🚨 2021 BMW M2: Emergency Neutral
The F87 M2 CS uses a traditional center console electronic gear selector lever with shift lock.
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — cross-check against your owner’s manual when possible.
⚠️ 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 parking brake is firmly engaged and the vehicle is on level ground or properly chocked.
- Locate the shift lock override access - it is a small rectangular cap/cover on the right side of the shifter base in the center console.
- Use a small flathead screwdriver or trim tool to gently pry off the shift lock override cover.
- Insert a key, screwdriver, or similar tool into the exposed override slot and press down firmly.
- While holding the override down, move the gear selector from Park to Neutral.
- Once in Neutral, you can release the override tool and the shifter will remain in Neutral.
- If the vehicle needs to roll, release the parking brake (may require 12V power to release electronic parking brake).
Shift-lock override location
Small rectangular cover on the right side of the shifter base, adjacent to the gear selector lever in the center console.
With zero electrical power
With completely dead 12V battery, the electronic parking brake (EPB) will remain locked and cannot be released without jump-starting the vehicle or providing external 12V power. The shift lock override will allow you to move the shifter to Neutral, but the rear brakes will stay clamped. For flatbed loading, the vehicle can be dollied from the rear or winched with rear wheels locked.