Z4 Jacking Points

[rps]

Since my new wheels and tires are coming, I'll have to jack up the car to swap them. I have found the jacking pads on the front of the car but can not find any on the rear of the car. There is a support that runs from in front of the wheel well to the area around the diff. Is the point where the support attaches to the frame in front of the wheel well that is used to jack up the rear? Thanks for any advice.

[jmillet]

Originally Posted by rps

Since my new wheels and tires are coming, I'll have to jack up the car to swap them. I have found the jacking pads on the front of the car but can not find any on the rear of the car. There is a support that runs from in front of the wheel well to the area around the diff. Is the point where the support attaches to the frame in front of the wheel well that is used to jack up the rear? Thanks for any advice.

You should have four black composite plastic rectangular shaped jack supports located on the side rails.
Here's a niffty tool http://www.reverselogic.us/ReverseLo...ited/Home.html
Use the search function on this and other BMW Z forums and you'll find useful info like this:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...king+z4&page=3

[andrewn80]

Can I use a regular jack on those rectangular jack supports? Will they get crushed? I don't have a rectangular adapter.

[nlink720]

Under the car are the four black metal jack supports. Use those.

What I do when I switch wheels, is jack the rear up about 12" using a racing jack (6,000 lb. one from Walmart). That is enough to get both wheels on that side off the ground. Since I am not going underneath the car, I don't actually use jack stands, and just swap wheels, whatever.

Using this method, there is no need to jack the car up twice per side, only once per side.

Just make sure to loosen the front wheel lug nuts before you jack up the car to facilitate their removal when the front wheel is off the ground.

Make sure to set the parking brake, and to use wheel chocks to prevent the car from moving.

[imom]

RPS, there's at least 4 jack points that have rubber pads on them. On your car, you have two up front and two in the back(but they fell off). It's very common for the jack pads to fall off...you can get them at the dealer. I would not jack the car up at the differential... something I learned recently...it's bad to put pressure on the drivetrain... if the more experience modders can correct me...that would be appreciated.

My car has been on the lift a few times to do minor things like oil change...so I have seen it.

[rps]

That was a very old post but in case you are interested. The one jacking point did indeed fall off and was replaced with a new one from the dealer. I have since bought the jack pad advertised in the Roundel and it works great. I have a scissor jack to get the car up a little and then am able to use the floor jack. Other than a great deal of trouble getting off the rear wheels everything went fine. The word for that day was anti-seize.

[andrewn80]

About those 4 rectangular jack supports, is it ok to use a jack that isnt properly fitted into the rectanguler indentation? Will the rectangular supports get damaged or can they withstand the force no matter what type of jack you use?

[imom]

andrew you can use a block of wood underneath the rubber mounts...nothing will be damaged then...except for the wood. Use 2x4s

[andrewn80]

Thank you imom! That's exactly the response I was looking for!