Topic: Jacking pads on BMW 328

[slybry]

Since buying my 2011 328 I found out that BMW has unique pads at it jacking locations. Another poster provided these sites to purchase special jacking pad for my jack so as not to damage the pads on the car.

http://burgertuning.com/BMW_jack_pad_adapter.html
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E90-335d-M57_3.0L/ES251251/

Anyone know of a CDN source for one of these pads. The shipping cost more than the pad when coming from USA. Could I buy an adapter at a local auto parts store?

Also it seems to me that should I ever get my car serviced anywhere other than a BMW dealer, that the pads are going to get damaged on the lift because the service shop would not have these adapters.

I know I have 4 years of free service but I was thinking in terms of tire changeovers or emergency servicing on road trips etc etc.

[tpl]

I don't buy much stuff from the USA  but in this case it might be worth calling them ( both companies) and asking them to ship via USPS. That is to just chuck the parts in a padded envelope and post them. That is usually not much slower and quite a bit cheaper than via a courier service.  Depends on the weight of the parts of course.

[normancw]

Also it seems to me that should I ever get my car serviced anywhere other than a BMW dealer, that the pads are going to get damaged on the lift because the service shop would not have these adapters.

There's a version on eBay that is more expensive, but shipping is free.  They use USPS, so you might get charged a $5 brokerage fee and duty from Canada Post.  I usually don't get charged for cheaper items.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jack-Pad-BMW-E39-E46-E53-E60-E65-E82-E83-E90-E91-E92-Z4-/230634541336?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item35b2e3d118#ht_600wt_899

I've read that this one is better, since it has silicone plugs to provide a friction fit, which will suspend it in the jack pad while you line up and raise the jack to contact the adapter.  The adapter I have does not have these and I have to hold it in place by hand while I line up the jack and pump it up.

Also it seems to me that should I ever get my car serviced anywhere other than a BMW dealer, that the pads are going to get damaged on the lift because the service shop would not have these adapters.

This is definitely a concern - they are made out of hard plastic.  I bought my 330i used and one of the pads was damaged, while another was completely missing.  However, I suspect this might have been as a result of using a jack without a rubber pad and not from a lift.

[aquadorhj]

hate to go ghetto on you guys, but wouldn't a piece of 2x4 work?   i mean if it's to just avoid damage to the hard rubber contact patch on the car, (and it's not even the jack stand points) ?

[Careener]

Hockey puck?

[No H2O]

Hockey puck?

Hockey pucks work great; I finally found a use for those.  I actually use them.

But for the jacking points on my Porsche, I bought a set of jack pads that you insert and twist 90 degrees which keeps them in place. I also place a piece of 6 mil plastic sheet between the jack pad and the jack point on the car. This prevents the jack pad from sticking to the factory applied undercoat.

Slybry: They are worth getting.

[airbalancer]

never had a problem using the my pump jack on the car

[slybry]

Just to help me understand.

The jacking points on my car have a hard plastic rectangular collar and then a hollow recessed area. I would suspect that with the proper adaptor all the weight in placed on the piece that goes into the center area and little to no pressure is placed on the plastic collar. I would suspect the collar is there to ensure the jack in positioned properly.

That means that if I was to used a piece of wood on my jack that would transfer weight evenly on the plastic collar it would most likely deform as it is not meant to carry the weight.

Correct??

So I have to use adapter to get weight transfer to center within the collar.

PS: Not sure what a hocky puck would do.

[airbalancer]

I think the hollow recessed area are so the jack in the car will fit better and not slide around

I do not use anything for the past 6 years and no problem

[safristi]

.."jacking pads and pumps!!!???".....you guys are going @it too fasht..... ...sure ya don't have a BMJ................. .....

   a bimmer owners prayer..............


   Dear Lord How low is MY OIL
   I lay it down in green pastures
   But my tyres overheateth
   And my spare hath departed
   LOW and behold i needed a Lexus....................