What ramps work on these cars

[dsgrillot]

I bought a set of rhino ramps yesterday so I can do oil changes, etc.

Well the ramp angle is way too steep so there is no way to drive the car up the ramps without taking the front bumper off.

Bottom line, does anyone know of a brand or type of ramp that will work on these cars?

[Shipkiller]

RaceRamps

[Finnegan]

If it's a stock suspension, a section of 2x8 about 3 feet long as a lead up to the Rhino ramps will work in a pinch.

[SCHMOUPE]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

If it's a stock suspension, a section of 2x8 about 3 feet long as a lead up to the Rhino ramps will work in a pinch.

This. I built my own ramps using 2x4 pieces of wood I had laying around. I use the ramps to just get the car off the ground 2-3 inches for my floor jack to fit underneath it

[bucko521]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

If it's a stock suspension, a section of 2x8 about 3 feet long as a lead up to the Rhino ramps will work in a pinch.

Finnegan is right on the money! I have the ramps and use a 2x8 about 2 feet long....works great on my Z4. If you are lowered, maybe need a rise above the 2x8 before the ramp as well.

[dsgrillot]

Thanks guys...this forum is addictive. It is truly the best source of info for our cars.

[JasonH]

I haven't built them yet, but something like these should work with the Rhino Ramps even on lowered cars.

[mfanatic325]

Or you could just use a low-profile floor jack to lift each side of the car using the rear side jacking pad and put the ramp under the tire, then lower the respective side and repeat for the other side.

When you're done, just do everything in reverse order pretty much.

[StickMon]

Contrary to popular wisdom, you can jack the car by the pinch weld right under the side view mirror and put jack stands under the jacking points.

I replaced my jack's pad with a 1' slice of 2x4 to spread the weight, and I slip a 1/8" think piece of wood between the door sill cover and the pinch weld to take up the gap and not slice the sill cover with the pinch weld.

I use standard jack stands with 2" pieces of 1x2 to adapt to the jack pads.

Now that I've written it out it sounds more complicated than it really is. I can throw it up on 4 stands safely in about 5 minutes.

[Incompatible]

Originally Posted by StickMon

Contrary to popular wisdom, you can jack the car by the pinch weld right under the side view mirror and put jack stands under the jacking points.

I replaced my jack's pad with a 1' slice of 2x4 to spread the weight, and I slip a 1/8" think piece of wood between the door sill cover and the pinch weld to take up the gap and not slice the sill cover with the pinch weld.

I use standard jack stands with 2" pieces of 1x2 to adapt to the jack pads.

Now that I've written it out it sounds more complicated than it really is. I can throw it up on 4 stands safely in about 5 minutes.

Once upon a time someone posted about using hockey pucks with a channel / groove cut down the center to use on the pinch welds with favorable results. Inexpensive, easy to use, and gentle on the car.

[bucko521]

Originally Posted by Incompatible

Once upon a time someone posted about using hockey pucks with a channel / groove cut down the center to use on the pinch welds with favorable results. Inexpensive, easy to use, and gentle on the car.

Yep...I found it... here it is. I think depending on your car and jack setup...you might need to adapt this for your use.

Bought a few pucks myself, but have not made the setup yet for my own use.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=481910

[Shipkiller]

To do this (hockey pucks), you need a very sharp wood chisel. Works like a charm...

[StickMon]

My original intent was to use hockey pucks. I went to the local sporting goods mega-mart, that has everything from lacrosse to fish hooks. Forgot that I'm in SoCal now, and not Chicago. When I asked if they had hockey pucks they laughed at me.

[Alexander]

I use 2x8s to get it high enough to either drive on the ramps or fit the jack.

Now I invested in some nice low profile jacks, so I don't need to do this anymore.

[aestheticstorm]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

RaceRamps

Ludicrously expensive but worth avoiding the annoyance of jimmy-rigged solutions. I don't like driving up the stepped 2x8s nor the weight, and low-profile jacks are annoying if you want to get the front of the car on jack stands -- 99% of them can't reach the center jack point from the front, unless you want to spend $500-600 on a super long one.

[JFleming]

I use wood ramps I slapped together from some 2 x 8's and 1/2 OSB. Total cost about $14 as I remember. They are a little heavy, but for as often as they are used, they work like a charm. That 14 degrees is about the max angle my Z will take as an angle of approach (see drawing). You may need to go slightly less if your car is lowered.

[bosstones]

I have some 2-3' long 2x8s laying around. I just drive up on them (just one per wheel). My humble Craftsman 2.25 ton jack fits under the the front bumper. Once it's under, I put a hockey puck on top of it and position it under the front jack point. Until the jack makes contact and starts putting pressure on the jack point, I have to limit the throws for the jack, though. A bit of a pain to get started due to the initial short throws, but this has worked perfectly fine for oil changes. It doesn't list the car high enough to get my jack stands higher than the first detente or two, though......makes it kind of tight trying to get to the trans but it's doable. Until I need to do more, I haven't been able to justify picking up another jack (or ramps).

Edit: I'm the stock suspension.

[dbcat1]

Ok, so rhino ramps lift height is 6 and 1/2 inches, and Race ramps lift height is 10 inches. Well, 10 inches sounds better to me than less, but I guess my question would be if I lift to 10 inches will I scrape my exhaust pipes?

2007 335i stock

[liamket]

I cheated. Instead of buying new ramps (because mine are too steep as well), I used the side jack point with my floor jack and lifted it until I could slide the ramp under the wheel. Then I did the same, slowly on the other side. I also have jack stands as well, but since I wasn't taking any wheels off, the ramps seemed like a much more sturdy and safe alternative. Plus in a worst case scenario (even though it was in gear with e-brake applied), the ramps have roll-lips to keep the tires on the upper/flat section.

[pokeybritches]

Bumping this thread. Anyone try the 56" two piece Race Ramps? Is 8" enough , or do I need the 10" high ramps? I like the concept of the two piece ramps.

[Steenos]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

Is 8" enough

Thats what she said...

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

Bumping this thread. Anyone try the 56" two piece Race Ramps? Is 8" enough , or do I need the 10" high ramps? I like the concept of the two piece ramps.

I have the single piece version (RR-56). Here's a picture...judge for yourself