Towing DCT Transmission

cichlid · 09-03-2012, 10:11 AM

Hi

I recently needed a tow of my 2011 M3 with DCT. Wile waiting for the wrecker, I dutifully read the manual, attached the tow hook, and placed the transmission in neutral using the screwdriver in the neutral unlock under the shifter boot. I go out and pushed the car pushed the car a little to verify the car was in neutral. All cool Right?

No so.....! Since I had something of a wait for the driver, I walked the hood for a while. When the driver arrived, some little voice inside suggested that I verify that the car was still in neutral before she hauled the car up on the flatbed. Damned if the lock had not slipped back up into the lock position in the hour since I''d locked it out. So, I put the screwdriver back in and pulled it back down and got it up on the truck with no problem.

Naturally then, when we arrived a the dealer, ready to get the car off the truck, I checked the lock again, and sure enough, it had slipped back into park lock once again.

Wondering if the should be expected? Malfunction?. Maybe we should leave the screwdriver in the lock, and tie/weight it down somehow to prevent this.

I see in the manual that the car will revert to park after 30 minutes of unlock when the key fob/slot method is used for a car wash or some short duration use. However I'd not expect that when the manual procedure is used.

Anybody know?

jphughan · 09-03-2012, 08:48 PM

Isn't there a warning in the manual that DCTs shouldn't be towed more than a certain number of miles? Maybe this is why? I'm not sure what to expect, though. I'd insist on a flatbed next time though.

EDIT: If you were in fact on a flatbed, you have nothing to worry about. That warning only applies to being towed in such a way that your own tires are moving. That never happens on a flatbed, so you could never have shifted into Neutral at all and probably been fine except maybe while your car was being hauled onto said flatbed -- but even then most towers put dollies under your tires to do that, in which case even would have been a non-issue. And in fact even the trucks that still tow your car on an incline typically put dollies under the tires near the ground for the whole trip these days, in which case you'd have been fine there too.

6spdg37s · 09-03-2012, 08:59 PM

he said wrecker but it sounds like he flatbedded it ? you really shouldnt hook up any RWD car to a wrecker and drag it ... (my boy has a tow company its bad news)

Totti · 09-03-2012, 09:16 PM

What happens if you park in a tow-away zone?

6spdg37s · 09-03-2012, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Totti

What happens if you park in a tow-away zone?

they dont care they will drag your car and mess it up... i guess it depends where you are actually but in NYC they dont give a fk

m3an · 09-03-2012, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cichlid

Hi

I recently needed a tow of my 2011 M3 with DCT. Wile waiting for the wrecker, I dutifully read the manual, attached the tow hook, and placed the transmission in neutral using the screwdriver in the neutral unlock under the shifter boot. I go out and pushed the car pushed the car a little to verify the car was in neutral. All cool Right?

No so.....! Since I had something of a wait for the driver, I walked the hood for a while. When the driver arrived, some little voice inside suggested that I verify that the car was still in neutral before she hauled the car up on the flatbed. Damned if the lock had not slipped back up into the lock position in the hour since I''d locked it out. So, I put the screwdriver back in and pulled it back down and got it up on the truck with no problem.

Naturally then, when we arrived a the dealer, ready to get the car off the truck, I checked the lock again, and sure enough, it had slipped back into park lock once again.

Wondering if the should be expected? Malfunction?. Maybe we should leave the screwdriver in the lock, and tie/weight it down somehow to prevent this.

I see in the manual that the car will revert to park after 30 minutes of unlock when the key fob/slot method is used for a car wash or some short duration use. However I'd not expect that when the manual procedure is used.

Anybody know?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jphughan

Isn't there a warning in the manual that DCTs shouldn't be towed more than a certain number of miles? Maybe this is why? I'm not sure what to expect, though. I'd insist on a flatbed next time though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6spdg37s

he said wrecker but it sounds like he flatbedded it ? you really shouldnt hook up any RWD car to a wrecker and drag it ... (my boy has a tow company its bad news)

it's always better to either flat tow the car in neutral or flat bed it, but really damage occurs when you wheel lift AWD cars, that's a big no no..

But doesn't anyone read these threads anymore or just respond?

DominionXX · 09-03-2012, 10:08 PM

It is always better to read the original post before giving your grand wisdom... He said it was towed on a flatbed.

6spdg37s · 09-03-2012, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3an

it's always better to either flat tow the car in neutral or flat bed it, but really damage occurs when you wheel lift AWD cars, that's a big no no..

But doesn't anyone read these threads anymore or just respond?

I read it he said "wrecker" generally wreckers use wheel chocks flat beds are flat beds ..

But i assumed that he flatbedded it from what he wrote

DominionXX · 09-03-2012, 10:18 PM

What is there to assume??

OP said, and I quote "No so.....! Since I had something of a wait for the driver, I walked the hood for a while. When the driver arrived, some little voice inside suggested that I verify that the car was still in neutral before she hauled the car up on the flatbed."

cichlid · 09-03-2012, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DominionXX

What is there to assume??

OP said, and I quote "No so.....! Since I had something of a wait for the driver, I walked the hood for a while. When the driver arrived, some little voice inside suggested that I verify that the car was still in neutral before she hauled the car up on the flatbed."

Hi OP here, sorry if I go too wordy. It was a flat bed. Any thoughts about the parking lockout reverting to park after a period of time?

jphughan · 09-04-2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6spdg37s

I read it he said "wrecker" generally wreckers use wheel chocks flat beds are flat beds ..

But i assumed that he flatbedded it from what he wrote

Apologies, was reading on my iPhone. I've edited my original post.

09-03-2012, 10:11 AM	#1
cichlid Enlisted Member 8 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 LeMans Blue (on order Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rivergrove Oregon iTrader: (0)	Towing DCT Transmission Hi I recently needed a tow of my 2011 M3 with DCT. Wile waiting for the wrecker, I dutifully read the manual, attached the tow hook, and placed the transmission in neutral using the screwdriver in the neutral unlock under the shifter boot. I go out and pushed the car pushed the car a little to verify the car was in neutral. All cool Right? No so.....! Since I had something of a wait for the driver, I walked the hood for a while. When the driver arrived, some little voice inside suggested that I verify that the car was still in neutral before she hauled the car up on the flatbed. Damned if the lock had not slipped back up into the lock position in the hour since I''d locked it out. So, I put the screwdriver back in and pulled it back down and got it up on the truck with no problem. Naturally then, when we arrived a the dealer, ready to get the car off the truck, I checked the lock again, and sure enough, it had slipped back into park lock once again. Wondering if the should be expected? Malfunction?. Maybe we should leave the screwdriver in the lock, and tie/weight it down somehow to prevent this. I see in the manual that the car will revert to park after 30 minutes of unlock when the key fob/slot method is used for a car wash or some short duration use. However I'd not expect that when the manual procedure is used. Anybody know?
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09-03-2012, 08:48 PM	#2
jphughan Brigadier General 594 Rep 4,488 Posts Drives: '16 Cayman GT4 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Isn't there a warning in the manual that DCTs shouldn't be towed more than a certain number of miles? Maybe this is why? I'm not sure what to expect, though. I'd insist on a flatbed next time though. EDIT: If you were in fact on a flatbed, you have nothing to worry about. That warning only applies to being towed in such a way that your own tires are moving. That never happens on a flatbed, so you could never have shifted into Neutral at all and probably been fine except maybe while your car was being hauled onto said flatbed -- but even then most towers put dollies under your tires to do that, in which case even would have been a non-issue. And in fact even the trucks that still tow your car on an incline typically put dollies under the tires near the ground for the whole trip these days, in which case you'd have been fine there too. __________________ '16 Cayman GT4 (delivery pics, comparison to E92 M3 write-up) Gone but not forgotten: '11.75 M3 E92 Le Mans \| Black Nov w/ Alum \| 6MT (owned 5/2011 - 11/2015) Last edited by jphughan; 09-04-2012 at 09:05 AM..
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09-03-2012, 08:59 PM	#3
6spdg37s Captain 70 Rep 753 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: dirty jerz iTrader: (3)	he said wrecker but it sounds like he flatbedded it ? you really shouldnt hook up any RWD car to a wrecker and drag it ... (my boy has a tow company its bad news)
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09-03-2012, 10:08 PM	#7
DominionXX Banned 9 Rep 92 Posts Drives: M3 E92 Alpine White Coupe Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Richmond, TX iTrader: (0)	It is always better to read the original post before giving your grand wisdom... He said it was towed on a flatbed.
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09-03-2012, 10:18 PM	#9
DominionXX Banned 9 Rep 92 Posts Drives: M3 E92 Alpine White Coupe Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Richmond, TX iTrader: (0)	What is there to assume?? OP said, and I quote "No so.....! Since I had something of a wait for the driver, I walked the hood for a while. When the driver arrived, some little voice inside suggested that I verify that the car was still in neutral before she hauled the car up on the flatbed."
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