Tip #78: A BMW with xDrive, or any all-wheel-drive car, should only ride on a flatbed
If your BMW has xDrive, it is all-wheel drive, and it should be carried on a flatbed with all four wheels off the road. The same rule applies to every AWD and 4WD vehicle.
Tip #78 in one line
If your BMW has xDrive, it is all-wheel drive, and it should be carried on a flatbed with all four wheels off the road. The same rule applies to every AWD and 4WD vehicle.
Stuck right now? Skip the reading and call.
Call nowHow to tell if your car is all-wheel drive
BMW uses the name xDrive for its all-wheel-drive system, and it usually appears on the trunk lid or the model name, as in a X3 xDrive30i or a 330i xDrive. Many BMW SUVs are sold with xDrive as standard. If you are not sure, the registration, the window sticker or the owner's manual will tell you, and so will a dealer with your VIN.
Other brands use their own names: quattro at Audi, 4MATIC at Mercedes-Benz, AWD or 4WD on most others. Whatever the badge says, the towing answer is the same.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowWhy a wheel-lift is the wrong truck
A wheel-lift raises two wheels and lets the other two roll. On an all-wheel-drive car, the wheels left on the ground still turn the drivetrain, including the center coupling or transfer case, while the engine is off and nothing is being lubricated the way it is when driving. A few miles of that can cause damage that costs far more than the tow. A flatbed avoids the problem by carrying the whole car.
When you call (908) 444-0129, say the make, the model and that it is xDrive. The dispatcher sends a flatbed and gives you a flat quote before the truck rolls: a hook fee plus a per-mile rate to the destination you choose, whether that is a BMW dealer, an independent shop or home.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowBefore the driver arrives
Have the key with you, and know whether the car can be shifted to neutral. Many modern BMWs have an electronic shifter and parking brake, so a dead battery can make that harder; tell the dispatcher if the car has no power. The owner's manual covers towing and neutral for your model, and it is worth a read while you wait.
Low-profile tires and a deep front bumper are common on BMW sport models. Mention any aftermarket lowering or a front lip so the driver plans the loading angle. More on this in the flatbed towing guide.
The same logic applies to xDrive models that only feel like ordinary sedans. The car does not need to be an SUV or a performance model to send power to all four wheels, and a wheel-lift operator cannot tell by looking. That is why the first question on the phone is the make and model, and why saying xDrive out loud matters.
If the car has run-flat tires and a puncture, it may be driveable for a limited distance according to the manual. That is worth knowing before you book a tow you may not need.
One call, one flat quote, 24/7.
Call nowMore on vehicle types
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- EV towing in New Jersey: what electric car owners need to know
- Motorcycle towing done right: what riders should expect
- Tip #26: An all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive car belongs on a flatbed
- Tip #27: Never let anyone tow an electric car with its drive wheels on the ground
- Tip #28: Tell the dispatcher your car sits low before the truck is sent
- Tip #29: Know where your motorcycle can be strapped before it needs a tow
- Tip #30: Your car may be all-wheel drive even if it does not look like it
- Tip #31: Close and latch a convertible top before the car is towed
- All posts
Need towing and roadside assistance right now? One call, truck on the way.
Real dispatcher, 24 hours a day. Quoted price before we roll.