Do I really need that rubber foot for the jack?

[RenoHuskerDu]

I reckon he recommends the scissors jack instead. That's what my car came with, but I am having a helluva hard time finding one on eBay France or Germany. I found this one but it does not look stock and I wonder if it will stow neatly in the trunk of my X5 Ottima Qualita' Cric A Pantografo 1500kg PER BMW X5 | eBay

[jdstrickland]

Those blocks are supposed to be there all of the time. Are they _required_? No. Can you cheat and use a block of wood? Yes.

I think you are looking for Item 9,

RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

[cn90]

Two (2) separate issues:

- Cushion: factory jack pad vs wood vs rubber. Get a hockey puck for $2. Or a piece of rubber taken taken from the sidewall of an old tire.

- Jack: the factory jack is terrible. If you use it, make sure the spare tire is ready to be installed, and you do NOT get under the vehicle. The time that the car has no tire should be < 15 sec. In other words, jack it up, remove the wheel and quickly swap the new wheel.

- Better yet, get a good Volvo 240 scissor jack, bring some wood such as 2x4 pieces long enough to hold the scissor jack. This adds extra height.

[crystalworks]

Proper use of the widow-maker and lifting pads is perfectly safe. I agree with the recommendations above though. DO NOT get under the truck (this is common sense and applies to any jack, including hydraulic). Have the spare ready to go on and install it as quickly as possible.

Nothing wrong with using the factory jack. We hope to never have to because it means changing a tire on the side of the road. But I'd rather have it and use it provided it's in good condition.

[Scott ZHP]

The factory jack is a cost compromise piece of garbage. If the road surface is even slightly inclined, the foot becomes unstable regardless of how you attempt to position it. BMW sell a proper scissor jack kit which is what they ought to be supplying in the first place.

But if someone wants to use it to jack up their 2+ton vehicle on the side of the road, be my guest.

[RenoHuskerDu]

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

...
But if someone wants to use it to jack up their 2+ton vehicle on the side of the road, be my guest.

I suffer the poor ride qualities of RFTs in winter just to avoid that possible ignominy with my E70, which has no jack at all.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Helihover

So when your out in the middle of nowhere, you pull your 75lbs. Floor jack out of the back that you've been carring around for the past three years to change your flat???

That's what AAA is for!!!

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

The factory jack is a cost compromise

Of course it is... it was also a weight compromise. That doesn't mean it's noneffective and should never be used. I've used the widow makers on so many BMW's that, the way you guys talk about them, I should have dropped a vehicle a long time ago. I have towing on my vehicles as well, but if a 15 minute tire change can get me back on the road to get where I'm going, why wait 2 hours for a two truck that could possibly damage your car? I once had a tow guy over tighten the hooks and tear my floor pan on a 323ci. Didn't find out about it til a month later during an oil change. I was pissed.

I agree, the factory jack is not the best jack you could use... but it certainly isn't unsafe if used properly either.

[Helihover]

Originally Posted by upallnight

That's what AAA is for!!!

I have better things in life to do than sit in a car out in the middle of no where waiting on bubba to rescue me.

I do however have AAA. Only time I've used it is to pull my project cars home.

[Joshdub]

Originally Posted by upallnight

That's what AAA is for!!!

You're looking at waiting for hours around here if you call AAA. Then you have some momo dicking with your car on the side of the road.