Dead! Couldn't tow X5 because could not move shift into neutral.

[edco]

Happy Post Valentine's Day my X5 Outpost friends!
Looking for some advice.
My 2011 X5 3.5 gas automatic would not start after a day of trips starting and stopping all day,
Our last errand was to the local pharmacy and went I came out pushed in the key, pressed the start button, nothing happened. No crank, but lights are on, radio on, so first, we try jumping it. A guy who works at the pharmacy has cables that were pretty thin and no luck. The store is in my town and the pharmacist has a delivery guy who drove my wife and I home, got my cables and a start block I keep fully charged. Still nothing. By now I've decided it's time to call triple A to have the car towed to the shop, BUT there was no way to put the car in neutral! So we watched a couple of videos on YouTube and now I know what that red handle is for (basically to take the cap off the cupholders to see a nut). But what next, there was a story about jacking up the car, but remember run-flat cars have no jack so,,,,,,,,,

Can someone tell me how to override the shifter so I can put it in neutral?

It's flippin' cold here in NJ, but should warm up tomorrow. I don't think I have had this battery for 5 years so it might be covered by some remaining warranty. I am thinking I will pull the battery out. I have an industrial 12V charger, and see what I get. Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll hold a charge and start. BTW, I can hear the fuel pump starting. I did consider bad gas as I filled up last night, but as I said we did lots of starts and stops and I didn't feel any bucking or attempts to stall.

One more thing.... 2 weeks ago I had a whine coming from one of the pulleys. Turned out to be the belt tensioner. Is it possible that the Indy did not tighten up the alternator bracket and I am not getting a solid charge (combined with freezing temperatures...)

Sorry for the rambling but I drank a lot of coffee waiting for AAA :-)

Thanks
ed in Metuchen