Safe Jackpoints - Definitive Answer???
 

Hey guys.

I have searched this site along with other BMW websites, but I am still confused about the correct jacking points to get your entire car up. Every post says something different for both front and rear. :dunno: Not using the side rubber jack points since that's where the jackstands will go.........

For the front, I know that there is a black rubber for pre-2002, and there's been some debate whether the oval metal piece is the correct jacking point for post-2002. What is correct jacking point for the front?

For the rear, I've heard differential itself, subframe, control arm, etc..........Is there a definitive answer?

Thanks and I hope this thread will give everyone a FINAL answer.

Use two hydraulic jacks. In the front, put your jacks under the yellow points, and jack-stands under the green points. Don't go near the red ones. Red ones bad. Jack the car up a little bit on each side with each hydraulic jack. When both sides are level and high enough, pop the stands under the frame rails (green). If you use just one jack, the car will slide off the stand when you jack up the other side. Ask me how I know.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/e46jack01.jpg
http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/e46jack02.jpg

In the back, use one jack under the frame in front of the differential. Don't jack up by the differential. Put the stands under the rubber jack-points in the back. I'll try to take pictures of the back tomorrow to make things clearer.

Rox, I appreciate the pictures. I never considered the areas circled in green, but I will definitely check it out.

Sorry, I was on crack last night. I meant "put the hydraulic jacks on the green points, and lower onto jackstands at the yellow points," which is the opposite of what I said above. I cut a two-by-four into small blocks so the frame rail doesn't get all chewed up by the metal jack. I'll definitely take pictures today.

The green part is the frame rail of the car, and is very strong. It won't bend. The red part is soft, and *will* bend.

You can jack by the subframe by the rear differential. But don't touch the diff!

so what about the little ovel thing in the front of the car on an 01 ? i thought that was a center jack pint for the front? if not where is it so you dont have to use two jacks thats a pain in the AS*

I took pictures today. First, our cast of characters:

A set of steel wheel-chocks. I got four of these from Sears for about $20 total.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack01.jpg

Two good hydraulic jacks. These cost about $150 each from Sears. Try to get them on sale, if possible. There are more expensive jacks, but I don't think they are any better than these. There are cheaper jacks, and they're definitely worse than these.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack02.jpg

And of course, our four jack stands. I don't remember how much these cost. These are rated for three tons. Don't cheap out on your jack stands. On the other hand, I've seen jack stands for like $75 each. What the heck are we lifting here, M1 tanks? The Craftsman ones are fine.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack03.jpg

Start by chocking both rear wheels:

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack04.jpg

My car is kinda low. Yours probably is too. In order to put one jack under the inside frame rail, I need to lift with another jack under the rubber jack point first. Slide the other jack in when there's enough room.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack05.jpg

Then start lifting by the inside jack, and take the one that's on the rubber jack point out. Put it on the other side, and there should be enough room to get it under the frame rail by now. Notice the cut-up two-by-fours I use as pads.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack06.jpg

Jack each side up a little bit. Two or three pumps at a time, then go to the other side. Repeat until the front of the car is high enough to put your jack stands under the rubber jack points.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack07.jpg

Lower the car onto the jack stands. Now we need to lift the back. Again, my car is kinda low, so I lift from the rubber jack pad on one side...

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack08.jpg

... so I can slide the second jack under the back of the car.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack09.jpg

Put this jack under the heavy frame rail in front of the differential. Don't lift by the differential itself. We've all heard the stories about how weak the body is there.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack10.jpg

Now lift the car up high enough to get your jackstands under the rear rubber jack points.

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack11.jpg

Lower the car onto the jackstands, and you're done. Enjoy, be safe, and happy modding.

And uh, this is why using just one jack is bad, lifting from either side:

http://www.availabledark.com/images/bmw/jack12.jpg

Note the dents in my side-skirt where the jackstand dug into the bodywork. Nice, right? Try to avoid that. :P Use two jacks.

In my book, bending metal on my car is considered an "error." I've seen this jack point used. I don't recommend it, but ... it's your car! Two jacks is the safe way to do it. And in my book, safer is always better. I guarantee you won't drop a car on yourself more than once.

Well I've been using the center jacking point in the front for a long time and have never had a "metal bending" issue - seems a lot easier to me then using two jacks, but whatever works and is safe is the most important thing.

Mark

I beleive the earlier sedan have a different front end than coupes that has a purpose built plastic "puck" for jacking... but my 01 coupe doesnt have this. There is a little metal puck(part of the aluminum skid plate) on my car but I doubt how strong it is.

rOx ROX ! Great information & Photos! Thank you sir.

Forums like these stay alive cause of people like rOx....thanks for the info man :thumbup:

Great writeup and pictures. This will help out a lot of people:thumbup:

Wow, r0x saves the day. I'm definitely saving these pictures into my computer for future references

Hail to r0x.

ty for the info, i've been looking for something like this too, but this answers my Q's :thumbup:

i believe all E46 M3's have this plastic "puck" you're referring to (picture). i can't remember if any of the regular E46's ever had it, but i could be mistaken. at any rate, i know my 01 330 doesn't have it - just a bulge on the aluminum plate. i agree with rox. the only safe way, or at least the only comfortable way i've found, to jack up the front is to use 2 jacks.

Yea M3's have it, but for some retarded reason BMW decided people dont need to jack up their 330. Well our cars do have that little nub in the skid plate but its just aluminum and I'm not gonna take the risk. This is what I was talking about on earlier sedans.
http://www.e46fanatics.com/members/tim330i/poly/2.jpg
http://www.e46fanatics.com/members/tim330i/poly/13.jpg

Just use ramps on the front... If you need the wheels off on the front, well, do it one wheel at a time on the front.

BTW I think its a little bit of overkill for 2 150 jacks. I use a basic set which came with two 2ton jack stands, and a 3 ton hydraulic jack (all more than sufficient for our non SUV cars) for a fraction of that price. Then I spent the rest on some rhino ramps.