Jackstand (thread spinoff): Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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March 12, 2010 1:37 p.m. bludroptop SuperDork

So as not to hijack the caster thread...

http://en.redbulletin.com/uploads/cd_articles/ogier_blog.jpg

E36 BMWs have jack points like this in the rocker panels like this. I've been thinking of having some jackstands made to fit - although my concept was a tripod base. This would allow the car to be raised with a floor jack at the jack pad - then the jackstand could be inserted - tabA into slotB.

Brilliance or folly?

Anyone have other ideas to get the car in the air easily, when the floor jack and the conventional jackstand want to occupy the same spot?
March 12, 2010 1:47 p.m. sachilles HalfDork

craftsman made a jack/jackstand combo for just such an occasion.

Pin stands, usually get inserted as pairs front or rear. Raising the car from the front or rear rather than the side.

specialstage.com has all sorts of threads on making pin stands if you are curious about the ins and outs.
March 12, 2010 2:18 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

I have seen jack pads that insert into those holes for use with a floor jack...
March 12, 2010 3:48 p.m. skruffy Dork

I've got a few sets of the jack pads that fit various euro cars. I only use them on very low cars that are a pain to get a jack under. My concern is mostly for customer cars having unfortunately placed hidden rust in the rockers that could ruin my day, though I've never run across that situation (really, I spend too much time thinking about stuff like this). Your idea should work assuming the pump end of the jack isn't occupying the space where the stand needs to be.

There's numerous places under a E36 that are fine for lifting (crossmembers, suspension points, etc...), I wouldn't be to preoccupied with lifting it only at the jack points.
March 12, 2010 4:04 p.m. Joe Gearin Associate Publisher

If you are looking to get the car in the air while keeping the underneath open for work, ECS Tuning makes these:

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-M3-S52_3.2L/Search/Jack/ES259909/
March 12, 2010 6:23 p.m. MrMook New Reader

That's fantastic that they came stock with those jack points. I want to do this for all my cars. So handy!
March 12, 2010 8:57 p.m. Ian_F New Reader

I had one of those pelican adapters for the M3. I was ok, but won't do what BDT described (or is posted in the rally car pic).

If the car isn't too low, you can make a cradle that straddles the length of the the rocker pinch seam, them place stands under each end of the cradle (this works reasonably well for stock-height MINI's and VW's).

The Craftsman system is a great idea, but unfortunately, the "low" height is too high to fit under any of the cars we have.
March 15, 2010 9:45 a.m. ECSTuningJoe

Joe Gearin wrote:

If you are looking to get the car in the air while keeping the underneath open for work, ECS Tuning makes these:

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E36-M3-S52_3.2L/Search/Jack/ES259909/?salesrep=JHorak...

Thanks for the recommendation!

If anyone has any question please feel free to email!

joe@ecstuning.com

Thanks, Joe
March 15, 2010 5:01 p.m. benzbaron HalfDork

Cool topic, the mercedes has those holes too. I like that thing on the above picture, I could use that thing. One of the only things I hate about my car is the stupid pogo jack that uses those holes, if you aren't careful the damn jack will list.

One time I was having my car tuned and there was a very low BMW 6 series in the shop where the guy couldn't find a jack point so thought the aluminum radiator was an awesome jack point. Needless to say the electric fan now rubbed against the radiator fins.
March 16, 2010 5:34 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

I would much rather have a tripod stand than just a 2 legged stand. I very much don't trust the welds and other things to deal with the side loading a 2 legged support must handle.