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[rcw119]

So...I purchased my 2008 335i with Sprt Package on Tuesday.

Tonight I decided to put on my winter setup as snow and cold is returning to Chicago. I purchased a new jack because I didn't think the jack I had would fit under the car.

I change the first tire and all goes well. I begin on the rear tire and have it removed. I go to put on the winter wheel and realize that the car isn't high enough. I go to lift the car more with the jack and relize the jack is cumbling!

Holy shit. WTF do I do? My $50,000+ car is going to crash into the ground when the jack finally gives. I quickly get my other jack and lift the car where the suspension meets the frame. The car is now supported and I finish putting on the new wheel. Disaster Averted!

My other jack ends up fitting fine under the car and I complete the transfer to the winter setup.

I think I'm done changing the tires myself and I'm just going to pay for someone else to do it. And I am returning the jack and I'm going to be in a pissy mood when I do.

I'm exhausted and have a headache. I have never gone through that kind of fear before.

[scooby9]

Yikes! Good thing you had the original jack! I always use jack stands just in case...

[KanosWRX]

I can imagine that being scary but seriously thats why you have jack stands. Your never supposed to keep the car up for long on just the jack itself, just imagine if you were under the car at that point.

[turbotko]

I once saw a jack explode (literally) that was holding up a big diesel F350 truck. The guy that was under the front diff got very very lucky as the tires were big enough that the diff didn't hit him when it fell. He did however have to go change his shorts. Very scary stuff though.

I've also seen some nasty pics of cars that have fallen off of a rack. I've never experienced it first hand (thank god) but one that sticks in my head is a picture of an X5.

[SLCGoonski]

what are you guys using for jack stands?? A ton of them have the u shaped supports on top. Don't work well for the flat rubber pads under our BMWs

Goonski

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by scooby9

Yikes! Good thing you had the original jack! I always use jack stands just in case...

+1

When I was firefighting I remember at least half a dozen calls with hydraulic jacks fading and people getting stuck under the car because they didn't have a backup in place. One guy it was too late when we got there. Jackstands, stacked 4 x 4's, have something as a backup..

Be careful out there everyone..

[rcw119]

Probably becuase the car was new to me, I'm still not sure all of the true jack points are. While looking last night, a lot of frame appears to be covered. This is especially true in the front. Jack stands seem useless with this car. I searched last night and didn't really find any good posts that cover where you should put jacks/jack stands/wood blocks, etc. Maybe someone can help us with that with some pictures. Or point us to a post that has already done that. I just couldn't find one.

[rcw119]

Also...The Blizzaks on Rial rims ride nice and look good!

[linus]

+1

I'd like to see a response to this too! My jack works fine but I'm always just a little skittish. Where do you properly place the jack stands on the E90/E92?

Originally Posted by rcw119

Probably becuase the car was new to me, I'm still not sure all of the true jack points are. While looking last night, a lot of frame appears to be covered. This is especially true in the front. Jack stands seem useless with this car. I searched last night and didn't really find any good posts that cover where you should put jacks/jack stands/wood blocks, etc. Maybe someone can help us with that with some pictures. Or point us to a post that has already done that. I just couldn't find one.

[BMW_TT]

Where did you get this failed jack from so none of us will get it.

[Seth_Horwitz]

This isn't the final answer, but I always put the wheel that I'm about to put on, or just took off, underneather a frame rail. It's not a jackstand, and far from ideal, but it buys you about 8" of safety that you wouldn't have otherwise. A scratched rim costs less than a new leg.

[Raz335]

Damn, that's scary..always use jackstands....always. Please give us details on the jack (make, model) and where you bought it so we know not to buy that one.

[amsfoto]

I had my IS300 fall on me, I should have been dead lol. Luckily I fit right under the car, there was half an inch between my chest and the rear dif. This was with stock suspension, if I was lowered like I am now I would have been done for!

Was my own idiot fault, I was under the car without jack stands.

[rcw119]

It was a 3 Ton model from Pep Boys. I believe the style or make was "Big Red".

[Eazyrock]

Damn. Good thing you were able to think fast. Glad to hear the disater was averted. This is why I always use jack stands as well.. better safe then sorry for the health of your car and yourself.

[who's ur daddy?]

Great thread.

This winter I jacked up one tire high enough that the rears cleared and I changed both tires on one side each time. In retrospect, totally risky. I wasn't under the car, but could've damaged the wheel assembly. Will be sure now to pop a couple of jackstands under there for safety.

[rcw119]

So, i'm still not clear where people are putting the jack stands...pictures?

[Slke46]

Very lucky... I was changine my tires too last year and jacked up the car with the BMW jack. I pulled out the tire half way when I heard a crackle from the jack... I looked then all of a sudden the car dropped, and the fender landed on my index finger as it was still holding the tire...

I pulled out the finger after the first bounce... I thought nothing of it so I continued to change my tires. Then the pain started to kick in... I went to the doctor and found out I had broken my finger! I never again changed tires... pay the local guys $20 to do it in half the time and with the right equipment...

[Chowbow]

There was a thread from a day or two ago showing where you put the jackstands, I just posted in it yesterday. There are places to put jackstands on this car, without question.

It's always a good idea to have a pretty big wheel with tire mounted laying around too. I have an old 315mm tire on a 11" rim that I keep around and put underneath the car (diff area, anywhere somewhat supportive) in case something fails and you're under it. The wheel and tire can support the weight of the car temporarily, and it saved my friend's life when one of those chintzy jacks that come with most cars failed. The car fell, the wheel and tire held up the car but he damn near had a heart attack and was in shock. He got some debris in his eye from the undercarriage but other than that, lived to tell the story.

Always use jackstands, always put a big wheel/tire under the car, and buy the best and most expensive and reliable jack you can find.

EDIT: Meant wheel and tire, not just tire...

[ElRedOne]

About 35 years ago, I was changing a tire on my Corvair (I was attending General Motors Institute) when the jack gave way with my hand between the fender and the top of the tire. A friend was arriving just at this time, and I yelled for her to help. She tells me that I very calmly informed her that we were going to lift the car off of my hand. I grabbed a door handle and she the bumper, and lifted the car enough for me to remove my hand. Nothing broken, but I did have the imprint of the tire tread in my hand for a few days.

Lesson learned. I, too have a shop swap out my tires. Most times at no charge, and they store the out-of-season ones for me as well.

[SLCGoonski]

Talking with the local tire shop while installing my snow tires...the jack points are 4"x5" black rubber pads along the edge of the car. Just under a foot behind the front tire...a foot ahead of the rear tire on each side. Have some grip to them, but not sure how well they'd do with the U shape of most jack stands. Work really well with my new jack though...

Goonski

[BMdblU]

Originally Posted by KanosWRX

I can imagine that being scary but seriously thats why you have jack stands. Your never supposed to keep the car up for long on just the jack itself, just imagine if you were under the car at that point.

+1 !!!