AWR-Fix: E70 LCI Emergency Neutral
 

BMW decided to remove the neutral override (that you need to use if you have no power or have a malfunction in the gear selector) that was in the cabin.

The new process involves jacking up the car, removing six screws that hold the protection plate under the transmission pan then turn the manual screw that engages neutral.

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Just to the right of center is that screw. Shown here with the protection plate installed but the plastic cover under the front propeller shaft removed.

I've been planning for months to determine where to drill a hole though that plate to access the neutral override through it and keep a 5mm hex key in the car in case it's ever needed.

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"X marks the spot"
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You will not have to remove the plate. The main point of this thread is to show people the magic location to drill a hole to access the screw.

4 ³/₈" aft of the vent hole and 4 ³/₄" inboard from the port/left side of the plate. (driver's side USA).

I made a ¹/₂" hole it might be nicer if slightly smaller like ³/₈" or 10mm (to help you find the head of the screw: it's quite a ways up).

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The writing is upside down because when laying on back it's right-reading.

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This shows how the hex key fits into the screw through the hole. I plan to get a T handle 5mm hex to keep in both mine and wife's E70.

Hope this helps people out: the access hole is within arms' reach; no jacking up the car just need to know roughly where to feel around blindly for the hole and the screw up in the hole.

It looks like about 10-12mm so maybe 10-12 turns to fully engage and I don't suspect it's a captive screw so count when disengaging so you don't remove the screw.

I discovered this the hard way lol. Down in VA, I pulled over to get gas. Somehow the ground strap broke and when I went to start the car, no crank and a bunch of error messages. Called a flat bed then realized there was no way to get the car into neutral so we had to call another truck with the dolly and tow my car that way.

Really dumb design decision

I'm very glad I discovered the issue from somebody else's dilemma so i was able to prep for an easy method for the future.

Now that it's easy: no point in the universe making me need manual neutral. A little like preventing a hard drive crash by having good backup.

That’s actually a really good idea. Next time I’m at the shop, I might have the guys drill a hole just like that in case of future emergencies

I highly recommend. And keep 5mm hex key in the car.

5mm hex is probably the same tool needed to remove the engine cover too. I keep a hex key and spare known good coil pack to remove the cover.

You guys know there’s that red tool in the back that’s used to turn a square under the center console cup holders right? You just remove the rubber liner in the cup holders and you’ll see the square. I imagine this is for all e70.

Which engine? Mine just needs a good tug. Uses rubber ball & socket. Make sure it's long enough, the neutral screw is a good ways up from the metal plate.

My '08 3.0si (6HP19) uses the red tool. Later X5's didn't. Might be related to change to 8 speed trans.

N52

Red tool must only be a thing for 6 speeds as mentioned above.

My understanding was the change happened with the facelift. I don't know if the 8 speed happened at the same time but that is logical.

What's NOT logical is the lack of access hole for the screw!