[tennis_pr0]

I want to bleed my brake system, and I currently have a set of rhino ramps. What do I need (how many jacks, jack stands, what kind, etc) to get my car up? I am new to doing work so I am unsure how to safely life my car. Any instructions would really be helpful, thanks.

[tennis_pr0]

Seems to me like jacking the opposite side of the car that you want up, then place the jack stand on the other side (if you want front of the car up, jack the car up form the back side jack point then place jack stanbd on front side jack point and gently lower) then repeat on the other side to get either the whole front or rear end up? Is this correct?

Also, do I need to put a piece of rubber or wood on the jack stnd so the jack stand itself isn't touching the jack point?

[Transport3r]

I've always done this:
1-Drive on rhino ramps
2-Place jack under the front center lift point, jack up the front, (I always place a piece of wood or flat AL on the jack pad)
3-Place stands under front jack points, lower jack
4-Place jack under rear crossmember (black steel structure behind the diff, DO NOT JACK UP ON THE DIFF) and jack up
5-Place jack stands under rear jack points, lower jack

Reverse order to come down again

[tennis_pr0]

Originally Posted by Transport3r

I've always done this:
1-Drive on rhino ramps
2-Place jack under the front center lift point, jack up the front, (I always place a piece of wood or flat AL on the jack pad)
3-Place stands under front jack points, lower jack
4-Place jack under rear crossmember (black steel structure behind the diff, DO NOT JACK UP ON THE DIFF) and jack up
5-Place jack stands under rear jack points, lower jack

Reverse order to come down again

Hmm nice. Now that is to get all 4 wheels off the ground. I don't think there is ever a time where you need all 4 wheels off the ground, can't you just do one side at a time, then when that side is done lower and do the other side? To me that seems a little more safe and less complicated...

[Transport3r]

Originally Posted by tennis_pr0

Hmm nice. Now that is to get all 4 wheels off the ground. I don't think there is ever a time where you need all 4 wheels off the ground, can't you just do one side at a time, then when that side is done lower and do the other side? To me that seems a little more safe and less complicated...

Sure,that's fine too! The rear is easy, the trick to the front is using the ramps to get it high enough for the jack to reach the front lift point. there are some jacks that are long enough to do it from the floor but they are insanely expensive.

[tennis_pr0]

Got ya. Yeah I would just drive it up on some 2x4 first, then should b eeasy enough. I heard someone say once that it is never a good idea to just jack the rear of the car up while the front end is not jacked up, is this true?

[Transport3r]

Originally Posted by tennis_pr0

Got ya. Yeah I would just drive it up on some 2x4 first, then should b eeasy enough. I heard someone say once that it is never a good idea to just jack the rear of the car up while the front end is not jacked up, is this true?

that's why I jack up the whole car, or you can put a chock in front of the front wheels

[N8N]

reason not to lift rear of car w/ front on the ground is no way to keep car from rolling, remember car is RWD and parking brake works on rear wheels, if you ever have to do this block at least one front wheel f&r with good chocks.

[tennis_pr0]

Makes sense, thanks guys. I have a set of rhino ramps, but I am going to return them and but a jack and two stands and also a chock. Is that all I will need to get the car up?

[Efthreeoh]

Go to the DIY section and search under "Trolly". You find the BMW recommended lifting procedure. You need to have the car level and on 4 jackstands to properly bleed the brakes. Buy a jack that will reach the front center jack point and 4 jackstands with a wide flat face to engage with the lift points on the rocker panels.

Be careful, working under an improperly supported vehicle is very dangerous; it's a lesson you only get to learn once...

[tennis_pr0]

Do you guys put a piece of wood or anything on the jacks? So that the metal isn't touching the jack points? I was thinking of just putting a few layers of duct tape on it so that it isn't metal on metal when touching.

[nonanull]

When jacking from the front or rear, you can use a piece of scrap wood. For the side points, I cut blocks to fit from hockey pucks.

[PichaDis11]

See this diy

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=461718

Be Safe!

[mlifxs]

Originally Posted by tennis_pr0

Do you guys put a piece of wood or anything on the jacks? So that the metal isn't touching the jack points? I was thinking of just putting a few layers of duct tape on it so that it isn't metal on metal when touching.

hockey pucks works well for jack and the stands.

[dsjr2006]

Well for bleeding the brakes you do rear then front so all 4 don't need to be off the ground unless you want. I've found that the vehicle is more than balanced enough that if I only intend to put one end of the vehicle on stands I only need to jack from the front or rear center jack point and then place the stands under the vehicle. Having two other wheels on the ground still keeps it from tipping one way or the other also.