BMW X3 Forum
BMW X3 Forum
Welcome to the ultimate BMW X3 community.
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-22-2011, 02:17 AM   #1
paul386
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep
274
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 35i Jet Black
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Minimum Jack Height for X3

Does anyone know what jack height I will need for a portable scissor lift jack I keep in my trunk? I have searched around (including on this forum) and haven't found much. I seem to remember Lotus mentioning something about it.
Appreciate 0
      12-22-2011, 03:12 AM   #2
paul386
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep
274
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 35i Jet Black
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Best thing I could find after some research... Still not a definitive answer.

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showpo...1&postcount=11
Appreciate 0
      12-22-2011, 08:17 AM   #3
Lotus7
Major
United_States
68
Rep
1,041
Posts

Drives: xxxx
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: xxxx

iTrader: (0)

Jack Lifting Height

POST DELETED

Last edited by Lotus7; 02-05-2012 at 07:38 PM..
Appreciate 0
      12-22-2011, 10:31 AM   #4
Bogiegolf
Enlisted Member
3
Rep
44
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 3.5/2013 135is #562
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Chicago, IL/Cincinnati, OH

iTrader: (0)

Will the 8.25" be enough to raise both wheels off the ground? Also, would lifting at the front or back points make a difference?
Appreciate 0
      12-22-2011, 11:19 AM   #5
Bogiegolf
Enlisted Member
3
Rep
44
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 3.5/2013 135is #562
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Chicago, IL/Cincinnati, OH

iTrader: (0)

Yes, I meant the 14.25". Thanks for clarifying.

Thanks for your always descriptive and informative answers.

Tom

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
8.25 inches is the starting point: the distance the jack point inner surface sits above the ground. That surface must be lifted TO at least 14.25 inches to get a tire off the ground. That means the jack must be able to lift an additional 6.25 inches AFTER it contacts the jack point.

A scissors jack that goes from 4 inches to 12 inches would work fine if you placed it on a a stack of boards 4 inches high to start with.

I didn't measure the amount of lift required to get BOTH wheels off the ground, but it will be a lot more - possibly 4 inches or so. I.E.: You would have to lift the front jack point to something like 18 inches to get the rear tire off the ground.

I've lifted both tires, but have done so using (2) jacks at the same time. That way, each jack point only needs to be raised to 14.25 inches.
Appreciate 0
      12-22-2011, 04:31 PM   #6
paul386
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep
274
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 35i Jet Black
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
Ask and ye shall receive!

I've measured the jack range required on my 35i (may be slightly different for other models). These are the actual distances are from the inside surface of the jack point socket to the ground:

Front starting height: 8.75 inches
Front, height required to remove tire/wheel (1/2 inch clearance on new tires): 14.25 inches

Rear starting height (car unloaded): 9.5 inches
Rear, height required to remove tire/wheel (1/2 inch clearance on new tires): 14.25 inches.

If you use a "hat-type" jack point tool you can reduce these numbers by about 1.25 inches, or if you place a hockey puck rubber block under the jack point socket you can reduce the numbers by about 1.75 inches.

It takes considerably more lifting force to lift the car on the front jack points. I'd use a jack rated for at least 1.5 tons to be safe. Also, remember that the E-brake and transmission parking lock only work on the rear wheels. If lifting the rear end of the car, the front-end can roll if it's not blocked. That's especially important if using a bottle jack or a scissor jack.
Awesome thanks.

I bought a 2 ton bottle jack from Sears. It is quite compact which is nice for store in that compartment under the trunk floor (barely fits height wise).

It has a range of 7.25" to 13 11/16". I bought the jack point tool with the big puck on the end so hopefully it is enough. I will have to test it when I get back from my holiday travels.

I did not realize that the parking feature only affects the rear wheels (the parking brake makes sense). It seems like it would be more redundant to have the parking brake lock the rear wheels and the transmission park lock the front. I guess I need to pick up some chocks too. I guess that is good thing to know in case I need to ever tow the car....

Thanks!
Appreciate 0
      12-29-2011, 10:13 PM   #7
paul386
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep
274
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 35i Jet Black
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

I would like to note the Craftsman 2 ton bottle jack with a max height of 13 11/16" wasn't enough even with the jack point tool... I'm going to need to make some sort of a riser plate for the jack.
Appreciate 0
      12-29-2011, 10:20 PM   #8
paul386
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep
274
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 35i Jet Black
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
You might try a hockey puck under the jack point tool. It will add 1 inch to the lift.
That would be a good idea and would keep the rough surface of the jack from marring up the soft aluminum jack point tool.
Appreciate 0
      12-29-2011, 10:34 PM   #9
paul386
Second Lieutenant
18
Rep
274
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 35i Jet Black
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
Or maybe just a piece of a wood "2 X 6" under the base of the jack.
That was my original plan...
Appreciate 0
      11-28-2018, 12:20 PM   #10
spangle1980
Deadly
1294
Rep
2,050
Posts

Drives: X3 M40d BG LCI
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Strange how years on someone's past thread is of SO MUCH value :-)

I was about to look into 12" jack, reading the above I think more length required (said the actress to the bishop ;-)
Appreciate 0
      11-28-2018, 12:31 PM   #11
Wgosma
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
800
Rep
1,895
Posts

Drives: 2012 F25 X3 28i (N52)
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Northern Nevada

iTrader: (0)

I've got a BMW sissor jack that was in my E39 stored in the X3 - prefect fit into the car's jack point 'pads' - gets the wheel/tire off the ground, look here https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-97-03-B...frcectupt=true
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:04 AM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST