tires and wheels Towing a 2002 and 735i on a car dolly - whats good for it?

[PSloan]

I recently traded my 69 1600 for a 82 euro 735i with a 5 speed and AC. The 735 is going to get towed from dallas to houston (5 hours) and the 1600 from houston to dallas. What's the best way to spare the tranny and diff from spinning? I figure I'll disconnect the halfshafts at the rear wheels - but is it hard to do? I've never done it. Do I need to take them out completely or just dosconnect from the wheels? Also, if anyone knows any tricks on doing it to the 735i that would be great. Also, if anyone knows anything about owning a 735i could you share? I've never owned anything but an alfa romeo GTV6 and a 2002.

[joe76bmw]

Hello pat I asked a friend of mine who is a tow truck driver. He said all you have to do is put car in neutral and you will be fine.

[PSloan]

But then it still spins the diff and driveshaft.

[joe76bmw]

He said you can put rear tires on the tow dolly just secure steering wheel.

[scottt]

Those would be spinning the whole way if you drove there. :-)

[KFunk]

The diff shouldn't matter, how's that different from normal driving?

But I've heard most people recommend disconnecting the driveshaft to keep the tranny from spinning. That's just a few bolts to disconnect it at the diff at tie the driveshaft out of the way with some utility wire (don't mess with the guibo up front). You'll need some new locking nuts to reconnect it.

But, you can tow it a short distance in neutral just fine without hurting anything. For longer distances, some people recommend that you occasionally pull over start the engine on the towed car and run it a few minutes to get stuff spinning in the transmission and warmed up, then tow it some more.

But, thats just I've heard people say. I've never had to tow a car very far, and just left it in neutral.

[winstontj]

I recently traded my 69 1600 for a 82 euro 735i with a 5 speed and AC. The 735 is going to get towed from dallas to houston (5 hours) and the 1600 from houston to dallas. What's the best way to spare the tranny and diff from spinning? I figure I'll disconnect the halfshafts at the rear wheels - but is it hard to do? I've never done it. Do I need to take them out completely or just dosconnect from the wheels? Also, if anyone knows any tricks on doing it to the 735i that would be great. Also, if anyone knows anything about owning a 735i could you share? I've never owned anything but an alfa romeo GTV6 and a 2002.

Half shafts can be disconnected at the wheels just like the 2002. If you're worried about it that's really the best way to go. Most only reccomend that you fill the diff up with fresh lube and disconnect the driveshaft. It's not really good to have the gearbox turning all that distance with the angle. You can either use zip ties AND safety wire or just take them off at the diff too. Invest in a 3/8" or 1/2" hex socket and you'll be able to disconnect quickly. Matt McGinn says to use a hammer and make sure the socket is really in all the way - good advise!

I don't know anyting about owning that vehicle but I do think they are bad-ass! Best of luck! Just out of curiosity why didn't you just get a flatbed trailer? Was price that much different?

[pkbinplano]

If your renting a dolly, a trailer is only like $10 more

[PSloan]

The guy who is trading me is having to use a place other than uhaul. Apparently they were giving him trouble about what car he was using to tow with. He lives in irving near you paul - I told him you were the guy to talk to in the area regarding 2002s. His name is Grant Hatter and will have my 69 1600 next week. It's a neat project car for sure. As for driving the 1600 back - problem is it has no brakes. Thats the reason for the trailer. Also the reason the 735i is being towed here - its a 1 man show with 2 cars. I'd fly up there and drive it down but its over 100 bucks for the flight and I have a meeting with my lawyer that day. Oh well.

[Guest Anonymous]

automatic transmission and some manual transmission (later models) -IIRC- have fluid pumps inside them and should not be towed for over 20 miles at speeds of less than 30 mph. Go ahead an d rent a full trailer and play it safe. It is a lot easier than disconnecting the driveshaft at the rear.

[PSloan]

I'll relay that info to Grant in Dallas. Thanks.

[TTyMiller]

Flatbed is the only safe way to go

[Grant]

Let me finally fill in some details here, since I'm the one renting the dolly/trailer:

The reason I was planning on the dolly instead of a flatbed is primarily weight savings. I'm pulling this with a V6 Ford Explorer (my dad's car). The towing spec on it is right at 3400lbs. This wouldn't be a problem with the 1600 on a trailer, but the E23 735i that I'm trading weighs in at a little over 3300lbs by itself. Once I add in the trailer weight, I don't think my Explorer is up to the task anymore.

I do have one other option: I have a friend with a newer (bigger engine) explorer with a tow rating of 5800lbs. I'd have to buy him a trailer hitch though to use it. I'll have to check on the price of this. If it's under $200, I suppose it might be worth it...

Thanks for all the advice.

[jakeb]

Use a dolly...I have towed many cars all over the place with dollys and have never had one issue.

Put the front wheels on the dolly, put it and neutral and go

I have towed, 2002(more than one, more than once), e30(manual), e30(automatic...towed it with the front wheels on the ground), and an MGB

Most of these were long trips...the longest being about 6hours.

Use the tow dolly

[Grant]

automatic transmission and some manual transmission (later models) -IIRC- have fluid pumps inside them and should not be towed for over 20 miles at speeds of less than 30 mph. Go ahead an d rent a full trailer and play it safe. It is a lot easier than disconnecting the driveshaft at the rear.

Both of these are 5-speed cars, and neither are anything remotely close to a "later model". I've never heard anyone mention the manual tranny in an E23 having any kind of pump.

I've always been told that you can't tow with the rear wheels on the ground with an automatic tranny, but a manual it's ok.

Grant