How to tow a e21?

[Stitchingworks]

Hey guys, have a question.
Could I use one of those U-Haul 2 wheel towing dolies to tow a e21.
Does the rear diff and gearbox require the engine to be running to have lubrication, I know some cars have a mech. pump just for the gearbox and diff. and has to be running to have oil pumping through.
Just dont want to tow it and end up melting up everything.
Thanks

[Madhatter]

flatbed is always best, but no problem towing it by the front wheels. Just put it in neutral or disconnect the tailshaft if its an auto.

[Stitchingworks]

Thanks Madhatter,
Don't want to get into details but , it might be an interesting "find".
Will get yall more info if it goes through.
Thanks

[DHoang]

I literally LOST my car going through Dallas,TX towing it by the front wheels.

It came off the tow bar when I made a tight u-turn trying to come out of a culdesac street end, and rollled backwards right through some peoples' shrubs and stopped within 1" of their home's wall. My homeowner's insurance wound up paying for the damages.

FWIW...

[mosportcanada]

snug down those safety straps to keep the car on board, i've used the u haul once before for an e21. about an 80 mile trip , no problem. towed really well with a half ton pick up.

[tlapham]

Just towed from SLO today- almost 300 miles. car transport is the only way to go.

[dblsprt68]

When my father-in-law gave us the E21, we two wheel dolled it from Columbia, SC to Memphis, Tn. That's about an 8 hour drive. Had it in neutral because I couldn't figure out how to pull the driveshaft. Did fine, pulled fine, no problems once getting it home. David

[The Cosmos]

A bit ot, but this was me today. My 255 fuel pump took a shit Strap tow works too.

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[BoomerDJ]

A bit ot, but this was me today. My 255 fuel pump took a shit Strap tow works too.

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done this twice, my dad owns a construction company and his work truck is a f-350 super duty, i just call him up and we strap the car with the control arms, perfect!

[Madhatter]

very much illegal down here, isnt the same in the US?

[charbel]

no here in the us at least in michigan you can tow the car with a tow strap , but you have to be in a certain distance from the car in front of you. i think 7 feet. i forgot.. and all your brake light and turn signal still have to work correctly

i towed my range rover with my copper e21 before.. about 35 miles

i towed my plow truck with my e36 for like 45 mile. lol

as for long distance towing , i like the tow dolly. easy to tow and if you put a lot of air in the tires that they are rolling then the car will roll smoothly.. it won't swing or nothing..

the longest i have towed was an e36 from philadelfia PE to MI. that was over 14 hours drive..

[IRideFixed]

straps are legal most places excluding interstates here in ohio at least..

[Madhatter]

you dont have a limit on distance? you can get away with short distances here but if your going to tow it a 100km or something on a public road, you will get fined.

[goinstrong]

When I found my donor car that had an LSD in it, I put the rear wheels on the 2 wheel dolly, and tied the steering wheel straight ahead. I pulled it about 80 miles on the freeway at about 50 mph with no issues. I didn't want to risk ruining the tranny/LSD, etc.
That would be my recommendation if you are towing it more than just a short distance.
Tim

[tlapham]

plus those dollies can really screw up your front end. alignment is pretty much gone after.

[m20powered]

Alignment depends on the position of the nut on the tie rod end, how's that going to get messed up?

I towed my e21 and my e30 with all four on the ground using my e28 with a tow bar. I removed the front bumper rubber trim, drilled, and bolted it to the bumper / bumper shocks. I had some trailer lights wired in, fastened on the back of the 3er. A larger tow vehicle relative to the weight of the load is going to give you more control as far as braking or sudden changes in direction. A dolly tracks better than the car by itself does also (after I stripped my e30 and tried to tow the shell to the scrap yard it wouldn't track at all, somebody had to sit in it and steer). A trailer is more expensive to rent or own (needs to be registered and inspected) and you need to more towing capacity to pull it but it's more versatile obviously.

Diff shouldn't be a problem. Automatic tranny needs to have the driveline disconnected. Mine were all manuals, and suffered no ill effects even after 500 miles, but it was mentioned that the output shaft bearing doesn't get oiled when the input shaft isn't spinning. Maybe it would benefit from a temporary over-fill of oil.

I believe tow straps are not legal in New York, but I've used them occasionally nevertheless, just to go short distances at low speed (like when the fuel pump fails a mile from home)

[Bonsaibacker]

Resurrecting this thread to be sure that there will be no issues using a tow dolly (2 wheels) and NOT disconnecting the drive shaft on a manual transmission E21. Thoughts?

[MortyCrock]

Resurrecting this thread to be sure that there will be no issues using a tow dolly (2 wheels) and NOT disconnecting the drive shaft on a manual transmission E21. Thoughts?

I used a tow dolly to tow the 323i home from my friend's shop with no issues. I believe disconnecting the driveshaft was only with the autos, and you should be fine with just leaving it in neutral...

but I guess there were concerns about alignment? in that case, I have no insight...

[Bonsaibacker]

Thank you Morgan. The car already has the wobbles- will be tightening up the whole front end anywho.


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[mxl556]

just like with any other car, do not pull it up or secure to the dolly using tie rods as they will bend. Control arms or a subframe should be fine.

Max

[Bonsaibacker]

Thanks Max- I am always gentle on the front suspension pieces.