A neutral safety switch is absolutely a safety contrivance that allows you to start your BMW when the automatic transmission is in either neutral or park mode. It prevents BMW from getting started when it is in gear. A bad neutral safety switch can cause irreversible damage to your BMW’s engine as well as its transmission. For that reason, recognizing the symptoms of a faulty neutral safety switch is essential. Knowing the symptoms will help you to know when to bring your BMW to a versed service technician for the replacement of the switch.