Ask five car owners their opinion on towing, and you’ll get five different answers. Some think it’s no problem and no harm to the car, while others wouldn’t let anyone near their baby with a tow truck, regardless of experience. BMW owners aren’t typically in a hurry to cause front-end damage and ruin alignment, and for good reason.
Somewhere in the middle is a savvy group of BMW owners who know that yes, it’s possible to tow your bimmer. While it might not be as simple as towing dad’s ‘70 Chevy, there is a right way to do it. If you’re armed with the knowledge of how it’s done, at least you can make an educated decision.
BMW Towing Do’s and Don’ts
If you’ve had the bad fortune of needing a tow because of something that took place on the road, like you locked your keys in the car or were in an accident, you may have noticed that professionals have some trick gear to do the job.
Their equipment allows them to slip dollies beneath the front wheels of the car, thus eliminating the chance of dragging it. If you were to tow a BWM by the front wheels with them in contact with the pavement, they would drag. You want to avoid for obvious reasons — namely, avoiding a huge repair bill for your front end.
When you decide you’re going to hitch your BMW up, the ignition must be on and the car must be in neutral. This feature is designed so would-be thieves can’t pilfer your bimmer and roll it off without first getting your keys, which are hopefully with you at all times.
How to Flat Tow Your BMW
If you’re planning on having your BMW accompany you for a road trip in an RV, the crucial piece of equipment you’ll need is a tow bar. This specially made device mates to the tow hook on your BMW and distributes loads evenly between your car and the RV. Make sure you choose one that is rated for more than your BMW weighs.
Attempting to tow without a properly installed tow bar could have disastrous results, and should never be attempted. Even with the steering lock built into your BMW, you risk having the car veer in one direction or another because of slack in the chain that transmits forces when your RV corners. It could potentially upset your RV’s path on the road.
Why You Should Bring Your Bimmer With
While it’s a little more complicated than some cars, having a second vehicle with you on a trip rather than traveling toad can add a whole new dimension to your travel experience.
Rather than attempting to shoehorn your RV through crowded city streets, you can park it in a good place and then jump in the BMW to explore town. Heck, you might even encounter a few good driving roads along the way. No one ever tells stories about carving canyons in a Winnebago, at least not any BMW owner.
