Question about the jack.

M_Six · #1 03-15-2009, 11:06 PM

It was a gorgeous day here today, so I took the Z4 for my first real drive in it. It started out with a near disaster before I was even out of the garage. My neighbor has a very old English Setter. He's deaf as a post. I knew he was around because I had just given him a dog bone so he'd go away. I saw him walk out of the garage as I was settling into the car. I dropped the top, adjusted the mirrors, and fired it up. Then I began backing out very slowly. Just as my rear tires cleared the door, I heard a small yelp and stopped. Sure enough, the dog was under my car. He appeared unhurt, but he was well pinned and panic stricken. One of his paws was in now in front of the rear wheel, so no way to drive forward again. And obviously backing up further was out of the question. I yelled into the house for my wife to come help and then I ran and grabbed the jack from the X5. I found a spot under the Z that looked like an ok jack point (a cross bar that connected to the frame right near the rear wheel). I only jacked the car up an inch or two and my wife was able to pull the dog out. He yelped a bit more, but then got up and walked out into the front yard and sat down. Later he walked back over to his own yard and was sitting there quietly when I finally left. His owner isn't home, but he's going to get an earful when he gets back.

Here's the jack issue, though. Even though I was able to get the Z4 up far enough to get the dog out, I really couldn't get it any higher. The jack just wouldn't budge another inch. Will this jack really lift the X5? Maybe it's because the jack was essentially fully collapsed in order to squeak it under the Z4? I'm sure to get the X5 jacked up, the jack would be half extended already just to hit the jack points, right?

mrbmwx5 · #2 03-15-2009, 11:15 PM

If it going to works ,it may not handle the weight of the X5

Weasel · #3 03-15-2009, 11:20 PM

By design it would be easier to lift when at a higher lift point than fully collapsed just from the build of the jack... scissor jacks don't work well when flat. Maybe for reassurance you should try lifting the X5 with it one day.

M_Six · #4 03-15-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weasel56

By design it would be easier to lift when at a higher lift point than fully collapsed just from the build of the jack... scissor jacks don't work well when flat. Maybe for reassurance you should try lifting the X5 with it one day.

For sure.

X5 Meister · #5 03-15-2009, 11:46 PM

for saving the pooch! Last time I jacked up my X5 when I got a flat I recall being surprised that it really didn't get up very high and that it only cleared the ground when the jack was probably 90% extended (my rough guess based on past memory). It was certainly up high enough to clear the wheel removal and re-installation of a 17" spare, but made me wonder if I would have a problem sticking some stands under it when I needed to. I always had that problem with a bunch of 3 series until I finally bought a set of very low jack stands that did the job nicely.

Anyhow, I can see how BMW engineered the jack to do the job intended for the jack and nothing more. Probably not a great idea to get it 2 feet off the ground anyway, for there is always a greater chance it will tip and fall.