Jackstand lifting
 

How do ya'll lift to put X5s on jack stands? Sucks to have the lift point be the jack stand safe place too. :dunno: I know the two safe front and rear points. Can the points handle full front and rear weight safely? I need to lift it enough to check oil level. I sure don't feel like driving up four ramps at the same time. I'll probably drive up the front two and lift the rear. I think the ramps are lower than small 3 ton jack stands. A set of 6 ton stands is really too high. No problem lifting with a 3 ton ARCAN jack. :cool:

the rear diff (NOT ON THE FLANGE) is the central jack point in rear, and under engine on my V8 there is a solid jacking bar/point for the front.

I always jack centrally and then put jack stands on the sides. I have never jacked all 4 wheels off the ground. Partly due to my 4* sloping driveway. That makes it convenient - if I ever need the car to be level, I just jack the downhill end of it as needed. I agree, I'd feel safer with two tires on ramps with the other two up in the air, vs. all 4 in the air.

When I first got the car, I took some time to carefully build the interfaces needed for a safe and efficient jacking system. Some photos in the following thread - jacking the front first, then the rear jacking stuff is on the next page:

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ml#post1135244

Nice, I like the 12mm bolt idea. Slip proof the front lift support. I have plenty of scrap wood and bolts in the garage or shed. Now, I'm thinking. Back up the rear on ramps. Set the hand brake. Raise the front. I have four plastic same design ramps. I don't trust them. I always use jack stands as back up.

Which way should jack stand ears point? Body line or perpendicular?

Do E53s have the rectangular jack points like newer BMWs? My F30 has those. I found some adapters to use eared stands with those. But I forget which way they go. I think body line.


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I never realized that there was a front central jacking point, and initially used a pair of these to lift my X5 (on pads of leftover 3/4" plywood on un-level sand), but only have one that still works....
Attachment 84863 bought for $40 each at TSC in 2015, now they're $92 each at Amazon


After that first time, I tried driving the AWD X5 onto two sets of ramps, on the same loose, unprepared surface, and felt much safer underneath. After selling a car in 2023, making space, I finally had an open spot in front of the "fully-occupied" garage, so I put down 2.25 sheets of 3/4" plywood as a platform that I could work on (instead of on sand & gravel), and set up my heavy-duty steel truck ramps there (easily swapped for lower. lighter-duty "Rhino" ramps, for my lower-profile cars).
Attachment 84864 not the best place for repairs, but it works for me...I'll sometimes use a pop-up canopy to shield myself and the car/truck from sun or rain

Because my driveway slopes down towards the garage (4% or so grade), if I have to lift the X5 on both ends at once, I use the steel ramps in front, and the shorter "Rhino" ramps in the rear, the X5 then sits level!

If I ever need to change a tire, or work on the X5 away from home, I have a 12-ton bottle jack (and the factory jack), rubber anti-slip pads & inserts for the lift points on the sides, two jackstands, and all sorts of tools, etc. in the trunk. Kneepads, kneeboards, fender pads, undercar mats & mover's blankets too (I'm old, and my body hurts).

I have had my wifes e53 on four jack stand several times (exhaust work, fuel filter, headers, engine work, etc). I typically use the front center jacking point directly under the engine as a jacking point at the front, then I put two of my six ton jack stands at the front side jack points (with saddles to the outside of the car), and then jack up at the rear diff until its level and use my smaller jack stands at the rear sides. I'm a bit more comfortable being under the car with heavier jack stands. I have some 12 ton jack stands I've used working on my truck before but they don't even fit under the car with my floor jack at full extension...LOL.
https://i.imgur.com/H0ObDE8.png

One thing I'll add is that you can lift from the central points on the diagonal. You don't have to go straight on from the front or back. You can put the jack in between the wheel and where the jack stand is going to end up on the diagonal and still lift nice and straight up from the central points. It's a little easier to see. I used to open the garage door to get some room for the rear straight on and let all the nice air out but I don't do that anymore.

I use the lifting point in the front center under the engine. Jack stands under the side lifting points. Lifting the rear I don't use the diff. I use a 4x block on its side up against the subframe at the rear of the diff.

Here's an ingenious and perfect solution to the problem, a patented design that lets you lift and support the car at the jacking point locations - Jackpoint Jackstands. The product is very popular over at the Porche enthusiast's forums. I'm planning to get them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0flclqcxl0&t=3s

https://jackpointjackstands.com/