Do you use a lift?
- Thread starter TSilver330CI
- Start date
I purchased a jack from Sears.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=00950240000&vertical=Sears&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
Its low profile design slide perfectly underneath our cars. There's actually a sale on it right now so its a good deal.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=00950240000&vertical=Sears&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
Its low profile design slide perfectly underneath our cars. There's actually a sale on it right now so its a good deal.
Be sure to get a pair of jackstands!!!!
It is dangerous to crawl under a car supported only by a jack. I always use jackstands AND leave the jack in place as a backup, unless the jack will be in my way.
Also, NEVER use hollow concrete blocks as a jack stand or support block under a wheel!!! They have been known to unexpectedly crack and collapse. This happened to someone in my area a few years ago, squashed like a bug...
![[xx(]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_dead.gif "Dead [xx(]")
It is dangerous to crawl under a car supported only by a jack. I always use jackstands AND leave the jack in place as a backup, unless the jack will be in my way.
Also, NEVER use hollow concrete blocks as a jack stand or support block under a wheel!!! They have been known to unexpectedly crack and collapse. This happened to someone in my area a few years ago, squashed like a bug...
I use the BMW jacking points on my roadster and place the jack stands under the shock mounts. I think all BMW's have jacking points and a service jack can be used there, here is a link to a thread on the subject: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=178705&highlight=jack+point
![[ohcrap]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_ohcrap.gif "Oh Crap! [ohcrap]"){kind=icon}
I am not sure what you have under your car, but had you read the entire link you would have found that the later E46's have a "jack pad" installed on that center jacking point (the one marked in red in the photos) and that is where they jack the front of the car from. The older E46's have that spot that has been crushed, however it is the jacking point, according to one post; "It is ok to crush the middle jack point, or the one circled in red if you have been following this thread. In the latest copy of Bimmer, issue No.66, you can read the article by Guru Mike Miller on winterizing your BMW. He goes into detail about lifting that will answer all of your questions on this thread. Mike said that he said that you can crush this jack point so I did. No problem looks bad but that is it. Hope this helps any speculation."
I also noticed someone posted that under that crushed part is the hole that BMW later installed the jack pad in. As far as the rear of the car goes, use the diff brace, not the diff and that should be fine.
I also noticed someone posted that under that crushed part is the hole that BMW later installed the jack pad in. As far as the rear of the car goes, use the diff brace, not the diff and that should be fine.
I have a pair of ramps when I need to get under my car, they might not provide as much clearance underneath as a jack does but you can get in there with enough room to do what you need to. They are easy to manage and are relatively cheap and is worth looking into in my opinion. I just used mine to fix my temp sensor last week and use it for my oil changes as well.
I got mine here(http://www.discountramps.com/index.htm) - if you do decide to go this route make sure you get one wide enough and low enough to accomodate your tire size and ground clearance.
I got mine here(http://www.discountramps.com/index.htm) - if you do decide to go this route make sure you get one wide enough and low enough to accomodate your tire size and ground clearance.
Ok I definitely need some clarification here. It seems like these ramps might be the cheapest and safest to use.
How is this jack you are describing different than the jack that comes in the trunk for flat tires and such? I'd assume there are 4 spots under the car for the jack to rest, 1 for each tire?
Does anyone have a photo of their car lifted using jackstands? I can't picture what these are either.
Thanks!![[?|]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_banghead.gif "Bang Head [?|]")
How is this jack you are describing different than the jack that comes in the trunk for flat tires and such? I'd assume there are 4 spots under the car for the jack to rest, 1 for each tire?
Does anyone have a photo of their car lifted using jackstands? I can't picture what these are either.
Thanks!
Frolf thanks for the pictures.
I"m going to assume the jack stands are the tee pee looking items on the floor. Are they universal for every jack or do you need to get a particular one for each jack?
I'm also assuming that there are 5 jacking points on the car. 2 in the front, 2 in the rear, and 1 in the middle?
Big Daddy,
I'm confused about the jack pad you mention on the center jackingpoint... Is this something used for just aiming the jack in the jackpoint correctly? Not really sure how this works.
How is this any different from the jack that came with my car that I've used for flat tires?
I'm thinking these ramps might be the best idea.....
Thanks all!
I"m going to assume the jack stands are the tee pee looking items on the floor. Are they universal for every jack or do you need to get a particular one for each jack?
I'm also assuming that there are 5 jacking points on the car. 2 in the front, 2 in the rear, and 1 in the middle?
Big Daddy,
I'm confused about the jack pad you mention on the center jackingpoint... Is this something used for just aiming the jack in the jackpoint correctly? Not really sure how this works.
How is this any different from the jack that came with my car that I've used for flat tires?
I'm thinking these ramps might be the best idea.....
Thanks all!
Good questions. Jack stands are universal. they are the "tee-pee" items but can come in different designs. This design is most common. They are rated based on the working weight they can support and almost always have some method of adjusting the height before placing under the car. The car is then lowered onto the stands with the rigid stand taking the weight, not the hydraulics in the jack.
The number of jacking points varies for every car. Most BMW's have one on each corner inside the wheelbase, and yopu can also generally jack on either front or rear crossmembers (the beams that run accross the car between the chassis rails).
The hydraulic jacks are much superior to the one that canme with your car that is a flimsy, unsafe piece of crap that is only to be used ina an emergency for lifting the car just enough to remove a flat tyre. They sacrifice strength in return for saving space in your boot. The hydraulic jack will lift the car quickly, easily and safely.
Ramps are another great tool, however you run into problems if you need to remove the wheels for working on suspension, brakes or tyres, plus you are limited to lifting one end of the car at a time, and to a specific height.
The number of jacking points varies for every car. Most BMW's have one on each corner inside the wheelbase, and yopu can also generally jack on either front or rear crossmembers (the beams that run accross the car between the chassis rails).
The hydraulic jacks are much superior to the one that canme with your car that is a flimsy, unsafe piece of crap that is only to be used ina an emergency for lifting the car just enough to remove a flat tyre. They sacrifice strength in return for saving space in your boot. The hydraulic jack will lift the car quickly, easily and safely.
Ramps are another great tool, however you run into problems if you need to remove the wheels for working on suspension, brakes or tyres, plus you are limited to lifting one end of the car at a time, and to a specific height.
Same - can't fit my jack under either though. Both problems are fixed by placing a short plank (or 2) of wood on front of the car. Drive up on the plank and jack fits under, or rest the end of the plank on the foot of the ramp and eep on driving.
I take it you have a low profile jack Big Daddy? My floor jack is the standard workshop variety.
I take it you have a low profile jack Big Daddy? My floor jack is the standard workshop variety.
Cool. I saw those when I bought mine, but the place where I shop, they didn't look as strong as the standard ones. That one looks pretty decent.
I know what you are saying about blocks, but after you've worked it out the first time, you keep planks the right length. I need a 2-3m (6-10ft) plank and it sits about 2/3rd or more up the ramp. Basically the plank is my ramp - the ramp is just stronger for the car to sit on at the top. Takes less than a minute to set up and drive on. My front kit is 60mm off the ground so just drive over 6x2.
Sometimes low tech is best is all I'm getting at.
I know what you are saying about blocks, but after you've worked it out the first time, you keep planks the right length. I need a 2-3m (6-10ft) plank and it sits about 2/3rd or more up the ramp. Basically the plank is my ramp - the ramp is just stronger for the car to sit on at the top. Takes less than a minute to set up and drive on. My front kit is 60mm off the ground so just drive over 6x2.
Sometimes low tech is best is all I'm getting at.