anyone use center jacking points?

Kracken · 09-25-2013, 09:57 PM

Is it a jack point? Looked like one...Not shown in owners manual but i noticed a black plastic jacking point in the center of the front cross member when recently doing an oil change.

Instead of using rear regular jack points to raise car high enough to place jack stands under the front jack points x 2 like I did for the oil chg, it seems using this front center point would be much easier in order to get the stands in place. Anyone verify this?

Same goes for the rear crossmember. It seems like a good place to jack from the center

Marc08EX · 09-25-2013, 10:42 PM

Photos would be awesome guys.

Ginger_Extract · 09-25-2013, 10:53 PM

crossmembers are fine for jacking the car up. I wish my jack was long, and low enough to reach the front point. I've jacked the car up by the rear crossmember with no issues to report on multiple cars. Load it up in the center, right behind the diff.

Bimmer-Bob · 09-25-2013, 11:15 PM

There is a indeed a jacking point on the front subframe. It has a black rubbery coating, and there is a hole cut out in the plastic undershield for it.

In the rear you can use the diff. I've used both points many times.

bmw1racer · 09-25-2013, 11:20 PM

I think there was a diagram on another thread pointing out those two center jack points...

That said, wouldn't jacking the car up using either of those points be rather unsteady?

EDIT: Here's the diagram:

Nugget · 09-25-2013, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginger_Extract

crossmembers are fine for jacking the car up. I wish my jack was long, and low enough to reach the front point. I've jacked the car up by the rear crossmember with no issues to report on multiple cars. Load it up in the center, right behind the diff.

I thought you were supposed to use the actual diff?
That's what I do.
Wish I could reach the one in the front.

JimD · 09-26-2013, 07:17 AM

depending on your jack, you may be able to get to the front center jacking point by lifting the car up on a 2x piece of lumber. I made little ramps out of a scrap 2x4 for this purpose (2x4 isn't as wide as the tires but it works). I like to jack on the center and then put stands on the outside jacking points.

Kracken · 09-26-2013, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

I think there was a diagram on another thread pointing out those two center jack points...

That said, wouldn't jacking the car up using either of those points be rather unsteady?

EDIT: Here's the diagram:

Thanks for the diagram and thanks for all the feedback everybody!!
Now i just hope my floor jack is long enough to reach!!

Bimmer-Bob · 09-26-2013, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracken

Thanks for the diagram and thanks for all the feedback everybody!!
Now i just hope my floor jack is long enough to reach!!

It typically isn't a matter of the jack being long enough, but low enough. I have to partially jack up the car from the side jacking point with one jack, then lift it the rest of the way with the other jack (the problem is that my low-profile jack doesn't lift the car high enough, and my standard jack doesn't clear the underbody).

If you're car is at stock ride height, you shouldn't have a problem.

Ginger_Extract · 09-26-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nugget

I thought you were supposed to use the actual diff?
That's what I do.
Wish I could reach the one in the front.

That's actually my preferred solution, but OP was asking about crossmembers, and I was simply confirming that it's a safe place to jack the car up.

bwagner · 09-27-2013, 07:36 AM

This ATD jack will reach the front jack location without any blocks or such. Bought it for a similar jack point on my last Infiniti and it works great on the 1er.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Brent

uwood · 09-29-2013, 02:10 PM

What I always use. Then put stands under the jack points.

bmw1racer · 09-29-2013, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwagner

This ATD jack will reach the front jack location without any blocks or such. Bought it for a similar jack point on my last Infiniti and it works great on the 1er.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Brent

Nice... But $300 is hard to swallow.

Little1er · 10-02-2013, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Nice... But $300 is hard to swallow.

Agreed. I spent $600 and bought a used lift off CL and installed it in my garage. Much better solution to jacking up the car.

BrokenVert · 10-02-2013, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracken

Thanks for the diagram and thanks for all the feedback everybody!!
Now i just hope my floor jack is long enough to reach!!

That diagram is also in the owners manual.

bmw1racer · 10-02-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little1er

I spent $600 and bought a used lift off CL and installed it in my garage.

Awesome...!

Can I drive my car over to your place when I need to work on it?

Little1er · 10-06-2013, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Awesome...!

Can I drive my car over to your place when I need to work on it?

I'm always up for making new friends in the community

Freon · 10-06-2013, 04:02 PM

I almost always use the engine point and rear diff to jack my car up. I also usually use ramps for the front since it is so low.

09-25-2013, 09:57 PM	#1
Kracken Second Lieutenant 58 Rep 200 Posts Drives: 2011 AW 135i DCT M Sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	anyone use center jacking points? Is it a jack point? Looked like one...Not shown in owners manual but i noticed a black plastic jacking point in the center of the front cross member when recently doing an oil change. Instead of using rear regular jack points to raise car high enough to place jack stands under the front jack points x 2 like I did for the oil chg, it seems using this front center point would be much easier in order to get the stands in place. Anyone verify this? Same goes for the rear crossmember. It seems like a good place to jack from the center __________________ 2011 AW 135i
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09-25-2013, 10:42 PM	#2
Marc08EX Lieutenant 139 Rep 575 Posts Drives: 2011 E82 135i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: AZ iTrader: (5)	Photos would be awesome guys. __________________ 2011 135i 6MT \| Alpine White \| Terracotta Boston Leather \| M-Sport \| BMW Performance Exhaust Resonator Delete \| Active Autowerke Signature Exhaust \| BMW Performance Suspension \| Blackline LCI Taillights \| BMW Performance CF Spoiler \| CF Rear Diffuser \| PPK \| E92 M3 FSB \| Matte Black Kidney Grilles \| VMR V710 Jet Anthracite \| Michelin PSS \| BMW SS Pedals
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09-25-2013, 10:53 PM	#3
Ginger_Extract California-bound 383 Rep 1,480 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (3)	crossmembers are fine for jacking the car up. I wish my jack was long, and low enough to reach the front point. I've jacked the car up by the rear crossmember with no issues to report on multiple cars. Load it up in the center, right behind the diff. __________________ Streets of Willow: 1:27.7 CW 11/15/15; 1:29.5 CCW 8/15/15 \|\|\|\| Autoclub Speedway ROVAL (CCW): 1.52.6 - 12/2/17 Willow Springs - Big Willow (CW): 1:35.8 - 3/31/18 \|\|\|\| Buttonwillow #13 (CW): 1:59.3 1/27/18 https://www.facebook.com/JakeStumphRacing \|\|\|\| http://www.youtube.com/user/RaceMeMZ3
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09-25-2013, 11:15 PM	#4
Bimmer-Bob ! 693 Rep 3,266 Posts Drives: 2010 128i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Anacortes, WA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2003 Toyota MR2 Spy ... [0.00] 2010 BMW 128i (E82) [9.25] 2014 Toyota 4Runner ... [10.00]	There is a indeed a jacking point on the front subframe. It has a black rubbery coating, and there is a hole cut out in the plastic undershield for it. In the rear you can use the diff. I've used both points many times. __________________ ____________________________ My Build Thread
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09-25-2013, 11:20 PM	#5
bmw1racer bimmerphile, technogeek 998 Rep 3,784 Posts Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 128i Coupe [0.00]	I think there was a diagram on another thread pointing out those two center jack points... That said, wouldn't jacking the car up using either of those points be rather unsteady? EDIT: Here's the diagram: __________________
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09-26-2013, 07:17 AM	#7
JimD Brigadier General 368 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	depending on your jack, you may be able to get to the front center jacking point by lifting the car up on a 2x piece of lumber. I made little ramps out of a scrap 2x4 for this purpose (2x4 isn't as wide as the tires but it works). I like to jack on the center and then put stands on the outside jacking points. __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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09-27-2013, 07:36 AM	#11
bwagner Private First Class 10 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 MW ZCP Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Streamwood, IL iTrader: (1)	This ATD jack will reach the front jack location without any blocks or such. Bought it for a similar jack point on my last Infiniti and it works great on the 1er. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Brent
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09-29-2013, 02:10 PM	#12
uwood Private First Class 11 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Morton Il iTrader: (0)	What I always use. Then put stands under the jack points.
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10-06-2013, 04:02 PM	#18
Freon Major 81 Rep 1,051 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis iTrader: (3)	I almost always use the engine point and rear diff to jack my car up. I also usually use ramps for the front since it is so low. __________________ 2009 BMW 135i 6MT Sport, AFE intake, Cobb AP, Apex 18x8.5+9.5, 255/275 PSS
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