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

[jakeb]

and a pic....

[AndrewBird]

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

Just for future reference, this won't work. The pump is inside the tranny and is driven by the rotation of the transmission it self. Having the engine running doesn't do jack.

I would think though that is neutral towing with the rear wheels on the ground would work. Only the output shaft should be turning that way, right?

[88325isboy]

Just call a flat bed man!

[nando]

I would think though that is neutral towing with the rear wheels on the ground would work. Only the output shaft should be turning that way, right?

no, the point is towing it in neutral with the rear wheels on the ground will fry the transmission if it's done for long distances or high speeds.

[jakeb]

yeah towing on the rear wheels with an auto is bad news...
but towing backwards with the steering wheel locked...is fine.

Just gotta make sure you don't drive like a moron...everything has to be smooth and slow when towing...expecially with a tow dolley.

Just glad that everything worked out well today. 3hr drive to where I picked up the car...we were gone from home for 6hrs 40mins. Couldn't have went any better.

[luvin my 325es]

Towing with the motor running and tranny in neutral is fine. If it wasnt you could not put the car in neutral at speed and coast.
If you tow with the steer axle on the ground always tie the seat belt to the steering wheel, this way you are not relying on the steering lock which can break.

[ecalder]

Haha this is such an old post I'm revisiting...

Y'all were talking about an automatic here, should I not be worried it I'm trying to tow a 5-speed with the tow dolly with the rear wheels on the ground? Or is it still a better idea to do it backwards like Jakeb did. There's no fluid lines to the engine, but I'd still rather not put any wear on the tranny!

[Kershaw]

if you're towing a 5 speed. put the front wheels on the dolly and the car in neutral.

you're good to go.

[ecalder]

That's great news! I guess they just assume your car is automatic when you ask if it's OK to tow it. SWEET, THANKS.

[trackjunkie21]

I towed my car home like that without trouble.

[ecalder]

Yeah I'm just going 60 miles to the track and back...

[nando]

Towing with the motor running and tranny in neutral is fine. If it wasnt you could not put the car in neutral at speed and coast.
If you tow with the steer axle on the ground always tie the seat belt to the steering wheel, this way you are not relying on the steering lock which can break.

actually, I remember in the manual it says somewhere don't do a lot of coasting in neutral, either.

it's definitely not good for the automatic, and it's not just a BMW thing.

[Cabriolet]

every single time, which is many, i always call for a flatbed truck. why risk fing anything up?

[Brandon12V]

I don't understand why anyone would go through this shit when one of these is 60 bucks from U-haul.....

[ecalder]

I wholeheartedly agree except my x3 towing capacity is 3,500 lbs and the e30 is 2,700 lbs and the tow dolly keeps it under the limit. The full trailer weighs 2,000 lbs alone. I'm going to a DE next weekend that's 60 miles out. I thought it would be nice on the car not to drive it 60 miles, track it, drive it another 60 miles back, and repeat the next day. Maybe I'll rent the flatbed and a truck combo from Uhaul... Thanks.