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5-Series (E12,E28, E34, E39, E60)Chat relating to the BMW 5-Series of all generations. Specific models include: BMW 518, BMW 520, BMW 520i, BMW 530i, BMW 528i, BMW 530i, BMW 518i, BMW 524d, BMW 525i, BMW 525e, BMW 528e, BMW 540i, BMW 535i, BMW 520d, BMW 525td, BMW 525d, BMW 530d, BMW 525i/xi, BMW 530i/xi. (BMW 5-Series Forum)
Hey all, first post. Looking forward to participating in these forums, and I need some quick help.
We bought a 2002 540i a couple mos ago with 50K on it. Doing my first real work on it (brakes), and need to know if this location is OK for jackstands. It's the ONLY place that I find up front besides the jack points that is symmetrical with the other side and looks almost beefy enough:
Last edited by tracetrimble : 04-30-2006 at 10:50 AM.
I don't recommend you try to jack-stand that point. Please check out: http://www.bmwtips.com/
Under Tips & Tricks, check out tip #26 under the General category, entitled, "Jacking Points".
I've used this methodology many times on my '99 540 with no ill effects so far. In fact, I just finished 2 weeks on jack stands changing out my struts, springs, and sundry suspension control arms. As far as the wooden ramps referenced in the article are comcerned, I made mine out of a single 8' long 5/4" pressure treated deck board. Three layers each. It works great and gives me 'just' enough room to get my floor jack underneath.
I hope this helps!
__________________ <span style='colorurple'>Eric S.</span>
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL-RES
2006 Honda Accord V6 EX-L Sedan
1999 BMW 540i 6-Speed (Sold to M3UOND on 9/21/06)
1991 Honda Civic Si - Occasional Beater
Well, I got impatient on Sunday and went ahead and dropped it on those points. I did let it down very slowly and watched for any flexing. No ill effects, but I'll use the other method in the future. I agree on the jacking points in general - they make these cars so easy to do work on, if you can just figure out how to jack it up! Thanks guys.
I hope you guys noticed that the car shown rolled over in Torque's post is NOT an E39, and I think the original question came from an E39 driver. A close look reveals some obvious differences in the underbelly structure (note the lack of suspension subframe for instance), so I would advise caution. Once again, I recommend consulting the link I provided above, which IS specific to the E39.
__________________ <span style='colorurple'>Eric S.</span>
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL-RES
2006 Honda Accord V6 EX-L Sedan
1999 BMW 540i 6-Speed (Sold to M3UOND on 9/21/06)
1991 Honda Civic Si - Occasional Beater
I don't remember seeing that center jack pad in the bmwtips link. Where is it? On the K member? I'm the OP with an E39.... guess it's time to enter a sig. Thanks again.
I don't remember seeing that center jack pad in the bmwtips link. Where is it? On the K member? I'm the OP with an E39.... guess it's time to enter a sig. Thanks again.
Yes, the reinforced part at the center of the subframe is what I always use. It's just aft of the plastic belly pan/cover - in fact, be careful not to crush the little metal bracket at the rear of the pan. The pad shown in bmwtips was apparently just a 6-cylinder thing.
__________________ <span style='colorurple'>Eric S.</span>
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL-RES
2006 Honda Accord V6 EX-L Sedan
1999 BMW 540i 6-Speed (Sold to M3UOND on 9/21/06)
1991 Honda Civic Si - Occasional Beater
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Don't do it!! 
urple'>Eric S.</span>
See how nice I am. :lol:
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