Best ultra low profile jack for the $???

[msh441]

Greetings,

I\'m looking for the best, ultra low profile floor jack for the money.

Something I can slide under the front of my (standard suspension) Z4MC and reach the center/front jack point. Get both front wheels up at once.

Any pointers/links/etc. would be appreciated.

Mike

[Kgolf31]

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-ton-...ump-68054.html

I have this one. It EASILY gets under the suspension. They have different ton ratings if you're going to be lifting the whole car, but since I have a standard 3 ton...I can use this one to Jack it up and get my other jack to the center if need be.

I got mine on sale for $70 too.

[SCHMOUPE]

The costco low profile! lot of members here have it

[SCHMOUPE]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=36136

[RADRACR]

I don't think any jack unless it's SUPER long will reach the front center jack point. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

I like the Tire Rack one because it's aluminum and I need to haul it up and down from my apartment. It is long enough to reach the rear center jack point. http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...m=TRJACK&ID=67

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by aestheticstorm

I don't think any jack unless it's SUPER long will reach the front center jack point. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

I like the Tire Rack one because it's aluminum and I need to haul it up and down from my apartment. It is long enough to reach the rear center jack point. http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...m=TRJACK&ID=67

I agree, you can't get any jack all the way to the front-center jack point. You need to lift one side first and then get to the middle jack pad. By the way, I have two harbor freight jacks and I've had great luck with them.

[johanness]

Originally Posted by shakib

The costco low profile! lot of members here have it

This. Torin jack, minimum height = 3" 7/16. Works well

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by mhughett

I agree, you can't get any jack all the way to the front-center jack point. You need to lift one side first and then get to the middle jack pad. By the way, I have two harbor freight jacks and I've had great luck with them.

I have three that fit the front. Sold the AC one.

Other are Sears and the one I use all the time is a two ton Lincoln.

I have the second moded Sears aluminum one for sale.

[txz4]

I have the same jack as the costco one, bought at northern tool. Works great but its REALLY hard to lower slowly once loaded.

question for everyone, not to derail, but what jack stands are you using? i have the Tire rack style expensive ones and they dont work with the jack pads at all.

[ZStig]

I have a sears aluminium one I got on sale

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by msh441

Greetings,

I\'m looking for the best, ultra low profile floor jack for the money.

Something I can slide under the front of my (standard suspension) Z4MC and reach the center/front jack point. Get both front wheels up at once.

Any pointers/links/etc. would be appreciated.

Mike

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/frame_ron.html
You can see some jack items under (TOOLS)

Jack I use is W93642:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/too...ulic_jack.html

Lowered, I use these:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/too...ered_cars.html

[kcdedric]

Not the cheapest option, but check out posts #16 and #20:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576427

[tekmoe]

Harbor Freight. Best jacks for the money. Case closed.

[MinneapolisJeff]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-ton-...ump-68054.html

I have this one. It EASILY gets under the suspension. They have different ton ratings if you're going to be lifting the whole car, but since I have a standard 3 ton...I can use this one to Jack it up and get my other jack to the center if need be.

I got mine on sale for $70 too.

I have this jack as well

[mhughett]

Kgolf31--I don't see how you can use the front/center jack pad with this jack without first putting the car on ramps or raising either the left or right front jack pads. The jack is not long enough to reach it and still have room to pump the jack. Some of the jacks noted on this thread are long enough to do this but not this one and not the one noted by Ron Stygar (W93642). Am I missing something?

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by mhughett

Kgolf31--I don't see how you can use the front/center jack pad with this jack without first putting the car on ramps or raising either the left or right front jack pads. The jack is not long enough to reach it and still have room to pump the jack. Some of the jacks noted on this thread are long enough to do this but not this one and not the one noted by Ron Stygar (W93642). Am I missing something?

As I said, maybe in my first post it didn't come out right.

I don't use this jack for central jacking. I always lift a side, and if need be I take my craftsman 3 ton and use that for central. Since this one is only rated at 1.5 tons...I don't trust it for this duty.

I got this jack because it's cheap and fast. I change my wheels each time I autocross, so something fast and easy is what I needed (and my air gun )

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by mhughett

Kgolf31--I don't see how you can use the front/center jack pad with this jack without first putting the car on ramps or raising either the left or right front jack pads. The jack is not long enough to reach it and still have room to pump the jack. Some of the jacks noted on this thread are long enough to do this but not this one and not the one noted by Ron Stygar (W93642). Am I missing something?

Purchase the AC jack if you don't want the made mini ramps.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...0&postcount=37

Lincoln:
I drive on the mini ramps. Put on the double chocks.
Jack the car up. Drop into my modded jack stands.
Push in the metal ramps as a back up.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...7&postcount=60

[04z4]

I am quite happy with my 3.5 ton Arcan XL325R. Made in China but it is very solid. And heavy. Available on ebay, Amazon, Northern Tool, etc. Search for "Arcan jack". It had many positive reviews if I recall.

[elerner61]

Originally Posted by txz4

I have the same jack as the costco one, bought at northern tool. Works great but its REALLY hard to lower slowly once loaded.

question for everyone, not to derail, but what jack stands are you using? i have the Tire rack style expensive ones and they dont work with the jack pads at all.

I cut small pieces of plywood that fit in the jackpads to use on my Tire Rack jack stand. Works just fine.

[txz4]

Originally Posted by elerner61

I cut small pieces of plywood that fit in the jackpads to use on my Tire Rack jack stand. Works just fine.

the thought of balancing a piece of would on a stand and than my car after that frankly scares the shit out of me. If worse comes to worse i may route out an indention for the pad to partially fit into and then route an indention for the angles of the jack stand.

[gcochard]

I use larger pieces of plywood to put in between the jack and the jack points.

[RADRACR]

Originally Posted by txz4

the thought of balancing a piece of would on a stand and than my car after that frankly scares the shit out of me. If worse comes to worse i may route out an indention for the pad to partially fit into and then route an indention for the angles of the jack stand.

Your idea sounds good in theory but doesn't work out so well in practice because it's hard to target the area exactly when dropping the car. I tried this. I too, have the Tire Rack stands and use pieces of wood to set on top of them. It sounds scary, but once the weight of the car is on the wood, it's not going anywhere. It also makes it easier to place the car on the stands because you're dealing with a larger surface area. If I had the tools, I would certainly route a hole as you mention to sit the wood securely on the stand, at least.