All F3x BMWs Dead Battery, no way to put car in neutral

UKBasketball · 10-10-2013, 08:01 AM

Apparently all BMWs with the steptronic "joystick" shifter have no way to manually be put in "N" or neutral in the event of a dead battery or power loss (like the problems with E9x positive battery connection at fuse box recall)

From lots of searching and reading I've pretty much realized your only option is to flat bed the car and the tow truck driver has to use vehicle dollies at the rear wheels, or all wheels for xDrive models.

I read that the first F10s came with a tool in the trunk you could use to manually put the transmission in neutral via hole under cup holders, but BMW soon axed that from the production line to save money.

UKBasketball · 10-10-2013, 11:51 AM

So this is for all newer BMW's with this type of gear selector, not just 3 and 4 series.

Pretty bad for owners that there is no transmission release to roll/move car if car is dead.

Please correct me if I am mistakes here.

alex2364 · 10-10-2013, 11:57 AM

Have you tried this? http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...13&postcount=5

UKBasketball · 10-10-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex2364

Have you tried this? http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...13&postcount=5

You mean Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.

.. lol J/K

That method is fine and all, but if your battery is dead, or there is some loss of power like that that recall plagued the E9x series, you are screwed.

carzaddict · 10-10-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex2364

Have you tried this? http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...13&postcount=5

i havent had a chance to try this yet.

Im sure BMW knows how to put the car in neutral....but its the STUPIDEST thing in the world that they dont tell their roadside assistance how to do it.

when my car broke down, i had to refuse the first tow truck because he didnt have skates or dollys and i wasnt about to let him break the drivetrain

gonein10 · 10-10-2013, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex2364

Have you tried this? http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...<br /> <br />

this would be useless without any powerrrr!!

elistan · 10-10-2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex2364

Have you tried this? http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...13&postcount=5

I have.
Doesn't work.

CLittle · 10-10-2013, 08:50 PM

If the battery is dead, can you jump start the car to put into neutral?

Dog Face Pony Soldier · 10-10-2013, 08:56 PM

I heard there is an option to jack up the car and put the tranny in N from underneath.

jdong · 10-11-2013, 12:59 AM

The manual does not condone towing the vehicle in neutral. Using dollies and flat bedding the car is the right thing to do.

aspensilver · 10-11-2013, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKBasketball

You mean Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start.

.. lol J/K

HA! The Konami code

raleedy · 10-11-2013, 01:57 PM

Jump.

dl123 · 12-03-2015, 10:18 PM

This is the solution, however you need to raise the car and get to the transmission.

DrivenByE30 · 12-04-2015, 04:31 AM

Does this affect manuals?

Are manuals affected by this?

G30 B58 · 12-04-2015, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

Does this affect manuals?

Are manuals affected by this?

:troll:

xG35c · 12-04-2015, 07:11 AM

So, while on the side of the road and unable to move, you simply lift the car, remove that large shield, and locate that bolt?

This will never happen!

Billfitz · 12-04-2015, 09:05 AM

It's hard to imagine a tow truck that doesn't have jumper cables on board. Connect them to the jumper posts under the hood, shift it into neutral. But just in case I carry a set of my own.

eluded · 12-04-2015, 10:08 AM

Yes. Shifter doesn't work without power.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

Does this affect manuals?

kent11202 · 12-04-2015, 10:19 AM

Learn something new every day. What a stupid process to get a car in neutral.

I'm sure somebody has a logical explanation for this routine?

BavarianFanatic · 12-04-2015, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kent11202

Learn something new every day. What a stupid process to get a car in neutral.

I'm sure somebody has a logical explanation for this routine?

It's simple, there's no mechanical linkage - just an electronic joystick. When it's 100% electronic utilizing electric solenoids, there's no way to trigger the solenoids without power...

BavarianFanatic · 12-04-2015, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

Does this affect manuals?

Are manuals affected by this?

Yep, the electric clutch will be inop. A simple fix is to place your cell phone in the trunk and close the lid. The osmotic power from the phone will be just enough to release the clutch.

tboooe · 12-04-2015, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

Yep, the electric clutch will be inop. A simple fix is to place your cell phone in the trunk and close the lid. The osmotic power from the phone will be just enough to release the clutch.

You are kidding right?? Or am I totally missing something?

10-10-2013, 08:01 AM	#1
UKBasketball Private First Class 22 Rep 196 Posts Drives: 09 E92 328xi Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: KY iTrader: (0)	All F3x BMWs Dead Battery, no way to put car in neutral Apparently all BMWs with the steptronic "joystick" shifter have no way to manually be put in "N" or neutral in the event of a dead battery or power loss (like the problems with E9x positive battery connection at fuse box recall) From lots of searching and reading I've pretty much realized your only option is to flat bed the car and the tow truck driver has to use vehicle dollies at the rear wheels, or all wheels for xDrive models. I read that the first F10s came with a tool in the trunk you could use to manually put the transmission in neutral via hole under cup holders, but BMW soon axed that from the production line to save money.
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10-10-2013, 11:51 AM	#2
UKBasketball Private First Class 22 Rep 196 Posts Drives: 09 E92 328xi Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: KY iTrader: (0)	So this is for all newer BMW's with this type of gear selector, not just 3 and 4 series. Pretty bad for owners that there is no transmission release to roll/move car if car is dead. Please correct me if I am mistakes here.
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10-10-2013, 11:57 AM	#3
alex2364 Colonel 2869 Rep 2,758 Posts Drives: 2020 M4 ZCP / 2023 X3 M40i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2020 BMW M4 [10.00] 2023 BMW X3 M40i [10.00]	Have you tried this? http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...13&postcount=5
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10-10-2013, 08:50 PM	#8
CLittle Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 247 Posts Drives: 2013 328i Luxury Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	If the battery is dead, can you jump start the car to put into neutral?
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10-10-2013, 08:56 PM	#9
Dog Face Pony Soldier 2006 TIME Person Of The Year 9720 Rep 6,445 Posts Drives: M Sport 335i Join Date: May 2013 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 335i [9.74]	I heard there is an option to jack up the car and put the tranny in N from underneath. __________________
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10-11-2013, 12:59 AM	#10
jdong Lieutenant 19 Rep 503 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	The manual does not condone towing the vehicle in neutral. Using dollies and flat bedding the car is the right thing to do. __________________
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10-11-2013, 01:57 PM	#12
raleedy Colonel 160 Rep 2,248 Posts Drives: 2016 228i 6-speed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	Jump.
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12-03-2015, 10:18 PM	#13
dl123 First Lieutenant 38 Rep 311 Posts Drives: 2012 Frozen Silver M3 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: CALIFORNIA, USA iTrader: (0)	This is the solution, however you need to raise the car and get to the transmission.
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12-04-2015, 04:31 AM	#14
DrivenByE30 Brigadier General 592 Rep 3,870 Posts Drives: '12 F30 Lux 335i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: OC - SoCal iTrader: (0)	Does this affect manuals? Are manuals affected by this?
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12-04-2015, 07:11 AM	#16
xG35c Lieutenant 36 Rep 433 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	So, while on the side of the road and unable to move, you simply lift the car, remove that large shield, and locate that bolt? This will never happen!
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12-04-2015, 09:05 AM	#17
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,083 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It's hard to imagine a tow truck that doesn't have jumper cables on board. Connect them to the jumper posts under the hood, shift it into neutral. But just in case I carry a set of my own.
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12-04-2015, 10:19 AM	#19
kent11202 Captain 617 Rep 918 Posts Drives: 2013 328i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Learn something new every day. What a stupid process to get a car in neutral. I'm sure somebody has a logical explanation for this routine?
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