Jacking Up the Z4

Saurav16 · 09-06-2007, 11:56 AM

Lately I have had some noise coming from the rear axle (or around there when going over bumps or making sharp turns). I wanted to jack up the car to take a look to see if anything was loose there. I got a jack and jack stands but I was wondering whats the best way to jack it up. Do you all drive it up on boards to get enough clearance for your jack to go under? I use the factory jack point but then where should I put the jack stand?

Just wanted to know how any of you jack up the car. Thanks in advance.

mister_roger · 09-06-2007, 03:14 PM

If you don't plan on removing the wheels from the car, then you could try reversing the rear of the car up a set of ramps. Otherwise, a hydraulic floor jack should be sufficient to use on the rear jack point. Be sure you put chocks on the front wheels to prevent them from rolling. Jack stands can be placed under the rear-side jack points.

From the noise that you are describing, it could possibly be a broken sway bar end link that's rattling when you go over bumps. Have you noticed any degredation in handling lately? Sway bar end links can be a pain to change out -- especially if you still have the stock rear swaybar. Hopefully it's not something serious.

Saurav16 · 09-06-2007, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the reply. If I use a hydraulic jack on the rear jack point of say the drivers side where do I put the jack stand as the rubber jack point that is there will be on the jack?

What is the best way to check if the sway bar is broken (isnt' it hidden underneath the exhuast and rear differntial? Thanks again for your reply I appreciate it!

mister_roger · 09-07-2007, 06:37 PM

Oh ok, i see where you are jacking it up from. I thought you were jacking it up from the very rear of the car. There is a good jack point under the differential, where the two diagonal undercarriage cross beams meet. If you jack from there, you can put jack stands under the sides of the car.

Otherwise, I'm not sure where to put jack stands in your method.

The say bar links are located under the rear control arm and is a piece that looks like this:
(taken from ebay)

You'll notice immediately if it is broken.

Saurav16 · 09-09-2007, 08:57 PM

The problem was a heat shield under the differential which made al ot of noise. The sway bar seems fine. THanks for your help though.

mister_roger · 09-10-2007, 12:07 PM

Glad it was someting simple

GLF · 03-27-2008, 11:01 AM

After searching all over for information on where to jack this car up without using the jack points I determined that the pinch seams would be the place to locate the jack. Note the pictures of the jack, the pinch seam is hidden under the overlap of the bottom of the side rails. I just cut some wood blocks to fit inside the jack points for my jack stands. Jacking under the mirrors will lift the complete side so you can place two jacks stands at one time.

BimmerZealot · 03-27-2008, 03:16 PM

Hm never heard of the "pinch seam" or using it as a jack point but thanks for the info. The only way I can do it is use a trolley jack to get one side up a little from the jack points then go from the front/back using a floor jack, damn lowered cars.

rkstar9 · 12-12-2012, 10:38 PM

I used the "pinch seam" to jack up my z4 with the same jack shown on the picture.
The jack cut into the seam and split the plastic in half.

Yes I made sure the Jack was positioned exactly as on the picture.

So I would suggest using a piece of rubber

Uncle Russ · 05-10-2013, 09:48 AM

To avoid having to use two jacks, get a low-profile floor jack, Costco and Harbor Freight have good deals on them. Works wonders! :-)

09-06-2007, 11:56 AM	#1
Saurav16 New Member Drives: BMW Z4 3.0i Vintage 2003 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NY Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	Jacking Up the Z4 Lately I have had some noise coming from the rear axle (or around there when going over bumps or making sharp turns). I wanted to jack up the car to take a look to see if anything was loose there. I got a jack and jack stands but I was wondering whats the best way to jack it up. Do you all drive it up on boards to get enough clearance for your jack to go under? I use the factory jack point but then where should I put the jack stand? Just wanted to know how any of you jack up the car. Thanks in advance.
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09-06-2007, 03:14 PM	#2
mister_roger Private First Class Drives: 2003 Maldives Blue 2.5i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 136 iTrader: (0)	If you don't plan on removing the wheels from the car, then you could try reversing the rear of the car up a set of ramps. Otherwise, a hydraulic floor jack should be sufficient to use on the rear jack point. Be sure you put chocks on the front wheels to prevent them from rolling. Jack stands can be placed under the rear-side jack points. From the noise that you are describing, it could possibly be a broken sway bar end link that's rattling when you go over bumps. Have you noticed any degredation in handling lately? Sway bar end links can be a pain to change out -- especially if you still have the stock rear swaybar. Hopefully it's not something serious. __________________ 2003 Maldives Blue 2.5i -- 18" M6 wheels, 12mm rear spacer, ///MZ4 front bumper conversion, Eibach lowering springs, Koni shocks, Hotchkis F/R anti-roll bars, Helene Performance air filter.

09-07-2007, 06:37 PM	#4
mister_roger Private First Class Drives: 2003 Maldives Blue 2.5i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 136 iTrader: (0)	Oh ok, i see where you are jacking it up from. I thought you were jacking it up from the very rear of the car. There is a good jack point under the differential, where the two diagonal undercarriage cross beams meet. If you jack from there, you can put jack stands under the sides of the car. Otherwise, I'm not sure where to put jack stands in your method. The say bar links are located under the rear control arm and is a piece that looks like this: (taken from ebay) You'll notice immediately if it is broken. __________________ 2003 Maldives Blue 2.5i -- 18" M6 wheels, 12mm rear spacer, ///MZ4 front bumper conversion, Eibach lowering springs, Koni shocks, Hotchkis F/R anti-roll bars, Helene Performance air filter.

09-10-2007, 12:07 PM	#6
mister_roger Private First Class Drives: 2003 Maldives Blue 2.5i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 136 iTrader: (0)	Glad it was someting simple __________________ 2003 Maldives Blue 2.5i -- 18" M6 wheels, 12mm rear spacer, ///MZ4 front bumper conversion, Eibach lowering springs, Koni shocks, Hotchkis F/R anti-roll bars, Helene Performance air filter.

03-27-2008, 11:01 AM	#7
GLF Enlisted Member Drives: Z4, 3.0si SILVER Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: AMARILLO, TX. Posts: 44 iTrader: (0)	After searching all over for information on where to jack this car up without using the jack points I determined that the pinch seams would be the place to locate the jack. Note the pictures of the jack, the pinch seam is hidden under the overlap of the bottom of the side rails. I just cut some wood blocks to fit inside the jack points for my jack stands. Jacking under the mirrors will lift the complete side so you can place two jacks stands at one time. Attached Images __________________ ALWAYS GO TOPLESS

09-06-2007, 05:40 PM	#3
Saurav16 New Member Drives: BMW Z4 3.0i Vintage 2003 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NY Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the reply. If I use a hydraulic jack on the rear jack point of say the drivers side where do I put the jack stand as the rubber jack point that is there will be on the jack? What is the best way to check if the sway bar is broken (isnt' it hidden underneath the exhuast and rear differntial? Thanks again for your reply I appreciate it!

09-09-2007, 08:57 PM	#5
Saurav16 New Member Drives: BMW Z4 3.0i Vintage 2003 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NY Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	The problem was a heat shield under the differential which made al ot of noise. The sway bar seems fine. THanks for your help though.

03-27-2008, 03:16 PM	#8
BimmerZealot Major Drives: 2008 VW GTI Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 1,174 iTrader: (2)	Hm never heard of the "pinch seam" or using it as a jack point but thanks for the info. The only way I can do it is use a trolley jack to get one side up a little from the jack points then go from the front/back using a floor jack, damn lowered cars.

12-12-2012, 10:38 PM	#9
rkstar9 Private Drives: z4 2.5i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 84 iTrader: (0)	I used the "pinch seam" to jack up my z4 with the same jack shown on the picture. The jack cut into the seam and split the plastic in half. Yes I made sure the Jack was positioned exactly as on the picture. So I would suggest using a piece of rubber

05-10-2013, 09:48 AM	#10
Uncle Russ Rocket Scientist Drives: '08 M Roadster Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NoVA Posts: 61 iTrader: (0)	To avoid having to use two jacks, get a low-profile floor jack, Costco and Harbor Freight have good deals on them. Works wonders! :-) __________________ 2008 ///M Roadster

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