towing an automatic e30....on a dolley, ok?

[jakeb]

Is it ok to tow a e30 automatic on a tow dolley? I would tow it backwards with the front tires on the ground. The car is a stock 87 325i

It will be making about a 200 mile trip.

TIA,
Jake

[Julien]

IIRC, it's ok, but make sure the front spoiler and valence don't hit the ground (if the car is lowered)


Julien

[jakeb]

thanks for the reply...anyone actually towed one like this?
Just picked up a dolley and the rental guy said he wouldn't suggest it...that the car could start swaying back and forth and casue bad things to happen.

So either I can tow it backwards or pull the driveshaft. How big of a job is it to pull the drive shaft from an e30?

tia,
jake

[yozsi]

thanks for the reply...anyone actually towed one like this?
Just picked up a dolley and the rental guy said he wouldn't suggest it...that the car could start swaying back and forth and casue bad things to happen.

So either I can tow it backwards or pull the driveshaft. How big of a job is it to pull the drive shaft from an e30?

tia,
jake

could be a big job if you cant reach the driveshaft bolts because of the heatshield and exhaust.

[Digitalwave]

As long as the steering wheel was locked in the straight position, I don't see a problem with towing the car backwards (unless its an iX), but I don't have any personal experience doing it myself.

[nando]

you can't tow an automatic for more than 50 miles at a time, or at speeds above 35-50. unless you are planning on doing a 5 speed swap as soon as you get it home, I would put it on a flatbed or tow it with the front wheels backwards.

[Digitalwave]

I would tow it backwards with the front tires on the ground.

He said that in the original post.

[yozsi]

Yea... i wouldnt tow with the front wheels on the ground. if you hit a bad pothole or something and you broke your steering lock.... you would be up shit creek.

[mattdk318i]

a trailer is your best bet then.
With the rear wheels on the ground without the car running can be potentially dangerous for the lubrication of the trans.
The pumps wouldnt be running that provide the nessasary lubrication

[jakeb]

this is another idea....just wondering
Could you tow it in neutral with the car running to have the pump running to the trans....

[h0lmes]

Tow it by the rear wheels, if you fuck up the tranny then you have a good excuse to swap in a 5 speed :). Actually in all seriousness, I have a 5 speed but I had it towed backwards a few months ago. The truck had a large bar that stuck out from the back with the dolley attached to it, the rear of my car rested on this bar and ended up putting a HUGE dent in my spare tire well and a dinner plate sized dent in my muffler. My front airdam also got scraped to shit during the ride. Just make sure the car is resting on all 4 tires and nothing else is contacting a part of it that shouldn't be contacted. Towing sucks, theres so much that could go wrong and get damaged if you dont do it correctly. I know this post was mostly rambling but im just throwing in my 2 cents.

[matt]

Yes, tow it backwards. It's fine.

[ColdAccord]

ive had to tow 5 rwd cars

i got a full trailer for all of them

its like 50 bucks. come on.

[Febi Guibo]

i got a full trailer for all of them

big +1 ...don't call u-haul, try to find an outlet that has a full trailer in stock and make yer own deal in person (cheaper than the 1-800# rates)

[jakeb]

well I towed it home today...200 miles
left at 6am...back home at 12:40pm

Towed it backwards...backed it up onto the dolly...no problems what so ever.