Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: Gbell on January 19, 2017, 07:24:30 pm

Title: BMW toad
Post by: Gbell on January 19, 2017, 07:24:30 pm
Has anyone pulled a manual transmission BMW 325 as a toad? And if so do you have to do anything special. I was hopeful of using my 2001 manual BMW as my toad since I already own it.
Thanks for any help, Gary





Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: craneman on January 19, 2017, 08:01:43 pm
Read your owners manual about towing. Most manual transmission cars that are not specifically designed for towing will harm the transmission. Transfer case vehicles don't turn the transmission when towing if the trans. is put in gear and the transfer case put in neutral.
Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: Caflashbob on January 19, 2017, 08:49:35 pm
We used to tow a Muncie trans Chevy race car.  Top shaft in the trans did not receive splash lube in neutral and towing from the drive shaft spinning.

We put a piece of wood between the drivers seat and the clutch pedal and pushed the clutch pedal to the floor.  Then put the trans in fourth gear.

Throw out bearing was spinning more but never had one fail.

A BMW trans guy might know if the trans can work in neutral or better in gear with the clutch depressed
Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on January 19, 2017, 09:01:54 pm
Don't know the details of towing a specific manual transmission vehicle but would check other forums for your BMW. I have read about others wanting to tow three series.  I know our Toyota AWD RAV4 has to stop every 300 miles and idle for 5 minutes. May be a mechanical reason or a liability reason for your BMW's tow limitations if any. Nice to know what the exact reason is behind the recommendation.

Pierce
Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: Gbell on January 19, 2017, 09:43:18 pm
Thank you all for the information, as always very helpful, Great group
Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: MichaelU295 on January 19, 2017, 10:06:24 pm
I towed my BMW 325i convertible manual with no issue, just put it in neutral, key in to unlock the steering wheel and go.  Mine is rear wheel drive so I guess yours is too.  The challenge I got was no tow bracket avail in the market.  It got an unibody too so there's no solid frame to mount the bracket to. A local welding / trailer shop did a custom job for me.  Yes, love it.

Thanks,
Michael
Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: jcus on January 19, 2017, 10:08:38 pm
Had a 2002 [predecessor of 325] manual. Never had a problem towing it.
Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: John Morales on January 21, 2017, 03:07:01 pm
Tow bar for your car.
John M

Parts Needed to Flat Tow a 2001 BMW 325i Behind a Motor Home | etrailer.com (http://www.etrailer.com/question-107346.html)
Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: Gbell on January 21, 2017, 05:11:12 pm
Thanks for all the information, just what I needed.
It is nice to hear of others successful towing a 3 series Thanks again to all f you. Gary and Tammy
Title: Re: BMW toad
Post by: iwanttorv2 on January 21, 2017, 07:28:12 pm
We were at Blue Ox this summer and met a couple with a early 90's BMW and a SOB. Blue Ox did a fabulous job designing the base plate. Installation was amamzing, could hardly tell the car was set up for towing.