Rear jacking point question:
 

I've done several searches here regarding jacking point info for the E53. However, I'm still unclear as to what is the safest point for a floor jack if you want to lift the rear to place jack stands under the rocker panel pads. From what I'm finding up here (if I'm understanding correctly), it is recommended that on an E53, we SHOULD NOT use the rear diff as a jack point... Where, then is the best place to jack the rear from if I want to get both rear wheels off the ground?

You have probably seen this very old thread:
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...points-x5.html

There are a few pics at bottom of that linked post...

Fwiw, I've used the rear diff on occasion, (some of the tech types may have
a different opin on that), but I usually just put a small piece of old, pliable plywood
on the jack pad and noogie it up under the rear suspension arm where it meets
the frame toward rear diff.

My jack gets it high enough to get both rear wheels off the ground; then I use quality
jack stands under the rear outside jack stand points, if I want to keep it up for awhile or,
do anything under the car. Do not trust your floor jack.

There used to be several threads and DIYs here, with pics, but they got "lost" in the transition
from X5World to XOutpost...
GL, mD

I'm with MD, I used the suspension arms. However, I have used the rear diff, and it was fine. You just can't contact the differential cover according to BMW, you have to be positioned forward of that. See the TIS documentation, below (which is obviously not an E53), but make sure you don't damage the diff cover:

Thanks for the replies!

Well, to my surprise I was able to lift the X5 high enough to raise the rear wheel when I lifted from the front rocker panel jack pad... As I only needed to get the driver's side rear wheel off to fix a puncture, I was able to put a jack stand under the rear jack pad and rest the vehicle on it while working on the tire. I suppose if i need to get the entire rear suspended in the air I suppose there is not another method other than lifting from the diff, although honestly I wish there was an alternative point to lift from.

Thanks again-

If you have to get it up in one lift, true. I just found it easier to do one side at a time, as my home trolley jack doesn't have as long a reach, or as high a capacity, as the shop jacks I used to have access to.

I will be raising x this weekend at points 2 one by one, will jacking up with a jack that does not have a contact point to fit in the square grooves cause a problem>?

If your jack has a saddle that the jacking point can rest in, it will be fine. There are special adaptors that you can get to positively locate the jack on the jacking point, but I have never used one. My floor jack has a saddle that is approximately 6" in diameter, and I just make sure that the four bumps on the perimeter of the saddle don't contact anything directly.

thanks jcl so the whole saddle of your jack covers the jacking point square/rectangle and you jack up fine from there?

Yes, and I just make sure that the ears on the saddle don't contact anything directly. Use a wood shim if necessary.

thnx will do