Central Lift / Jacking Points

Central Lift / Jacking Points

Central Jack Points for Lifting Vehicle
Published by zzzbullseye
12-04-2010

Central Lift / Jacking Points

I swapped out my summer wheel/tire combo for my winter setup today, and since I've seen several questions from folks about where the correct jack points are for lifting your vehicle, I thought I'd snap a few photos and share. These photos are from my 2009 E90 335i, but all models of E90-E93 should be very similar in layout.

First off, BMW has supplied jack stand mounting points on the underneath side of the vehicle just behind the front tires and just in front of the rear tires. This is where you should place your jack stands once the vehicle is lifted. These points can also be used to lift the vehicle one corner at a time. Jack stand mounting point illustration:

Front Lift Point

Front lift point as observed from underneath the center of the front bumper:

The same location as observed from just in front of the left front tire:

A closer view:

A closeup of the lift point:

A look at the lift point with the protective plastic removed. (Thanks to e90post member ENINTY for this pic

Jack placement on front lift point. With my sport suspension, I had to drive all four tires onto 2x4s to gain enough clearance to be able to fit the jack under the vehicle...even with this, I still had to make tiny little incremental movements with the jack handle in the beginning. Once you achieve a little lift on the vehicle you'll get more clearance for the jack handle, and then you're all set.

Rear Lift Point

The rear lift point is located on the central cross support just behind the differential. Here's the rear lift point as observed from underneath the center of the rear bumper:

A closer view:

Jack placement on the rear lift point:

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By B-737 on 12-04-2010, 08:09 PM

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thank you for posting this.

By NiVeDh on 12-04-2010, 08:11 PM

This should clear up all the questions.

By zzzbullseye on 12-04-2010, 08:15 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by B-737

thank you for posting this.

My pleasure.

I've noticed ImageShack is acting a little flaky...as usual...so if some of the images seem to be missing let me know and I'll re-upload.

By zzzbullseye on 12-04-2010, 08:25 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

This should clear up all the questions.

It should help..but no way does it clear'em all up..

By Coolieman1220 on 12-04-2010, 11:04 PM

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what about rear diff? i find it hard to get the rear cross member because its high up and I have a short jack...

By NiVeDh on 12-04-2010, 11:14 PM

Rear diff is also a valid location - avoid the diff cover though.

By Coolieman1220 on 12-05-2010, 12:36 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

Rear diff is also a valid location - avoid the diff cover though.

yeah thats my preference, right ahead the cover, its a bit hard to line up to see it..

By ENINTY on 12-05-2010, 09:32 AM

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You'll notice my car is on my Rotary lift when I took those pics...

By zzzbullseye on 12-05-2010, 10:24 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ENINTY

You'll notice my car is on my Rotary lift when I took those pics...

Yep, saw that...must be nice.

#10

By coco savage on 01-10-2011, 03:07 PM

this is great, because there were many conflicting posts about e46 points when i first bought one...lol

#11

By CD2007 on 01-11-2011, 10:51 PM

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Thanks! This came in very handy when I switched over to my new winter setup.

#12

By tracerit on 01-31-2011, 07:01 AM

what's the purpose of the block of wood? is it because the circular contact point on the jack hollow in the middle like a dish or bowl?

#13

By zzzbullseye on 01-31-2011, 04:08 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tracerit

what's the purpose of the block of wood? is it because the circular contact point on the jack hollow in the middle like a dish or bowl?

The block of wood is just there as a buffer so you don't have metal on metal. You don't have to use it, but it does provide a little protection for the mating surfaces.

#14

By Stuart@BMRAutowerkes on 01-31-2011, 04:39 PM

thanks for posting! it's just so fricking hard to get to the front lift point when you're lowered. traditional ramps are too steep, might have to try the "2x4" approach as you mentioned

#15

By zzzbullseye on 01-31-2011, 05:04 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

thanks for posting! it's just so fricking hard to get to the front lift point when you're lowered. traditional ramps are too steep, might have to try the "2x4" approach as you mentioned

Yep, it can be a challenge to get the jack far enough under, the 2x4s did the trick for me though. I may eventually invest in a long reach low profile floor jack.

#16

By MatchesMalone on 02-02-2011, 11:48 AM

What about xi/x-drive cars? Does that change anything?

I'm wondering if there's an extra differential or something in the way of the front jack point. I'll have to look later.

In any case, thanks for the info, great pics!

#17

By zzzbullseye on 02-03-2011, 06:41 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by MatchesMalone

You're welcome. Not sure about the X-drive models, but my guess is that it does not change the location of the front lift point.

#18

By Quasimodem on 03-27-2011, 09:21 PM

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Who rides a mountain bike with a kickstand?

But seriously, the front jack point, does anybody have any idea what that box-kinda-thing is that the jack lifts up on? Maybe it is supposed to mate with some special lifting surface.

#19

By zzzbullseye on 03-27-2011, 09:32 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

Who rides a mountain bike with a kickstand?

But seriously, the front jack point, does anybody have any idea what that box-kinda-thing is that the jack lifts up on? Maybe it is supposed to mate with some special lifting surface.

If you're referring to the bike in the background, it's not a mountain bike, it's a kid's bmx bike...

#20

By gtenedio on 04-04-2011, 09:40 PM

you better off just lifting each side at a time and using jack stands...a lot easier esp if you are lowered

#21

By Cottage Dude on 04-11-2011, 09:08 AM

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I've got a question on the rear lift point.
My 335d has a 'strut' running between the two exhaust pipes directly below the rear lifting point (i forgot to snap a photo on the weekend). There is no way for me to get my jack to this lift point. Is there another rear lifting point so that I can jack the rear and change both tires at the same time??

If this is the only 'designed' rear lift point, then it is pretty poor engineering by BMW.

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