[Jessbecause]

I never considered my car would be too low for the handful of car jacks I've tried to use on it. Short on time and money I grabbed some ramps to do any maintenance awhile back. Getting a little too much negative attention from my apartment neighbors, I think nows the time to look for jack.

What clearance and/or length am I looking for? I already have stationary stands for support and my car is at stock height. Thanks.

[Smgs1992]

I went to harbor freight and got the Pittsburgh 2.5 ton low pro aluminum Jack and it fits under mine with plenty of clearance(jacking points on side, will not go underneath car to Jack up from center)
And don't worry about the harbor freight jack quality. They're very well made far better than the husky I have for my truck. Their Daytona line is made in the same factory as snap on jacks(google it)

[Bufalo]

] I have the 3-ton extra long daytona from HF - this one. I also made a pair of 3" high ramps/risers out of a length of 2x12; drive the car on the risers and then easily center-jack from the front.

I've also used normal rhino ramps and then center-jacked from there.

[MadJoe]

Any low profile floor jack is going to fit fine under these cars unless you've slammed it. Make sure to splurge ($9 on Amazon, so not even a big splurge) on a set of BMW jack pads to keep from mangling the jacking points on your car.

[Efthreeoh]

I recommend these. No stupid lift block adapters necessary. Spend a little bit of money for decent equipment and safety of life. $570.

[Smgs1992]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I recommend these. No stupid lift block adapters necessary. Spend a little bit of money for decent equipment and safety of life. $570.

HF Jack's are actually great quality(I know most of their stuff is junk but not the jacks)
More commenting to address that last bit of your post about safety of life. Only an idiot crawls underneath a car using only a jack. You use jack stands for a reason, so the safety of life comment is negated. $570 for a jack is a ton of money to spend nearly half the cost of an actual 2 post lift.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Jessbecause

I never considered my car would be too low for the handful of car jacks I've tried to use on it. Short on time and money I grabbed some ramps to do any maintenance awhile back. Getting a little too much negative attention from my apartment neighbors, I think nows the time to look for jack.

What clearance and/or length am I looking for? I already have stationary stands for support and my car is at stock height. Thanks.

You can spend $140 on jack stands & $329 on a slim floor jack = $469 plus tax.

Or you can wait until Memorial Day weekend and get a Quick Jack for about $1000.00.

It's a $530.00 question.

I have both. I upgraded to a quick jack last fall & wish I would have done it sooner.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

HF Jack's are actually great quality(I know most of their stuff is junk but not the jacks)
More commenting to address that last bit of your post about safety of life. Only an idiot crawls underneath a car using only a jack. You use jack stands for a reason, so the safety of life comment is negated. $570 for a jack is a ton of money to spend nearly half the cost of an actual 2 post lift.

The jack is $330, and will save so much faffing with low ramps etc etc. It'll reach the centre jack points of all but the very lowest cars without any hassle..

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Smgs1992

HF Jack's are actually great quality(I know most of their stuff is junk but not the jacks)
More commenting to address that last bit of your post about safety of life. Only an idiot crawls underneath a car using only a jack. You use jack stands for a reason, so the safety of life comment is negated. $570 for a jack is a ton of money to spend nearly half the cost of an actual 2 post lift.

It's one (1) floor jack and four (4) jack stands for $570. Most people do not have the proper facilities to install a lift.

[nsjames]

very impressed with the HF daytona jack.

would recommend. have used it to lift things way heavier than an e91 without issue.

don't skimp on stands.

[sponfit]

Originally Posted by Bufalo

] I have the 3-ton extra long daytona from HF - this one.

Use the same jack and have had it for years with no issues

[Cabdriver]

I got the esco jackstands and they are great i do use adaptors as well. Worth the money knowing the car and lift boxes are being properly supported.

[Thorin]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

You can spend $140 on jack stands & $329 on a slim floor jack = $469 plus tax.

Or you can wait until Memorial Day weekend and get a Quick Jack for about $1000.00.

It's a $530.00 question.

I have both. I upgraded to a quick jack last fall & wish I would have done it sooner.

This is what I did. I got tired of the jack + stands shuffle (jack up one side with one jack, jack up the center point with jack 2, place jack stands on jack points, repeat for rear). Then pray that I don't screw up and try to drop it on the center point alone.

[mweisdorfer]

There will be a deal on a quick jack 5000 at Home Depot & Sam's Club, during Memorial Day weekend.

They now have the cool looking quick jack, wall mounts for only $32.00. When I bought mine, they were not out yet.

Jack Stands = 16-17" off the ground safely

Quickly Jack = 21-22" off the ground safely

5" doesn't seem like much, but it will make the difference in getting the transmission out to do a rear main seal for example, or not! 😉

Plus, there's no question that a quick jack is safer. Is your life worth the extra $570.00?

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I recommend these. No stupid lift block adapters necessary. Spend a little bit of money for decent equipment and safety of life. $570.

+1

Spend the extra money on quality equipment.

These are the stands I have, I use them for more than the E90, but they should be overkill for the car.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

+1

Spend the extra money on quality equipment.

These are the stands I have, I use them for more than the E90, but they should be overkill for the car.

Hmm, dunno man...not sure they'll cope...

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

The jack is $330, and will save so much faffing with low ramps etc etc. It'll reach the centre jack points of all but the very lowest cars without any hassle..

You can get a similar jack to that from HF. I use something like that but in Canada on my dropped E92 and it fits just. I use low profile ramps though since there is like 1.5 inch clearance to ground. I fail to see how the low profile HF jacks wouldn't fit a normal E90 car without ramps.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

There will be a deal on a quick jack 5000 at Home Depot & Sam's Club, during Memorial Day weekend.

They now have the cool looking quick jack, wall mounts for only $32.00. When I bought mine, they were not out yet.

Jack Stands = 16-17" off the ground safely

Quickly Jack = 21-22" off the ground safely

5" doesn't seem like much, but it will make the difference in getting the transmission out to do a rear main seal for example, or not! 😉

Plus, there's no question that a quick jack is safer. Is your life worth the extra $570.00?

Yes my life is worth the extra 570$ because the jack and jack stands are ALREADY a safe and proper way to lift a vehicle. A quickjack will save me what, 0.000001% of risk from a jack and jackstand?

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

+1

Spend the extra money on quality equipment.

These are the stands I have, I use them for more than the E90, but they should be overkill for the car.

Holy 1.21 gigawatts, Batman!

So you're one of those guys who moves lighthouses and shit...

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Yes my life is worth the extra 570$ because the jack and jack stands are ALREADY a safe and proper way to lift a vehicle. A quickjack will save me what, 0.000001% of risk from a jack and jackstand?

My hydraulic "Jack Stands" cost me $3,500 installed.

But the building it went in was $30K

And I've still paid back the cost in DIY savings.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Holy 1.21 gigawatts, Batman!

So you're one of those guys who moves lighthouses and shit...

Haha nah. They are good for working on tractors though. Figured if I was buying stands get some that will support everything I own/work on. I do have a few smaller stands I'll grab for the less involved jobs.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

My hydraulic "Jack Stands" cost me $3,500 installed.

But the building it went in was $30K

And I've still paid back the cost in DIY savings.

A lift is next on my list.