[ardy121]

Hi fellas,

Looking at doing my first oil change so I need to purchase some jack stands and a hydraulic jack. Apparently cost co have a good jack but I have no clue about the jack stands (since bmws have the weird rectangular pocket?). So what jack stands are you guys using?

Cheers!

[naynay]

I have a set of these. if u place them side way the puck will sit nicely in the groves

[totti84]

I would not use jack stands alone as the mounting points are plastic and break easily

You need jack pad adaptors like these - http://burgertuning.com/BMW_jack_pad_adapter.html

[ardy121]

Originally Posted by naynay

I have a set of these. if u place them side way the puck will sit nicely in the groves

Saw these at supercheap for like $75? You've had no issues with them?

Nice car by the way

[stashtrey]

I have a bms jack pad adapter and honestly never use it. No issues here and I've had my car up way more than I'd like to admit.

Honestly.. If you're just doing oil change just get a pair of rhino ramps and forget the jack and Jack stands. Way better and easier solution! Likely much cheaper than jack and stands as well.

[naynay]

Originally Posted by star24

Saw these at supercheap for like $75? You've had no issues with them?

Nice car by the way

thanks. and no problems at all just make sure you get the heavy duty ones. i think one side is capable of up to 2000kg and for safe measure once you have the car on the stands. slide the jack under the front jacking point and jack it up just in case.

[ardy121]

Originally Posted by naynay

thanks. and no problems at all just make sure you get the heavy duty ones. i think one side is capable of up to 2000kg and for safe measure once you have the car on the stands. slide the jack under the front jacking point and jack it up just in case.

Cheers mate, will pick some up this week.

You have made me jealous....why did I buy a 325

[harms]

Originally Posted by stashtrey

Honestly.. If you're just doing oil change just get a pair of rhino ramps and forget the jack and Jack stands.

A jack and jack stands are handy, but if you just want to do an oil change do this.

To get the jack under the front of the car, you'll have to jack up 1 side first with another jack, or put a block under one wheel then jack up from the centre front. The car is just too low, at least the M sport suspension it is.

[DR-JEKL]

I drive my car up on a few 1" thick square pieces of plywood I have (my car is too low to get the low profile jack under it)

I've made up some custom jack stands to suit the bmw:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=358

[CYL]

Originally Posted by totti84

I would not use jack stands alone as the mounting points are plastic and break easily

You need jack pad adaptors like these - http://burgertuning.com/BMW_jack_pad_adapter.html

So what do you use to keep the car lifted if you are not using jack stands?

[CYL]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

I drive my car up on a few 1" thick square pieces of plywood I have (my car is too low to get the low profile jack under it)

I've made up some custom jack stands to suit the bmw:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=358

Nice one. But I don't know how to weld.

So, can I just use a normal jack stand and put it sideway in order to fit the jack point on the side of the car?

[DR-JEKL]

Originally Posted by CYL

Nice one. But I don't know how to weld.

So, can I just use a normal jack stand and put it sideway in order to fit the jack point on the side of the car?

Nah the stand would be too big to fit inside the plastic recess

When I 1st got my car one side was totally missing a plastic bung. It was probably easier that way!

[CYL]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

Nah the stand would be too big to fit inside the plastic recess

When I 1st got my car one side was totally missing a plastic bung. It was probably easier that way!

For oil change, I think a ramp will do the job, but I am thinking a jack stand will be handy just in case changing wheels, changing brakes (haven't learnt how to yet) etc.

So, if I couldn't custom made a stand like yours, what would be the best solution? Buy a normal jack stand and use with the jack stand pad?

Thanks.

[DR-JEKL]

Originally Posted by CYL

For oil change, I think a ramp will do the job, but I am thinking a jack stand will be handy just in case changing wheels, changing brakes (haven't learnt how to yet) etc.

So, if I couldn't custom made a stand like yours, what would be the best solution? Buy a normal jack stand and use with the jack stand pad?

Thanks.

The general rule of thumb is to never use a jack to have the car elevated whilst working on the car as there is nothing stopping the car from either rolling away whilst lifted on the jack or the cylinder of the jack failing and crushing you (highly unlikely but the DIY mechanic doesn't need to take unnecessary risks when working on their cars!)

[ardy121]

Thanks for your feedback guys. Figure i might as well just buy the stands naynay suggested. They aren't very expensive and give me peace of mind I wont crush myself!

[naynay]

and if you're worried about breaking the jacking point which wont happen. put a block of wood in between the stand and your car

[DR-JEKL]

I also used timber as a jack pad. You dont need to buy the expensive (well for us to have them sent to australia their expensive) BMS jack pads, just cut a piece of timber down to size or chisel a piece of 4x2 down to size to fit into the lifting point plastic bung recess.

I would be worried about the timber slipping out from the stand and the car though, but yeah everyone has their own idea's as to what works

[naynay]

that is true. you could also use rubber blocks or hockey pucks

[jin]

I bought these fit perfect http://www.ebay.com/itm/151104545233

[naynay]

^ that is actually amazing

[Max555]

So if you're using a scissor jack at the jack point to actually jack up the car, where do you put the stand?

[Scotty89]

I bought the 2 tonne Kincrome stands for $58 online.

I would get others if I had the choice again, the locking mechanism is fiddly and doesn't overwhelm me with confidence. The cradles are also a bit akward, they're not flat, and they're not really cupped... they just mangle the plastic jacking points and don't sit entirely flat on any cross member beams.

They are safe though - but then all jack stands should be, at the very minimum.