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Thread: Moving a Manual Z4 without Key

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2022
    Location
    Morrison, CO
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i

    Moving a Manual Z4 without Key

    Hi, Just purchased a salvage 2007 Z4 which was dropped in front of my house. I need to get it off the street and into my driveway, but it was sold without keys (I've ordered through thebmwminipartstore.com).

    It's a manual transmission, so I was hoping I could just release the parking brake, put the shifter in idle, and push or winch the car into my driveway. Not so; it feels like it's in "park" and doesn't budge. What am I missing?

    Apologies if it's obvious... This is my first manual vehicle.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
    Posts
    30,107
    My Cars
    z3
    It should be able to be rolled with the shifter in neutral and the parking brake released

    The E85 Z4 non-M models did have electronic steering though, so won't be easy to steer without power

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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Mechanicsburg, PA USA
    Posts
    123
    My Cars
    2003 2.5 BMW Z4
    The car should be moveable without the key. Steering is a totally different issue. In that, the anti-theft system may lock-up the steering wheel and that's game.

    I'm not up on obtaining new keys. I do know from many prior postings that BMW's in general are really tuff when it comes to their keys. I hope I'm totally wrong, but you should be prepared to have the car towed to a dealership so the new key and the car can be mated.

    Hope things work out for you.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Miamisburg, Ohio
    Posts
    819
    My Cars
    1997 328iC, 2003 Z4
    Car dollies. If you don't have a curb to go over the cheap ones from Harbor Freight might work.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2022
    Location
    Morrison, CO
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i
    Thanks all. As JAS1169 mentioned, the steering wheel was locked so I used car dollies per B328iC's suggestion. She's in the driveway now.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2023
    Location
    Columbus, GA
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    2003 BMW Z4 3.0i
    This may be an option for new keys?
    https://store.bimmernav.com/collections/bmw-keys

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland area
    Posts
    4,372
    My Cars
    EXOTICS
    BMW keys can be readily ordered from the dealership with ID and proof of ownership documents.

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