Sticking an E91 xi on Jack Stands

HerrGruyere · 04-21-2016, 10:03 PM

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is a good spot to post this. Anyway, I am looking for a good way to get my 328xi wagon up on jack stands (just in the front).

I would normally use my jack and the center jack point in the front to do both wheels at once with one jack. However, my jack is only rated to 1.5 tons and the front of my car is maybe 1.25 to 1.33 tons. I honestly don't really trust my jack (it's the low profile Pittsburg from Harbor Freight) to go that high. I tried to do it once and it seemed okay. I just got uneasy.

Is there another way to do it, or should I just quit being a wuss? I have a set of ramps if that makes a difference. I need to know since I'd like to tackle my control arms in my driveway.

Thanks for your input!

rothwem · 04-22-2016, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerrGruyere

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is a good spot to post this. Anyway, I am looking for a good way to get my 328xi wagon up on jack stands (just in the front).

I would normally use my jack and the center jack point in the front to do both wheels at once with one jack. However, my jack is only rated to 1.5 tons and the front of my car is maybe 1.25 to 1.33 tons. I honestly don't really trust my jack (it's the low profile Pittsburg from Harbor Freight) to go that high. I tried to do it once and it seemed okay. I just got uneasy.

Is there another way to do it, or should I just quit being a wuss? I have a set of ramps if that makes a difference. I need to know since I'd like to tackle my control arms in my driveway.

Thanks for your input!

You're being a wuss.

The way that jacks fail is that the hydraulic cylinder valve leaks. Lift with the central jack point, put the jackstands under the lift points behind the wheels and get to it.

Efthreeoh · 04-22-2016, 11:37 AM

A 1.5-ton jack lifts 3,000 pounds. There is no way the front end of your xi weighs 2,500 pounds. The total weight of an xi wagon is probably 3,700 pounds max. The weight balance of the xi is probably 53/47, so the front end is just over 1,900 pounds. So you have a 1,000 pound safety factor.

HerrGruyere · 04-22-2016, 12:28 PM

I must have misread the placard in my door. I could have sworn it weighed more!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rothwem

You're being a wuss.

The way that jacks fail is that the hydraulic cylinder valve leaks. Lift with the central jack point, put the jackstands under the lift points behind the wheels and get to it.

This makes me feel better. Thanks!

El Cheapo Loco · 04-22-2016, 12:50 PM

I would not trust my life on anything made in China, aka Harbor Freight crap.

Three_thirty_I · 04-22-2016, 06:48 PM

Don't worry, I am also a wuss, have two 2 ton small floor jacks that are probably fine to lift either the front or rear of the E90 at the centre lifting points, but somehow I just don't feel comfortable with them individually. It's silly, the entire car doesn't even weigh as much as the rated lifting weight of each of these floor jacks.

But, safety first, so if you don't feel comfortable with it, probably best to find a better and safer method.

Efthreeoh · 04-23-2016, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerrGruyere

I must have misread the placard in my door. I could have sworn it weighed more!

This makes me feel better. Thanks!

That's the GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, which is the maximum weight of the vehicle including equipment, passengers and luggage. The onwers manual provides the following data. This is for the sedan, but the E91 Wagon is similar.

HerrGruyere · 04-26-2016, 09:36 PM

Thanks, that post (above this one) was super helpful!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

Don't worry, I am also a wuss, have two 2 ton small floor jacks that are probably fine to lift either the front or rear of the E90 at the centre lifting points, but somehow I just don't feel comfortable with them individually. It's silly, the entire car doesn't even weigh as much as the rated lifting weight of each of these floor jacks.

But, safety first, so if you don't feel comfortable with it, probably best to find a better and safer method.

Glad to know I'm not the only one! Haha

HerrGruyere · 05-01-2016, 01:23 PM

Okay one more question about jack stands:

Say I have the front up on jack stands. Is it a bad idea for me to jack up the rear on one side as if I were changing a tire? I was thinking I could stick the front on jack stands, and then jack up each rear wheel one at a time to do a tire rotation. Seems like it would work.

Efthreeoh · 05-01-2016, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerrGruyere

Okay one more question about jack stands:

Say I have the front up on jack stands. Is it a bad idea for me to jack up the rear on one side as if I were changing a tire? I was thinking I could stick the front on jack stands, and then jack up each rear wheel one at a time to do a tire rotation. Seems like it would work.

No no no. Lift from the center jackpoint (the differential housing) and set the car on 4 stands.

Three_thirty_I · 05-01-2016, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

No no no. Lift from the center jackpoint (the differential housing) and set the car on 4 stands.

^^^ +1!!!

HerrGruyere · 05-02-2016, 03:34 PM

Okay okay. I figured as much. Seemed too easy. Am I able to jack from the rear center lift point when the front is on jack stands? Would there be enough clearance for that? Am I missing something? I think I can just jack the front on stands and then swing around to the rear to do the same thing.

For what it's worth, I do have access to a lift. It's just a crowded one on a base. Sometimes it's just faster for me to do it in my driveway instead of waiting for a lift.

04-21-2016, 10:03 PM	#1
HerrGruyere Private 10 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328xi Wagon Join Date: May 2015 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (0)	Sticking an E91 xi on Jack Stands Hi, I'm not sure if this is a good spot to post this. Anyway, I am looking for a good way to get my 328xi wagon up on jack stands (just in the front). I would normally use my jack and the center jack point in the front to do both wheels at once with one jack. However, my jack is only rated to 1.5 tons and the front of my car is maybe 1.25 to 1.33 tons. I honestly don't really trust my jack (it's the low profile Pittsburg from Harbor Freight) to go that high. I tried to do it once and it seemed okay. I just got uneasy. Is there another way to do it, or should I just quit being a wuss? I have a set of ramps if that makes a difference. I need to know since I'd like to tackle my control arms in my driveway. Thanks for your input!
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04-22-2016, 11:37 AM	#3
Efthreeoh General 19990 Rep 19,300 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Verginny iTrader: (0)	A 1.5-ton jack lifts 3,000 pounds. There is no way the front end of your xi weighs 2,500 pounds. The total weight of an xi wagon is probably 3,700 pounds max. The weight balance of the xi is probably 53/47, so the front end is just over 1,900 pounds. So you have a 1,000 pound safety factor.
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04-22-2016, 12:50 PM	#5
El Cheapo Loco douchebaggo 189 Rep 971 Posts Drives: stick Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	I would not trust my life on anything made in China, aka Harbor Freight crap.
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04-22-2016, 06:48 PM	#6
Three_thirty_I Lieutenant Colonel 381 Rep 1,928 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E90 330i M Sport Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW E90 330i M ... [9.63]	Don't worry, I am also a wuss, have two 2 ton small floor jacks that are probably fine to lift either the front or rear of the E90 at the centre lifting points, but somehow I just don't feel comfortable with them individually. It's silly, the entire car doesn't even weigh as much as the rated lifting weight of each of these floor jacks. But, safety first, so if you don't feel comfortable with it, probably best to find a better and safer method. __________________ 2010 BMW E90 330i M Sport (M) Ex: BMW E90 330i (M) '05 (His) \| (Hers) BMW E46 320i f/l (M) '03
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05-01-2016, 01:23 PM	#9
HerrGruyere Private 10 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328xi Wagon Join Date: May 2015 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (0)	Okay one more question about jack stands: Say I have the front up on jack stands. Is it a bad idea for me to jack up the rear on one side as if I were changing a tire? I was thinking I could stick the front on jack stands, and then jack up each rear wheel one at a time to do a tire rotation. Seems like it would work.
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05-02-2016, 03:34 PM	#12
HerrGruyere Private 10 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328xi Wagon Join Date: May 2015 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (0)	Okay okay. I figured as much. Seemed too easy. Am I able to jack from the rear center lift point when the front is on jack stands? Would there be enough clearance for that? Am I missing something? I think I can just jack the front on stands and then swing around to the rear to do the same thing. For what it's worth, I do have access to a lift. It's just a crowded one on a base. Sometimes it's just faster for me to do it in my driveway instead of waiting for a lift.
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