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Thread: jack and stands

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
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    USA
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    40
    My Cars
    79' 320i

    jack and stands

    Hey guys its me again ( shocker ) , just wondering where you guys usually jack up the car from and where you place your stands at?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    Austin, TX
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    1978 323i
    I usually jack my car up from the center of the front or rear subframe. I'll usually place the stands somewhere near the outboard ends of the subframe (front or rear).

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Houston, Tx
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    1,978
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    '78 320i
    Ill grab a picture, but definitely not what I *think* are the jackpoints. They are mishapen on my car.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Massachusetts
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    255
    My Cars
    E21 327i, E46 325iT/5
    Quote Originally Posted by cgifool View Post
    I'll usually place the stands somewhere near the outboard ends of the subframe (front or rear).
    You put jack stands on the front subframe? It’s obviously strong enough (I use it for the jack). Do the stands go on the frame rails?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
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    1,631
    My Cars
    1981 320i silver
    Silver.jpg

    I installed the trans, drive shaft and differential with it like this. I bought this car with a running engine, but missing those items due to a 2002 snatching of parts incident.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    Austin, TX
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    1978 323i
    Quote Originally Posted by DougIng View Post
    You put jack stands on the front subframe? It’s obviously strong enough (I use it for the jack). Do the stands go on the frame rails?
    I don't put anything on the frame rails if I can avoid it, since I bent one a bit trying that not long after I bought the car

    Funny, I could swear I used to put stands on the frame rails of my 2002 with no issues. Maybe right behind where they slope down and go horizontal?

    Only time I have to do something different is if Im trying to remove the subframe in question

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    San Jose, California
    Posts
    1,720
    My Cars
    E21 320i, E30 325i
    In the front:
    I jack up on the subframe.
    Put the stands on the outside where the factory spare tire jacking points are. The stands at my dads place have a curve in the middle so they do not pinch / smash the little lip.
    Like this minus the fancy rubber / plastic pad: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...jack-pads-quot

    In the rear:
    Jack up using the diff.
    Put the stands on the edge of the subframe where the mounts are, or where the factory points are like the front.


    Or if I'm doing something that isn't suspension / brake related I'll put the wheels on ramps, front and/or rear.


    Also relevant but for E30. But most of the spots look the same:
    https://r3vlimited.com/Tech/Jackpoints.jpg
    Jackpoints.jpg


    cgifool, my dad used to put them on frame rail and I tried to do it at the very edge of the rail where it curves up like you mention. Eventually I moved on and use the factory points at the end of the car after putting it too far down the frame rail and saw the body getting pushed up. My frame rails are all messed up:
    2011-12-04_19-20-35_871.jpg
    '81 E21 320i / '90 E30 325i / '̶9̶2̶ ̶E̶3̶4̶ ̶5̶2̶5̶i̶t (sold) / '15 Toyota XW30 / '̶̶8̶0̶ ̶E̶2̶1̶ ̶3̶2̶0̶i̶A̶ (sold)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Gilbert, AZ
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    42
    My Cars
    1982 BMW 320is
    Quote Originally Posted by DougIng View Post
    You put jack stands on the front subframe? It’s obviously strong enough (I use it for the jack). Do the stands go on the frame rails?
    I place the jack stands on the frame rails just behind the front tires. Haven’t had any problems so far. The rear I use the subframe and place the stands on either side of the jack.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Massachusetts
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    255
    My Cars
    E21 327i, E46 325iT/5
    Sounds like we’re all doing the same thing. Good to have that reassurance.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    183
    My Cars
    1980 320i 5 speed
    I place jack stands under the frame rails on most cars but the E21 body will flex if supported there. (enough to feel it in door operation) The outer points are probably stronger.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    Austin, TX
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    1978 323i
    Where do folks with lifts place the arms? on the regular jack poitns?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Santa Rosa, CA
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    1981 320i silver
    ... on the regular jack poitns?
    I don't know what's wrong with the regular jack points. My pic above shows jack stands at those points.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    2,588
    My Cars
    81 320i, 98 318ti
    The problem with most jack stands is that their metal and V shaped top will damage any surface, including stock jack areas. I ended up with ESCO jack stands ($$) that have a nice rubber pad. I have noticed that the front end of of the frame rail, where it curves up is the strong point and will not cave in (like the middle of the rail would). Using stock jack locations without adapters will flatten the lip regardless of the jack stand design.
    What I normally do is jack up under the subframe (front and rear, in the middle) and put rubber padded stands under the front rails (towards the front where it curves) and next to rear subframe mounts (there is a flat area big enough) in the back. Have done it for years with no damage.

    Max

    Max

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