🚨 1991 BMW 740iL E32: Emergency Neutral
The 1991 BMW 740iL (E32) uses a traditional console-mounted automatic transmission shifter with a mechanical gate and shift lock mechanism.
✓ Expert-verified by Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — master technicians, 20+ years each.
⚠️ Chock the wheels first — neutral means the car can roll. Set the parking brake while you work, never stand downhill of the vehicle, and try a 12-volt jump before any override: power fixes most stuck-in-park problems instantly.
The procedure
- Ensure the vehicle is on a flat surface and parking brake is applied
- Turn the ignition key to the ON position (requires minimal battery power, or can be done with dead battery)
- Press and hold the brake pedal firmly
- Press the small button on the front of the shifter handle and attempt to move the shifter from Park to Neutral
- If the shifter will not move despite pressing the brake pedal, locate the shift lock override slot near the shifter base
- Remove the small plastic cap or cover on the right side of the shifter console, adjacent to the shifter lever base
- Insert the ignition key, a small flathead screwdriver, or the emergency key into the override slot
- Press down or push forward on the override release while simultaneously pressing the shifter button and moving the shifter to Neutral
- Once in Neutral, release the parking brake (mechanical foot pedal on far left of driver footwell) by pulling the release handle located under the dashboard to the left of the steering column
Shift-lock override location
Small covered slot on the right side of the shifter console base, typically covered by a removable plastic cap approximately 2 inches from the shifter lever
With zero electrical power
The E32 uses a mechanical parking brake, so with a completely dead battery you can still release the parking brake manually and move the shifter using the override slot. No electrical power is required to get the vehicle into Neutral and rolling. The shift lock override is purely mechanical on this generation.