Towing Issues: Being Towed and Transmission Damage, mercedes c230 coupe, tow truck drivers

Question
You can't imagine how horrified I was to come back to the street (in a not-so-great neighborhood in Queens) where I parked my car, only to find it missing.  I discovered that it had been towed.  Today, when I went to the impound lot to retrieve it, I found out that the ENTIRE City of New York is a tow away zone!  (WONDERFUL!)

Here's my question.  The car was completely locked, and it was kind of hard to get at.  (It was against a curb and near a fire hydrant.)  How did they get it out of that space?  Did they break into my car?  How did they tow it without putting it in neutral?  I've heard that towing the wrong way can cause transmission damage.  When I drove it away from the pound today it felt a little different, but it still seemed to shift just fine.  I drive a Mercedes C230 Coupe.  The car is rear-wheel drive.  It also has some kind of anti-tow feature...but I'm not sure if that was activated.  If they didn't get into my car, how did they move it?  Could they have towed it in park?

Matt

Answer
Tow truck drivers have all kinds of special tools for getting your car to the impound lot.  Go-Jacks are a dolly type tool that go under your tires, and raise the car.  This allows the tow operator to move your car around, on casters, to position it away from the curb.  You may see them used alot in body shops.  The vehicle can be unlocked with "lock-out" tools specially disigned to break into cars without the key.  Your Mercedes should be towed from the rear.  Towing it from the front could possibly damage the transmission.  Towing manuals highly advise not to tow it on the drive wheels.

I have found, during my years   in the business, that   minor little noises and scratches, that were pre-existing the tow, seem to be noticed more by the owner after their car is towed.  I think it is more of a awareness toward those problems due to the situtian of having the car towed.  People just don't pay attention to there cars when they are in full control of them, but turn up their senses when the vehicle is out of their possession involuntarily. This may explain your feeling of something not right, that feeling of being violated, so to speak.

To ease your mind on your transmission, look at your receipt and see if they indicated the manner of tow.  If it was towed from the rear, your transmission sustained no damage from the tow.

By the way, California is getting the same way with cars; no place to park.  Statistically there are more cars registered, in this state, than there are people.

GO YANKEES!

Vern