Towing Issues: Possible Towing Damage. in Las Vegas,NV, bmw m roadster, rear axles

Question
Hi Richard,

My car was Towed this morning from in front of my open Garage in my apartment complex. Which is think is ridicules since security could have easily knocked on my door and asked me if everything was ok and told me to move my car.

I found out they get paid for every car they have towed.

Never the less they had my car towed. I went to go get my car and when I walked up to it. My rear wheels were angled in and did not look right. I told them it look like it was not towed properly and that something has been damaged the women at the lot told me to file a claim and leave the car the she would not drive it if it was damaged. So I did that.

What could cause that and what should I do?

My car is a 2006 BMW M Roadster, Rear wheel drive.

Thanks,

Nico

Answer
Well without seeing the vehicle as it sits it could be one of a few things which happened...

Way back in the day when the VW bug was popular they had the rear axles free floating and when towed from the rear they would droop or sag.. It caused it to look bent when they were set down...

Now on your BMW they most likely have some sort of "wishbone" or independent axle assembly with control arms on them...

Most likely what happened is that the tow driver secured it to the control arms with either a chain or strap instead of the preferred manners... That would be more likely if they used a "flatbed tow truck" to do the job...
 

Now wheel lifting the vehicle where the vehicle is lifted by the wheels only and secured to the tow truck with straps around the wheels would most likely not of caused anything to happen (other than the chance for the "VW look mentioned above"

But then again as I said, I am not there and can not see it, and so I can not look at it and certain parts and places and tell you what happened.

I would have the tow company handle the damage complaint and have it checked out by a few shops including a dealer.. They should be able to tell you what happened to it and what it will take to fix it.

If they do not seem to be working on it or attempting to solve it then you can always turn it into your insurance company. They have lots of lawyers and experience handling things like this.