Simply disconnecting the rear flex disc is not enough to get the drive shaft out of the way. You also have to disconnect the center support so the shaft will slide forward enough to remove the flex disc and disengage the shaft from the centering pin (not sure if that's the right term) on the differential flange and the centering bearing on the shaft. I had a friend that towed a car backwards on a dolly, He didn't make it 5 miles before it began to sway and both vehicles were in the guardrail and totalled. A wrecker can tow them backwards because they don't have the extra set of wheels on the ground from the dolly. That's what starts the swaying motion. Good luck with your adventure.

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Cars:
1993 400E
1993 300TE Wagon
1985 300D Turbodiesel w/ 688,000 Miles On Original Eng/Trans
1979 300SD
1977 Euro 6.9
1967 230S IMA Universal Wagon
100 Or So Parts Cars

You Cannot Change your Future Without Disturbing Your Present

It Looks A Whole Lot More Like It Did Today Than It Did Yesterday?

I've tried to tow a couple of cars loaded backwards on a twin-axle flat car trailer, the resulting instability was to say the least unnerving. I'd never consider doing it again.

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98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (123k)
13 GLK250 (135k)
06 E320CDI (323K)
16 C300 (62K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

Please read through this thread.


Towing DISASTER!!!
Towing DISASTER!!!

See my subsequent posts and links. I'm sure that's why UHaul and Penske advise against - the vast majority of people aren't able to navigate the weight distribution issue, but still many do it without problems. The devil is in the details.

The "devil is in the details", but the "details' are what an insurance company looks at in a liability claim.
Any unconventional method of towing may cause an invalidation of the owners insurance coverage.
In today's litigious society it's best not to "experiment" on a cross country escapade !!!

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http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...c/GOWIDE-1.jpg
1971 280SL ROADSTER
1988 300CE TWIN TURBO WIDEBODY
1994 E320 CABRIOLET
1999 C43 AMG
2005 G55K AMG
2008 CLK63 AMG BLACK SERIES

Hey DEANYEL, until you have hooked one up and tried it, don't be blabbin about what or how all the other guys are doing it, how they are all pulling them front first on towing dollies. It just doesn't happen. Hunter even posted the pictures how one of our members tried it about 18 months ago and in less then 50 miles totaled a new Equinox and the Mercedes. Babymog says the motor home operators do it that way, front first. Well the typical car isn't a motorhome. Most motor homes have between 6,000 and 12,000 lbs on the rear wheels. All I am saying is before you get on the horn and say it can be done, hook one up behind your car and try it. I'd say your chances of having a serious wreck inside of 10 miles is very high.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Several years ago a friend of mine moved cross-country. Somehow he scraped enough money together to buy a used flat trailer, moved his car (stuffed with cothing) on it, got everything else in the bed of his truck. Got to Colorado, unloaded, and sold the trailer for a few dollars more than he'd paid for it. No rental, no front end dolly. Takes a little cash up front but it's a thought.

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Earl McLain
'02 C230 Kompressor
'89 560 SEL "Frau BlueCar" (retired April 2004)

That's how I towed my MB from Virginia to Colorado.

Sure seems like the 'way to fly.'

I would only consider the following, in this order:

1. Drive it back
2. Tow with the car on a flat bed
3. Tow with rear wheels of the car on the ground

The flat bed trailer may be $500 for rental but I'd rather pay that than risk having getting into an accident that will cause more damage (to oneself and to others too).

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Disconnecting the driveshaft is not difficult.

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http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

Thanks for all the advice everyone I truly appreciate it!

Turns out, it will not be towed back but driven back, since I am one of the many owners of the w124 without well working air conditioning, and 90% of the drive will be extremely hot during the day, I've decided to drive overnight so it will be cooler. But the car will be loaded to the weight limit with my belongings, and just the fact that she stalled out on me two months ago and the cause of that stall was never really found along with my SRS light that still pops on every once and awhile makes me kind of nervous. She drives very well on the freeway but at stop and go she has pulses at idle. I have AAA thank god and hopefully the cooler temps will help out and I'll be at 65mph instead of 80 because the speed limits drop at night so it'll be a little easier on the engine.

I've checked the belt, changed the fuel filter, checked the flex discs, power steering, trans fluid, oil will be changed right before the drive back, checked tires, fuses look okay, coolant is topped off and hoses look good also. She's done this trip 4 times already she just needs to do a one way one more time and she's home free, I can't wait for the drive, I'll just be nervous about it until I reach Tucson....

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2007 BMW 328XI

Stalling along with SRS light usually indicates OVP related issues. Might try to find a spare before you leave.

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http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

OVP is a relay right? Where is it located? I always get OVP and MAS confused -_-

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2007 BMW 328XI

The OVP is a tall "cube" relay with 1 or 2 fuses on top of it. It is located right next to the battery.

The MAS relay is located right next to the OVP as well, and (on 90-up) cars, is a combination of the separate Fuel Pump / Klima relays normally found on the early (86-89) cars.

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http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

Carry a spare voltage regulator too.

Sixto
87 300D