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      09-22-2018, 03:15 PM   #1
Oilverland
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Jacking and jack stand points

Hi - I've found some threads on wisdom of using jack stands (with which I concur; being a cancer survivor makes one want to stay above ground), and how to use jack pad adapters.

What doesn't get addressed is, once having jacked up the car from a jack point, where does the jack stand go? Prior vehicles I have owned had obvious areas of the 'frame' or chassis that were strong enough to support the vehicle, or at least one corner of it. Under the X3 it's an expanse of plastic belly pans.

I see some pictures of a jack stand supporting a jack point, but, how does that happen, given that as far as I know one uses the jack point to get it elevated in the first place?

Also saw some reference to a "central jacking point". Where or what is that? Some of the comments seemed to be for models other than X3.

I would appreciate X3 F25 specific answers.

Thanks in advance, Tommy
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      09-24-2018, 04:53 PM   #2
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Just get the rennstands by safejacks
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      09-26-2018, 12:15 AM   #3
Oilverland
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ejw2011 View Post
Just get the rennstands by safejacks
Looks like the only solution. Just gotta raid my retirement account to pay for one.

Thanks for the lead.
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      06-17-2019, 09:05 AM   #4
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Rhino Ramps are best if you don't need to remove the tires.
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      06-17-2019, 11:26 AM   #5
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The central jacking point is visible from the under-pan of the car. The under-pan does not need to be removed to jack up the car. There is a Rectangular steel piece in the under-pan towards the front of the car, that is your central jacking point.

The jack stands go on the jack stand points on the side of the car. They are little plastic indents just in front of the passenger and drivers door openings on the bottom of the car.

Once the car is jacked up, put the jack stands on these jackstand points and then lower the car using the jack, onto the jackstands.

I do this every time I work on my car, its safe and sturdy. Whenever I take the wheels off, I almost always take the front wheels off, I always slide them under the car just for a little extra safety. Id rather a dented wheel rather than a very dented me.
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      06-17-2019, 11:40 AM   #6
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According to the F25 service manual, a vehicle can be lifted using a trolley (floor) jack at these locations.

1. Front axle jacking point. Front center just in front of the axle. There should be a pad poking through the covers. It also says to have the stiffening plate in place. I'll try and figure out what that means.
2. The known 4 side jack points
3. The rear final drive. Take care not to lift from the cover.

To get the vehicle off the ground, jack by the front or rear axle locations and install stands at the side jack points.
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      06-17-2019, 11:50 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by richardodn View Post
It also says to have the stiffening plate in place. I'll try and figure out what that means.
The stiffening plate is an integral part of the frame that connects the car together. Believe or not, it just stiffens everything. it If you've never taken it off, it is still there. Nothing to worry about unless you take it off.
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      06-17-2019, 01:21 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheCoolX3 View Post
The stiffening plate is an integral part of the frame that connects the car together. Believe or not, it just stiffens everything. it If you've never taken it off, it is still there. Nothing to worry about unless you take it off.
I assumed it would be, but wanted to be sure. Just checked the parts diagrams and saw it there.
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      06-17-2019, 09:57 PM   #9
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I picked up a QuickJack BL-5000SLX portable lifting system from costco for $1000. A few minutes placing it under the 4 jack points and the vehicle is off the ground with the push of a button. Even though it seems really safe with a locking bar to keep it from going down, I still put some jackstands under it for peace of mind. For me, it was well worth the cost since I have several vehicles to maintain and it saves me a huge amount of time.
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      07-26-2019, 06:37 PM   #10
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Can anyone recommend jack stands that interface correctly with the BMW jack points? The circular jack points I see online do not sit properly on the u-shaped tops of most jack stands. Thanks.
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      07-26-2019, 09:54 PM   #11
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Some people use a jackpad tool to interface betwen the jackstand and the pad. Here's a link to one. http://www.reverselogic.us/jack-pads...=0&sort=normal
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      07-27-2019, 09:03 AM   #12
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I don't know that anything actually "fits" the curve of a jack stand. If you click on the link in the post above this and scroll down you will see on the left there are just rectangular blocks. That's what I use with jack stands, except I make them myself out of hardwood since I have scraps laying around. I probably have the world's only solid heartwood cherry jack stand pads.
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      07-27-2019, 09:35 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Opie55 View Post
I don't know that anything actually "fits" the curve of a jack stand. If you click on the link in the post above this and scroll down you will see on the left there are just rectangular blocks. That's what I use with jack stands, except I make them myself out of hardwood since I have scraps laying around. I probably have the world's only solid heartwood cherry jack stand pads.
I have made wood blocks to use also; works well👍
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      07-31-2019, 09:54 AM   #14
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      08-03-2019, 07:21 AM   #15
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For jack stands, I simply use a square of old carpeting as a pad. Old floor mats work well for this.

For floor jacks, I use a square of 3/4" plywood on top the pad. This will deform before the steel or aluminum and it can't fracture like smaller blocks of wood might. That block of 4x4 in a previous picture would be fine to get some extra height.
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      07-04-2021, 02:12 PM   #16
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2020 X3 Xdrive30i Central Jack Point

Are the central jack points the same for this model as in previous models? Looking under the vehicle, I see no metal pad like in my 2019 X3. There is a circular indentation in the plastic that seems to have something structural underneath it, however it is further forward than what I would expect based on the 2019 model.
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      07-04-2021, 02:51 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roottheworld View Post
Are the central jack points the same for this model as in previous models? Looking under the vehicle, I see no metal pad like in my 2019 X3. There is a circular indentation in the plastic that seems to have something structural underneath it, however it is further forward than what I would expect based on the 2019 model.
...for model yr 2020 car you need to ask this question in the G01 forum; here is one related thread, though it appears the OP never did get his question answered.
https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...hlight=jacking

Last edited by Wgosma; 07-04-2021 at 03:00 PM..
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