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04-06-2014, 04:38 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 34
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Need advice on Towing a late model 3 series BMW
Just sold my tow dolly and am out shopping for a toad. I am interested in a late model BMW 335 or M3 with a manual trans.. Can I flat tow theses and where do I get a base plate. Thanks in advance for your help
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04-06-2014, 06:01 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 8,638
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I own 2 BMW I don't think any can be flat towed.
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2007 Fleetwood Revolution LE 40V
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04-07-2014, 08:38 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 34
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Are they maunal or automatics
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04-08-2014, 06:42 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 48
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I did quite a bit of research into either an S4 or M3 toad. What I found,
- BMW doesn't approve anything to be flat towed. I believe Remco (or another baseplate company) states that older 5spd BMW's are OK. Personally, I think a manual transmission BMW would be fine flat towed. They use getrag or zf transmissions which are no different than other "approved" manual transmission cars.
- Baseplates will need to be custom fabrications. This will probably run $500-1500 depending on who does the work and how in depth it is.
I ended up with a Mini Cooper S which is a psuedo BMW since they've been widely flat towed (although not approved by BMW/Mini), and have base plates from multiple sources.
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2010 Newmar Dutch Star 4333
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04-08-2014, 07:07 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KM Parks in Western Washington and Yuma,Az for the Winter
Posts: 1,483
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Check with Roadmaster for a tow package
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2012 Itasca Meridian 42E, Roadmaster Tow System, Unified Brakes on Toad
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. US Army Armor. Ret
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04-08-2014, 07:56 PM
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#6
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,770
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Having been the owner of a 325i for 12 years, BMW's can't be flat towed.
Lori-
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Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font. 
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04-08-2014, 09:01 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,803
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I did run into a guy towing a Beemer. It was an auto transmission and what he did was run the motor in the car while he was towing it. That way the lube pump in the trans was running the correct way to lube the trans.
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04-12-2014, 08:52 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 36
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BMW flat towing
I too was considering towing my 330i w/manual tranny four down. being a BMW car club member I emailed their tech talk expert who responded that he advised against it. That being said I emailed Blue Ox for base plate info. They will custom make one for you at this factory. They offer a great package....Their response is below...1. custom base plate at retail cost... 2.Free installation..3.eligible to stay at their rv park free...4.use of company car...5. 25% discount on blue ox purchases.They need about 2 weeks advance notice to schedule you. Coordinate with their customer care.
I decided not to tow the BMW and bought a 2014 equinox awd to tow instead.
Frank
M&G brake sys, blue ox tow bar and baseplates
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Frank & Nancy, Nashua, NH
2014 Phaeton QTH, Genesis GV 80 on trailer, Good Sam Life
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04-12-2014, 09:43 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Somewhere....
Posts: 4,054
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I saw a guy in our cg towing a 5 series BMW backwards on a dolly...
Not sure what he was using to lock the steering wheel in place.
__________________
2008 King Aire 4562, Spartan K3(GT) w/ Cummins ISX 600
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 5.7L V8 Hemi w/ Blue Ox Aventa LX Tow Bar and baseplate, SMI Air Force One brake
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04-13-2014, 10:24 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankus
I too was considering towing my 330i w/manual tranny four down. being a BMW car club member I emailed their tech talk expert who responded that he advised against it. That being said I emailed Blue Ox for base plate info. They will custom make one for you at this factory. They offer a great package....Their response is below...1. custom base plate at retail cost... 2.Free installation..3.eligible to stay at their rv park free...4.use of company car...5. 25% discount on blue ox purchases.They need about 2 weeks advance notice to schedule you. Coordinate with their customer care.
I decided not to tow the BMW and bought a 2014 equinox awd to tow instead.
Frank
M&G brake sys, blue ox tow bar and baseplates
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Did the BMWCCA tech give any reason why he advised against it?
__________________
2010 Newmar Dutch Star 4333
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04-13-2014, 11:53 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 36
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towing bmw 3 series
I was disappointed in the response from tech talk. The response to my email was that it did not pass the smell test. No other explanation. I discussed the idea with my independent bmw shop,,, an accomplished bmw racer, and he thought that there would be no problem in towing it. Going to Pender , NE was too far out of my way so I gave up on towing the BMW.
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Frank & Nancy, Nashua, NH
2014 Phaeton QTH, Genesis GV 80 on trailer, Good Sam Life
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04-13-2014, 06:52 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankus
I was disappointed in the response from tech talk. The response to my email was that it did not pass the smell test. No other explanation. I discussed the idea with my independent bmw shop,,, an accomplished bmw racer, and he thought that there would be no problem in towing it. Going to Pender , NE was too far out of my way so I gave up on towing the BMW.
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I have yet to hear an actual engineering reason as to why they can't be flat towed, other than BMW not approving it. Someone on RVillage mentioned that it could have something to do with the lubrication being based on the input shaft, rather than output shaft, on the newer transmissions, but I have no clue how accurate that is.
It would be nice to get an answer from a BMW/ZF/Getrag engineer, but I doubt they would give it the green light due to liability issues.
__________________
2010 Newmar Dutch Star 4333
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