Vehicle was towed with the transmission in park with the parking brake on?

PENELOPE0511

MEMBER
2018 BMW X5
V6
TURBO
AUTOMATIC
48,000 MILES

I have the vehicle listed above x5M. All-wheel drive. The driver’s manual and everything I’m reading says flatbed only. Well, it was towed on a tow dolly by rear wheels and the front 2? On the ground. 60 miles. It was in park with the parking brake on the entire time. When I called the tow company after viewing my cameras they said we do this all the time. It’ll be fine.

Should I have it towed for diagnostic? What could be wrong? Or the extent of damage?

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,254 POSTS

Hi,

Towing a vehicle with the front wheels on the ground while it is in park can potentially cause serious damage to the transmission and drivetrain components. In the case of your 2018 BMW X5 with X-Drive, this practice is strongly discouraged, and you should never tow the vehicle with the front wheels on the ground, especially while it is in Park.

The AWD system in the BMW X5 is designed to operate with all four wheels turning together. Towing with the front wheels on the ground and in park will create stress on the drivetrain components, including the transfer case and differentials.

Have you driven the vehicle since this was done? I'm still trying to figure out why the front tires were on the road and not the rear. If the steering wheel lock would have failed due to pressure, the vehicle would have gone in different directions.

Let me know.

Joe