Put DCT into neutral without starting my car?

m4f82kuwait · 12-28-2016, 01:35 AM

how can i put my DCT into neutral without starting my car? I'm planning on removing my ecu for few days.

Dranter · 12-28-2016, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4f82kuwait

how can i put my DCT into neutral without starting my car? I'm planning on removing my ecu for few days.

As far as i know, BMW needs to come to you and put it for you in N using software. Considering what your doing im assuming thats out of the question.

There doesnt seem to be a physical button or something to press like the e9x platform. Trust me I looked for it.

If someone else knows how we can put it into N ourselves, i would i appreciate it too.

13M5F10 · 12-28-2016, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4f82kuwait

how can i put my DCT into neutral without starting my car? I'm planning on removing my ecu for few days.

I know on the F10 M5 there is a way to manually do it. Read the owners manual around towing.

Tiger1016 · 12-28-2016, 04:43 PM

Please report back if you figure this out. It would be good to know just in case. BTW I recall in my quick initial read of the manual that it said the can could not be put into neutral without being turned on, but I also think this was in the section dealong with towing. So it might not be 100% apllicable.

One of the reasons I want to know is I have been burned by this before. Once upon a time with my '08 535i disaster (qualified lemon/dealer assisted buy back) the thing broke down on with with a ruptured fuel line right in front of a toll exit by my office. Caused a massive traffic jam for all of my pissed off coworkers. By the time I figured out how to get into neutral without having the car running (since it couldn't start because of the ruptured fuel line) to get towed away by the truck BMW had sent out for me a second tow truck had the car configured on these skate contraptions that attached to the locked wheels. Wound up costing me ~$400 for the tow but if the one BMW had sent out would have taken me in it would have been free.

MaX PL · 12-28-2016, 05:23 PM

why can't you just shut it down in neutral?

Reach · 12-28-2016, 05:27 PM

There is not a good way to do this. I believe from other internet posts it can be done physically on the trans if you lift the car, but that's not what you're asking.

If you're planning on pulling the ECU, expect the car to be stuck for the duration.

ciaranob · 12-28-2016, 05:44 PM

Indeed - here is a pic of the underside where there is a release lever to put the trans in neutral for DCT cars - have never done this and not about to suggest anyone does without more info!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reach

There is not a good way to do this. I believe from other internet posts it can be done physically on the trans if you lift the car, but that's not what you're asking.

If you're planning on pulling the ECU, expect the car to be stuck for the duration.

AustinGelbM4 · 12-28-2016, 10:13 PM

THIS IS CRAZY. If there is no way to easily unlock park from the cabin then this is a MAJOR flaw of DTC transmissions. This is my first DTC and I took stuff like that for granted. There are SO many scenarios where someone may need to put car in neutral with out power. Can the automatic park engagement after switch off be coded out?

chewbakam4 · 12-29-2016, 07:14 AM

I tried it and couldn't figure it out either.

logicalunit · 12-29-2016, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGelbM4

THIS IS CRAZY. If there is no way to easily unlock park from the cabin then this is a MAJOR flaw of DTC transmissions. This is my first DTC and I took stuff like that for granted. There are SO many scenarios where someone may need to put car in neutral with out power.

Yeah, the car has some built-in potential flaws that affect its long-term durability. Hopefully not first owner issues, but the probability is there. One owner had a small accident that crushed the oil radiator (arguably another design flaw), the car needed to be towed since all oil drained out but the problem was that the car was blocking the road. The police basically instructed to get the car removed from the scene asap and long story short, the engine was started multiple times to get the car into neutral... resulted in a 40.000 euro garage bill.

Don't like the thought of blocking a road for over an hour just because you can't get the car into neutral, that's not only crazy but obviously in some occasions extremely dangerous as well.

Tiger1016 · 12-29-2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logicalunit

Yeah, the car has some built-in potential flaws that affect its long-term durability. Hopefully not first owner issues, but the probability is there. One owner had a small accident that crushed the oil radiator (arguably another design flaw), the car needed to be towed since all oil drained out but the problem was that the car was blocking the road. The police basically instructed to get the car removed from the scene asap and long story short, the engine was started multiple times to get the car into neutral... resulted in a 40.000 euro garage bill.

Don't like the thought of blocking a road for over an hour just because you can't get the car into neutral, that's not only crazy but obviously in some occasions extremely dangerous as well.

Yeah I am envisioning a disaster scenario where someone spins off the road into a big snow pile on the side of the road and is not able to starthe the car. Not sure how it could be physically possible to get it out.

logicalunit · 12-29-2016, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiger1016

Yeah I am envisioning a disaster scenario where someone spins off the road into a big snow pile on the side of the road and is not able to starthe the car. Not sure how it could be physically possible to get it out.

To the rescue!

MrSmileyDC · 12-29-2016, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Indeed - here is a pic of the underside where there is a release lever to put the trans in neutral for DCT cars - have never done this and not about to suggest anyone does without more info!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reach

There is not a good way to do this. I believe from other internet posts it can be done physically on the trans if you lift the car, but that's not what you're asking.

If you're planning on pulling the ECU, expect the car to be stuck for the duration.

I don't have DCT, but I recall reading something about this before. This is what has to be done in order to tow a DCT equipped car.

scottn2retro · 12-29-2016, 11:31 AM

I've seen somebody with an e92 M3 race car with DCT rig up a release lever positioned up by the shifter to be able to put the car in neutral. We will probably do something very similar.

But in the meantime for us, we have a battery cutoff switch that allows us to disconnect power to the car while in neutral. Before we had that, and when the car had to go to the cage builder, we disconnected the ground cable on the battery when the car was in neutral. And it stayed like that thru the entire cage build process.

ciaranob · 12-29-2016, 11:38 AM

Interesting - good info - so you've tried this on the F8X platform and it works or only on the E9X? Like the idea of a battery cutoff switch - seems like an easier mod for our cars than the more involved release lever.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

I've seen somebody with an e92 M3 race car with DCT rig up a release lever positioned up by the shifter to be able to put the car in neutral. We will probably do something very similar.

But in the meantime for us, we have a battery cutoff switch that allows us to disconnect power to the car while in neutral. Before we had that, and when the car had to go to the cage builder, we disconnected the ground cable on the battery when the car was in neutral. And it stayed like that thru the entire cage build process.

scottn2retro · 12-29-2016, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logicalunit

To the rescue!

Yeah, when the M4 we were supporting at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill crashed and ended up on the tire wall, they used a crane and lifted it with a strap under the roof.

The car can have power disconnected while in neutral when it's convenient, but in the case of a crash, especially if the battery safety cable is blown, the car is likely to be stuck in Park.

scottn2retro · 12-29-2016, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Interesting - good info - so you've tried this on the F8X platform and it works or only on the E9X? Like the idea of a battery cutoff switch - seems like an easier mod for our cars than the more involved release lever.

I would imagine it would work on the F8x just as well as on the E9x.

The problem with the power disconnect while in neutral is that you need to start the car first to get the car in neutral. In the case of a wreck or blown battery cable, you may not be able to get the car in neutral first to then disconnect the ground cable on the battery.

cwhands · 12-29-2016, 11:50 AM

Should've bought a 6MT.

#savethemanuals

scottn2retro · 12-29-2016, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwhands

Should've bought a 6MT.

#savethemanuals

A lot of the drivers now like trying the DCT

cwhands · 12-29-2016, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

A lot of the drivers now like trying the DCT

I know, it is quite the transmission.

M-terkait · 12-29-2016, 12:26 PM

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1052180

I have found this thread. I hope it helps.

m4f82kuwait · 12-30-2016, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwhands

Should've bought a 6MT.

#savethemanuals

me 2

12-28-2016, 01:35 AM	#1
m4f82kuwait $ ARAB $ 35 Rep 94 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: kuwait iTrader: (0)	Put DCT into neutral without starting my car? how can i put my DCT into neutral without starting my car? I'm planning on removing my ecu for few days. __________________ 2016 BMW F82 M4: JB4 / BMS DCI / BMS Charge pipes / BMS Methanol Kit / Rear Seat Delete / Bullet Downpipes / Bullet Cat-Back 2014 BMW F32 435i Convertible: JB4 / BMS CAI / AR Design catted Downpipe
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12-28-2016, 04:43 PM	#4
Tiger1016 Enlisted Member 6 Rep 31 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (0)	Please report back if you figure this out. It would be good to know just in case. BTW I recall in my quick initial read of the manual that it said the can could not be put into neutral without being turned on, but I also think this was in the section dealong with towing. So it might not be 100% apllicable. One of the reasons I want to know is I have been burned by this before. Once upon a time with my '08 535i disaster (qualified lemon/dealer assisted buy back) the thing broke down on with with a ruptured fuel line right in front of a toll exit by my office. Caused a massive traffic jam for all of my pissed off coworkers. By the time I figured out how to get into neutral without having the car running (since it couldn't start because of the ruptured fuel line) to get towed away by the truck BMW had sent out for me a second tow truck had the car configured on these skate contraptions that attached to the locked wheels. Wound up costing me ~$400 for the tow but if the one BMW had sent out would have taken me in it would have been free.
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12-28-2016, 05:23 PM	#5
MaX PL Major 533 Rep 1,415 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	why can't you just shut it down in neutral?
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12-28-2016, 05:27 PM	#6
Reach gone baby gone 382 Rep 1,052 Posts Drives: 2016 F80 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Location, Location. iTrader: (0)	There is not a good way to do this. I believe from other internet posts it can be done physically on the trans if you lift the car, but that's not what you're asking. If you're planning on pulling the ECU, expect the car to be stuck for the duration. __________________ ///M3: MW / SO
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12-28-2016, 10:13 PM	#8
AustinGelbM4 Lieutenant 196 Rep 438 Posts Drives: Austin Yellow M4 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 30058 iTrader: (0)	THIS IS CRAZY. If there is no way to easily unlock park from the cabin then this is a MAJOR flaw of DTC transmissions. This is my first DTC and I took stuff like that for granted. There are SO many scenarios where someone may need to put car in neutral with out power. Can the automatic park engagement after switch off be coded out?
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12-29-2016, 07:14 AM	#9
chewbakam4 Major 717 Rep 1,184 Posts Drives: F82 M4 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Malton iTrader: (0)	I tried it and couldn't figure it out either.
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12-29-2016, 11:31 AM	#14
scottn2retro Major 496 Rep 1,342 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, Ca. iTrader: (2)	I've seen somebody with an e92 M3 race car with DCT rig up a release lever positioned up by the shifter to be able to put the car in neutral. We will probably do something very similar. But in the meantime for us, we have a battery cutoff switch that allows us to disconnect power to the car while in neutral. Before we had that, and when the car had to go to the cage builder, we disconnected the ground cable on the battery when the car was in neutral. And it stayed like that thru the entire cage build process. __________________ 2015 M4 BMW Club Racer SCTS Racing https://www.facebook.com/sctsraceteam/
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12-29-2016, 11:50 AM	#18
cwhands Captain 640 Rep 718 Posts Drives: F80 M3 SS/CSAT 6MT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (0)	Should've bought a 6MT. #savethemanuals
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12-29-2016, 12:26 PM	#21
M-terkait Major 209 Rep 1,252 Posts Drives: F30 335i 3/13 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kuwait iTrader: (0)	http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1052180 I have found this thread. I hope it helps. __________________ Docrace 6266
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