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2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum BMW 2 Series (F22) Forum BMW 2 Series Coupe and Cabriolet (F22/F23) General Forum Shifting Into Neutral Without Power

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      10-20-2016, 05:12 PM   #1
kevlac
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Shifting Into Neutral Without Power

I'm sure this topic in somewhere in the forum. I have searched, but I must be using the wrong keywords.

Just curious...

The owner's manual tells you how to put the car in neutral, but you need power to do so.

My question is, how to you shift an automatic 2 Series into neutral if you have no power?

For example, say your battery dies and you want to push it a few feet to the side of the road. Or say the car needs to be loaded onto a flat bed, but for whatever reason has no power due to a fender bender, dead battery, etc.

Does anyone know the procedure? Thanks!
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      10-20-2016, 09:37 PM   #2
Sindarin
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Crawl under car and remove underbody panel covering the transmission. There is a long set screw on the left side of the transmission. Turn that all the way in and it will press on the mechanical neutral lever. Transmission is now in neutral.
Not really meant for use outside of service.

Most flat bed drivers hammer plastic wedges under the tires and just drag them onto the bed.
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      10-22-2016, 09:55 AM   #3
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I was afraid you were going to say that! I saw that was the procedure for certain other BMW models on You Tube, but wanted to confirm that is what we do with ours.

That is why the tool kit in the trunk comes with a screw driver and allen wrench. However, if you get stuck on the road, this is would be a real pain, especially if you don't have a jack with you.

Thanks again!
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      10-22-2016, 06:32 PM   #4
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How would you run out of power on the road? Even if it does or if the battery dies with it parked, you can open the door with your key, pop the bonnet and have someone jump start your car.
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      10-22-2016, 11:06 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabrola View Post
How would you run out of power on the road? Even if it does or if the battery dies with it parked, you can open the door with your key, pop the bonnet and have someone jump start your car.
I hear what you are saying and I hope I never have to deal with this. However, it is nice to know the procedure if needed. There are scenarios when it would be nice to push the car out of the way in neutral quickly. For example, what if the car died and was blocking traffic? What if the car stalled on railroad tracks and there was nobody around to jump start the car? What if the car goes dead in your garage and the person giving you a jump can't reach the battery? With this car (with auto transmissions), you can't simply put it in neutral and push it. Yes, these scenarios are unlikely, but they can and do happen.

You Tube it!

Last edited by kevlac; 10-23-2016 at 06:40 PM..
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      10-23-2016, 09:45 AM   #6
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My 6-speed manual goes into neutral pretty easily without electric power.
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      10-23-2016, 12:54 PM   #7
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Save the manuals!
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      10-23-2016, 01:23 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tpeterson View Post
Save the manuals!
Good idea, fits in the glove box, but once you read it, you pretty much know what's going on....
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      10-23-2016, 11:43 PM   #9
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Apparently this is becoming pretty common. My Acura needs a special tool to put the car in neutral. But at least it is inside the car.
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      10-24-2016, 12:17 PM   #10
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Quote:
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Good idea, fits in the glove box, but once you read it, you pretty much know what's going on....
Well you know how this ends. I went through a whole fiasco when test driving an S4. I asked the guy if they had any manuals and he said sure, let me go get the keys. Next thing, we're sitting in an auto and he is explaining that he thought I meant an info book on the car. I still had a blast but that was pretty dumbfounding.
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      10-24-2016, 12:33 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by redontheline View Post
Well you know how this ends....Next thing, we're sitting in an auto and he is explaining that he thought I meant an info book on the car.
Sounds pretty shifty to me!
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