Towing the car

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    261

    Default Towing the car

    Hello,

    Does it hurt to tow our cars with the rear wheels on the ground and the auto tranny in neutral??

    I need to tow the vehicle about 15 miles and this MIGHT be the only way...

    Advice?

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Posts
    2,538

    Default

    I believe the general consensus will be NO. How resounding is left to be seen. Check the owners manual if you have one as i think there is a section on this. Better yet, I bet a forum search would locate some discussion.

    Gotta get to work, ppppppppppppppppppppp

    Good Luck,

    Dave M

    10/90 Build 525im, 630,000+km, Eibach/Sachs, Engine Rebuild
    *RIP Oskar the DOG *

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Houston, TX (USA)
    Posts
    181

    Default Are you going to use tow truck, if you are then...

    they should be know which car to tow from which end. Once my 89 toyota cressida need a tow and tow man said from himself that he has to tow from back end (rear wheel up in air) and front wheel on ground with steering wheel tide up with some with seat belt to stop it from truning. You should be doing the same thing or else your tranny will say good bye.

    Hope this will help.

    Good luck.
    Akhil

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Eastern Tennessee USi
    Posts
    14,839

    Default

    flatbed or trailer, if they tow it from the rear the front spoiler might get chopped off on a bump.
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Houston, TX (USA)
    Posts
    181

    Default You might be right about it Regal...

    BMW front clearance is less than my toyota cressida, so it might happand depending upon the lift hight of rear end. So check the clearence or use flat bed which is the best and safest for any car any way.

    Akhil

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    1,720

    Default

    I could be wrong about this, but I would think that if your rear wheels are on the ground then your transmission's output shaft is spinning -- without proper lubrication. That could be bad, right?
    .


    Jay Lebo - Toronto, Canada
    1990 BMW 535i
    5-speed conversion
    Lightened flywheel
    Sachs Suspension Kit
    E.A.T. Chip

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Lexington, Kentucky
    Posts
    2,561

    Default flatbed is best

    Otherwise tow from the rear and keep the rear as low as possible to keep front spoiler off ground. Have done it both ways on my car. feel much better with a flatbed.


    Quote Originally Posted by Hypr5
    Hello,

    Does it hurt to tow our cars with the rear wheels on the ground and the auto tranny in neutral??

    I need to tow the vehicle about 15 miles and this MIGHT be the only way...

    Advice?

    Thanks!
    Thanks,

    1995 525i Auto, M50TU 2.5L, EAT chip, 1/95 build, USA, 205/65/15 tires, ASC+T, HID, lumbar, EC Mirror, BMW Alpine 5 radio with BMW-Pioneer CD Changer, abt 236k miles, Oxford Green/Parchment

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Gateshead,UK
    Posts
    926

    Default

    You could always unbolt the propshaft from the diff, and tie the prop up to the rear subframe - you can tow with 4 wheels on the ground then!

    Cheers,

    Shaun

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    600

    Default

    Yeah it can be potentially bad. The problem lies in the angle. The housings are designed to spray up with the car leveled. Once you tilt it, the oil isn't sitting at the bottom where it can be sprayed up by the gears in the differential or tranny. Especially for 15 miles, I would not do it. Obviously in an emergency situation one has to do what they can. If a flatbed is not available, do tow from the rear. The front is low, just make sure that you ride with the tow truck driver as he/she can take bumps or approach angles not too well. Good Luck.
    Brandon J

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Eastern Tennessee USi
    Posts
    14,839

    Default

    what about driving it?
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

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