Hoping to buy an X1/9 in the next few weeks but I have to drive about 700KM to pick it up. If I use a dolly, front wheels off the ground rear wheels turning, will that be OK? Want to make sure the transmission can handle this with no cooling. Don't want to damage anything getting her home. Thanks.

Manual transmissions are fine to tow, so long as it is not in gear.

Autos can only be towed a short distance as they require the oil pump to be running. The manual box just relies on oil being picked up by the gears running in an oil bath, no oil pump.

Seems a long way to tow with a Dolly? I would rent a trailer.

I wouldn't be too worried about the transmission, their main weakness is the synchromesh.

Sychros can wear prematurely if someone has put an EP gear oil at some stage.

Make sure gearbox is in neutral.
Check the gearbox oil level and top up if needed.