How to Put the BMW X5 in Neutral for Towing?
2 Answers
Open the trunk, locate the "red gear lever", remove the gasket in front of the lever, insert the "red gear lever" into the cup holder, and rotate it half a turn to unlock. There is an unlock button near the gear shift position; press it to shift into neutral. Release the accelerator pedal and quickly depress the clutch pedal. When moving the gear lever into neutral, you need to release the clutch pedal and then depress it again. Move the gear lever into a lower gear, and release the clutch pedal quickly, pause, then slowly to allow the car to continue driving in the new gear.
I've been driving a BMW X5 for almost a decade and have plenty of towing experience. Putting the car in neutral is crucial for towing, otherwise the transmission can get damaged. First, make sure the car is parked on level ground and the electronic parking brake is engaged; press the brake pedal; don't fully start the engine, just lightly press the start button to put it in the accessory mode so the dashboard lights up; then shift the gear lever to the N position and confirm the indicator turns green; release the brake. Keep the towing speed low, under 50 km/h, and it's best for short distances, like in a parking lot or for short rescues. Once I was careless and forgot to put it in accessory mode before towing—the transmission made loud noises, but luckily I stopped in time to avoid damage. Extra tip: check the towing hook location, usually under hidden panels on the front or rear bumper, gently pry it open and secure the hook firmly. After towing, remember to turn off the power to save the battery, and don’t forget regular maintenance to prevent such issues.
