Best lifter tool to work on underside

DrivingPassion · 08-27-2014, 05:21 PM

I'm planning on investing in a good tool to lift the car up higher so that I can work underneath.

There're a couple of options but I want to get some input as to which one is most practical and worth investing in:

A heavy-duty car jack (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Powerzone-3800...words=car+jack)
Steel ramps: have not found one lower enough for a 3-series (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/RhinoGear-1190...ds=steel+ramps)

If you have recommendations, please slap a link to the product which you are using personally.
Thanks!

BOOSTHOT · 08-27-2014, 05:24 PM

Really? Get a jack, you won't be able to do any wheel/suspension work with ramps dude.

DrivingPassion · 08-27-2014, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOSTHOT

Really? Get a jack, you won't be able to do any wheel/suspension work with ramps dude.

Is one jack enough or do you need 2 ?

RIDERDIE · 08-27-2014, 06:02 PM

It's definitely not an easy task. I have ramps which I have to use boards to decrease the incline to clear my bumper. Then I can get the jack on the center point remove the ramps and place stands under the side points.

My jack doesn't even fit under the rockers so I would try and find a low profile. I usually just use a scissor jack which I find to be the easiest.

Meeni · 08-27-2014, 09:29 PM

Jack stands are safer than ramps.

Jamesv · 08-27-2014, 10:02 PM

I have a 3 ton low profile steel jack from harbor freight. It can reach the center jack point. Easy peasy. Then jack stands under side jack points.

atinybug · 08-27-2014, 11:33 PM

I use a regular jack that's not low profile so normally it won't fit under my car. I have to drive up on a couple 2x4s then jack up with the center point, then put jack stands under the side points.

Efthreeoh · 08-28-2014, 07:57 AM

OP, it's good you are taking lifting the car seriously. Spend the money now for good lifting tools. Get a long-saddle (i.e. long-reach) low-profile jack so to easily reach the front and rear center jack points. And get four (4) good jackstands that have a flat top. A Forum member found a good jackstand, which is an ESCO model 10498, which are perfect for sitting the E90 chassis down on. For safety reasons, ALWAYS work on a car on a level surface supported by four (4) jackstands (under the lifting points of the E90). If all the wheels are off the ground, there is no chance of the car rolling off the stands.

There are several DIYs posted here about how to properly lift the E9X chassis.

DrivingPassion · 08-28-2014, 09:56 AM

I found this and it might be helpful for you guys as well ...

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...p_Your_BMW.htm

DrivingPassion · 08-28-2014, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

OP, it's good you are taking lifting the car seriously. Spend the money now for good lifting tools. Get a long-saddle (i.e. long-reach) low-profile jack so to easily reach the front and rear center jack points. And get four (4) good jackstands that have a flat top. A Forum member found a good jackstand, which is an ESCO model 10498, which are perfect for sitting the E90 chassis down on. For safety reasons, ALWAYS work on a car on a level surface supported by four (4) jackstands (under the lifting points of the E90). If all the wheels are off the ground, there is no chance of the car rolling off the stands.

There are several DIYs posted here about how to properly lift the E9X chassis.

Thanks, for the detailed info. Really appreciate it.

DrivingPassion · 08-28-2014, 09:59 AM

Any reliable brands for hydraulic jack?

SgtGoldy · 08-28-2014, 12:20 PM

http://www.bendpak.com/Shop-Equipment/QuickJack/

Meeni · 08-28-2014, 06:17 PM

how much for the quickjack ?

SgtGoldy · 08-29-2014, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meeni

how much for the quickjack ?

I think the smaller one is a few dollars over 1k USD

beetle6986 · 08-29-2014, 07:29 PM

You should get a low profile jack (fits under the car better) and jack stands. You can't safely work under a car using a hydrolic jack. You will also want ramps. It's easy to quickly put the car up on ramps to change the oil. Get the ramp extensions in the link below. I use them with my lowered mustang and the 335. You shouldn't have clearance issues using these.
http://mkrd.info/reviews/ultra-ramp-...rs-review.html

Efthreeoh · 08-30-2014, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrivingPassion

Any reliable brands for hydraulic jack?

Just found this one. Bend Pack offers it. Not a bad price for a good floor jack.

http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/...-p/rfj-2tx.htm

Denny347 · 08-31-2014, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtGoldy

http://www.bendpak.com/Shop-Equipment/QuickJack/

I gotta get that. NICE!!!!

08-27-2014, 05:21 PM	#1
DrivingPassion Lieutenant 130 Rep 485 Posts Drives: '15 M235xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	Best lifter tool to work on underside I'm planning on investing in a good tool to lift the car up higher so that I can work underneath. There're a couple of options but I want to get some input as to which one is most practical and worth investing in: A heavy-duty car jack (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Powerzone-3800...words=car+jack) Steel ramps: have not found one lower enough for a 3-series (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/RhinoGear-1190...ds=steel+ramps) If you have recommendations, please slap a link to the product which you are using personally. Thanks! __________________ 2015 M235i xDrive 8AT Last edited by DrivingPassion; 08-27-2014 at 06:06 PM..
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08-27-2014, 05:24 PM	#2
BOOSTHOT Private First Class 6 Rep 121 Posts Drives: SG E90 335i Join Date: May 2014 Location: West Covina iTrader: (0)	Really? Get a jack, you won't be able to do any wheel/suspension work with ramps dude.
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08-27-2014, 06:02 PM	#4
RIDERDIE First Lieutenant 17 Rep 329 Posts Drives: 12 f30 n20 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: VIRGINIA BEACH iTrader: (1)	It's definitely not an easy task. I have ramps which I have to use boards to decrease the incline to clear my bumper. Then I can get the jack on the center point remove the ramps and place stands under the side points. My jack doesn't even fit under the rockers so I would try and find a low profile. I usually just use a scissor jack which I find to be the easiest.
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08-27-2014, 09:29 PM	#5
Meeni Gateropode 329 Rep 2,848 Posts Drives: BMW 330i 06 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	Jack stands are safer than ramps. Last edited by Meeni; 08-28-2014 at 07:30 AM..
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08-27-2014, 10:02 PM	#6
Jamesv Private 4 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2011 535i havana metallic Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Modesto Ca iTrader: (0)	I have a 3 ton low profile steel jack from harbor freight. It can reach the center jack point. Easy peasy. Then jack stands under side jack points.
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08-27-2014, 11:33 PM	#7
atinybug First Lieutenant 78 Rep 375 Posts Drives: 07 e92 335i 6mt Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	I use a regular jack that's not low profile so normally it won't fit under my car. I have to drive up on a couple 2x4s then jack up with the center point, then put jack stands under the side points.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2014, 07:57 AM	#8
Efthreeoh General 17303 Rep 18,727 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	OP, it's good you are taking lifting the car seriously. Spend the money now for good lifting tools. Get a long-saddle (i.e. long-reach) low-profile jack so to easily reach the front and rear center jack points. And get four (4) good jackstands that have a flat top. A Forum member found a good jackstand, which is an ESCO model 10498, which are perfect for sitting the E90 chassis down on. For safety reasons, ALWAYS work on a car on a level surface supported by four (4) jackstands (under the lifting points of the E90). If all the wheels are off the ground, there is no chance of the car rolling off the stands. There are several DIYs posted here about how to properly lift the E9X chassis.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2014, 09:56 AM	#9
DrivingPassion Lieutenant 130 Rep 485 Posts Drives: '15 M235xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	I found this and it might be helpful for you guys as well ... http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/tech...p_Your_BMW.htm __________________ 2015 M235i xDrive 8AT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-28-2014, 09:59 AM	#11
DrivingPassion Lieutenant 130 Rep 485 Posts Drives: '15 M235xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	Any reliable brands for hydraulic jack? __________________ 2015 M235i xDrive 8AT
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08-28-2014, 12:20 PM	#12
SgtGoldy SuperFastYo 50 Rep 790 Posts Drives: N54 335i TiAg Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (3)	http://www.bendpak.com/Shop-Equipment/QuickJack/ __________________ C63 AMG - LSD - Straight Pipe - EuroCharge v5 - Vossen CV7 -
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08-28-2014, 06:17 PM	#13
Meeni Gateropode 329 Rep 2,848 Posts Drives: BMW 330i 06 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	how much for the quickjack ?
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08-29-2014, 07:29 PM	#15
beetle6986 Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 209 Posts Drives: E90 335xi, E70 X5 50, 04 Cobra Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	You should get a low profile jack (fits under the car better) and jack stands. You can't safely work under a car using a hydrolic jack. You will also want ramps. It's easy to quickly put the car up on ramps to change the oil. Get the ramp extensions in the link below. I use them with my lowered mustang and the 335. You shouldn't have clearance issues using these. http://mkrd.info/reviews/ultra-ramp-...rs-review.html
	Appreciate 0 Quote