F10/ F11 auto - how get car in neutral to push it?

[Erudite geezer]

I have a 2012 F11 520d auto with the paddle shift and sports tranmission gear lever. Picture below:



Occasionally just want to push the car backwards or forwards on the driveway without starting the engine and driving it.

Is it possible to get the car into neutral and disengage the handbrake and push the car?

[HoHoHo]

Erudite geezer said:

I have a 2012 F11 520d auto with the paddle shift and sports tranmission gear lever. Picture below:



Occasionally just want to push the car backwards or forwards on the driveway without starting the engine and driving it.

Is it possible to get the car into neutral and disengage the handbrake and push the car?

From memory it's quite complicated.

When a friend decided to smash into a telegraph pole some years ago in his 535D we couldn't for the life of us figure out how to get it into neutral and the car was dragged tyres squealing onto a loader

I think the answer is to lift up the leather gaiter by the gear lever and under there you then need to move something with a screwdriver. You are essentially only unlocking gears by hand.

Mucho PITFA!

[Fox-]

Read the manual. It tells you how - initially you needed a special tool but this changed soon after the F10's launch but I can't remember when exactly, so your manual will clarify.

[Erudite geezer]

Fox- said:

Read the manual. It tells you how - initially you needed a special tool but this changed soon after the F10's launch but I can't remember when exactly, so your manual will clarify.

Which section of the handbook? Cannot locate it.

Section 'Help in the event of a breakdown' states manual car can be towed:



But an automatic car cannot, it needs to transported on a platform:

[Jimbo893]

There is a sequence you can use on the shifter to unlock the ‘box into neutral for a limited period of time (10 mins or so, and I can’t remember the sequence, sorry). There is also a torx bolt accessed under the box on the passenger side for a more permanent solution. This can them be unscrewed when you need it back in working order.

Ask me how I know, FUBAR fuel pump on a busy A road on my ex-F10 530d.

[Jimbo893]

There is a sequence you can use on the shifter to unlock the ‘box into neutral for a limited period of time (10 mins or so, and I can’t remember the sequence, sorry). There is also a torx bolt accessed under the box on the passenger side for a more permanent solution. This can them be unscrewed when you need it back in working order.

Ask me how I know, FUBAR fuel pump on a busy A road on my ex-F10 530d.