Question:
While I was out shopping the other day, the battery died on my BMW. I called a tow truck to get it home, but we couldn’t figure out how to get it in Neutral. Is it possible to put a BMW into Neutral without starting it?
Answer: Although you normally have to turn your car on to move the gear shifter out of Park, it may still be possible to put your BMW into Neutral without starting it. That said, the exact process may vary depending on the year and model of your BMW.
Use the emergency transmission release near your gear shifter
In some BMWs, you may be able to pry up the casing around the gear shifter to release the transmission and manually move the vehicle into Neutral.
- Reach into the casing around the base of your gear shifter and pull up firmly—it should come free without much force. Set the cover aside.
- Use a flathead screwdriver to rotate the round cap that’s covering the emergency transmission release. Set the cap and the wire attached to it aside.
- Push the screwdriver down into the hole, then pull it backward. Your BMW should shift into Neutral.
Manually release the parking lock from under your transmission
If you can’t override the transmission from the gear shifter, you may need to go underneath the car go manually release the parking lock. Here’s what to do:
- Lift the driver’s side of the car onto jack stands.
- Remove the screws attaching the plastic panel that covers the transmission.
- Once it’s uncovered, look on the right side of the transmission for a lever. On older models, the lever will have a screw.
- If you have an older model BMW: Tighten the screw to lift the lever, which will put the transmission into Neutral. To move the car back into Park, loosen the screw and lower the lever.
- If you have a newer model BMW: You’ll need a special tool from BMW to pull the parking lock release lever. If you don’t have that tool, you may be able to pry it down with a screwdriver, then wedge the screwdriver behind the lever to keep it from springing back—but it will likely be difficult.
WARNING:If you’re not comfortable lifting or jacking a car up, don’t attempt to do this yourself. If you’re trying to put your BMW into Neutral so you can tow it, you may be able to ask the tow truck driver for assistance—but you should never get underneath a car unless you’re 100% certain it’s lifted securely.
Get your BMW to stay in Neutral after you turn it off
Normally, when you turn off the ignition in a newer BMW, it will automatically shift into Park. If you need it to stay in Neutral, here’s what to do:
- Press and hold the brake
- Press and hold the Start/Stop (ignition) button
- Without letting go of the Start/Stop button, press the gear shift unlock button
- Shift into Neutral
- Hold the gear shifter in Neutral for five seconds
- Release the Start/Stop and unlock buttons
- To take it out of Neutral, you can press the Park button or press the Start/Stop button again
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
