well if u need to get ur car towed, they would use a dolly on your rear wheels
anyways since the x5 is all wheel drive they have to use a dolly even if you can get it in neutral

Well, I think the car must allow us to shift to N under all condition.

Think about some abnormal situation. For example, you are in the far far wield field and your car is trapped in the mud, or you park the car in the
basement but the flood comes in, the water is so deep and you can't start
the car or even you can't even turn on the electric equipment.

In two of the above situation, the car has to be removed by human, not
a tow truck. If we can't shift the gear to N, then no one can move the
car.

So, in normal situation it probably fine, but in emergency or unusual situation then we need some special solution.

I will call customer service tomorrow and see what is their answer.

There IS a manual release for emergency situations - it is in the trunk. But normally, you wouldn't go through that hassle to put it in N without starting the engine first...

I called BMW service today and here is the conclusion:
The procedure to release from Park is described in owner's handbook, P.59~P.60. It does not need the key/remote control. If parking brake needed to be released manually, release the parking brake then the shift.

This is a serious design flaw
 

It clearly states on page 60 the park, neutral and reverse can only be engaged if the engine is running. looks like manually releasing the transmission will allowing towing (back wheel only are released, page 61). This is a serious design flaw.

Reading the manual is fun. Not sure why you believe it is a 'design flaw', and a serious one at that?

There is a manual sequence to get the Neutral position. But you should only use this when your engine won´t start and you have to tow the car because it´s quite a thing to do.

There is a special tool in the trunk to be used. You have to remove the bottom of the left hand cup holder, there might be a lock which can be opened with the cars key. Then you put the special tool in and press it down. Then you turn it to the right. The Neutral is in then.

Quite a thing to roll down the driveway.

So long

Christian

Not a lock, the tool fits directly into the square indention under the cupholder rubber tray. Not too bad, but not as easy as the old days!

so what happens in a situation where you have just released the parking brake only to find out the vehicle was not perfectly level..(as in most cases) and the damn thing starts to roll off with you still fumbling in the trunk??

do you jump through the seats in hopes of getting to the front brake pedal in time?? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

or are there "grab handles" in the cargo area that you can use to pull her to a stop? :goodluck:

I'll need to make a not to myself to keep a brick in the trunk for moments like this so I can wedge it under a tire..

The tool is in the rear, but you insert it in the front cupholder, so you should be sitting the driver's seat when you do it (unless you are trying to FUBAR your X5).