"stuckMTB" (stuckmtb)
07/12/2020 at 10:35 • Filed to: diy fails, DIYlopnik, Parking Lot Mechanic
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"stuckMTB" (stuckmtb)
07/12/2020 at 10:35 • Filed to: diy fails, DIYlopnik, Parking Lot Mechanic | 1
| 17 |
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
I went to change the oil in my 2004 330Ci today and started off by jacking the car up by what I thought was the center jack point so I could place jack stands under the side jack pads... it turns out that’s NOT a jacking point according to BMW, although the subframe cross member does live directly above this. Apparently, you’re supposed to have a lift. For an oil change.
OEM aluminum subframe reinforcement plate - note the un-crushed condition of the oval-like bump at top-center. I’m an idiot.
Lucky for me it seems like this is a pretty common mistake, and shouldn’t affect anything too negatively. Apparently a lot of people on youtube and the forums say almost every non-M E46 with this aluminum subframe reinforcement has been dented like this. Somehow, my car with 220k+ had escaped this fate until my ‘stewardship’!
Anyways, oil change done without too much trouble. Interestingly, the car took quite a bit more oil than I was expecting. Google says 6.5 qts for the M54B30, my Bentley manual says 6.8, I ended up using 6.5 and then adding another 0.5 qt after starting it up and seeing it was just below the minimum level on the dipstick. After seven quarts total, I’m mid-way up the stick.
7.0 quarts and I’m only here?
Everything’s buttoned up, time for a drive!
My E46 sticking out it’s tongue at me... actually, that’s my jacking pad (actually a small piece of scrap hardwood flooring) because for some reason that seemed like an OK place to put it.
PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
> stuckMTB
07/12/2020 at 11:03 |
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Ouch, sorry.
Luckily your bimmer has a dip stick. While I love the F30 335i parked in my garage, the silly designers opted to make oil changes extra lame without a dip stick.
WilliamsSW
> stuckMTB
07/12/2020 at 11:03 |
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That really does look like a jacking point.
Fun fact - about 5 years ago, I took my E46 to a moonlighting BMW tech for some work. Got it up on the lift in his home garage and that reinforcement plate was MISSING. I’m sure some idiot tech dented it, and removed it without replacing it.
MM54
> stuckMTB
07/12/2020 at 11:05 |
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Ramps are worth having, even if just for oil changes. So much quicker, and no jack/stands/point hunting required - just drive on, change oil, drive off.
MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
> stuckMTB
07/12/2020 at 11:06 |
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What is it about BMW and having stupid* jack points?
Stupid subframe! You go squish now!
***totally actually justified jack point locations from an engineering standpoint that is totally worth the compromise 100% because gErMaN EnGiNeErInG!!!!!
vondon302
> stuckMTB
07/12/2020 at 11:07 |
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Jacking up modern cars is PITA.
My wife’s 16 Focus st sucks,
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MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
> MM54
07/12/2020 at 11:13 |
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I’ve never used a set but I’m always worried I will drive off of them or something will go wrong with me messing with the clutch to get up smoothly
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MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
> vondon302
07/12/2020 at 11:14 |
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I use a hockey puck between the jack/stands and the car. Makes it so if it fits, it jacks, no worrying about mangling the underside of your car
TheRealBicycleBuck
> stuckMTB
07/12/2020 at 11:38 |
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Always check the manual for the correct jack points. Take a look at the pic below. The circled spot looks like a great jack point on this R anger. It’s not. It’s a plastic cover over the left front quarter panel bolt. A transmission shop used that as a jacking point on both sides of my truck and then tried to return it to me with both quarters bowed out. Then they tried to say I gave it to them that way. In the end, they paid for the body repairs.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> MM54
07/12/2020 at 11:39 |
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Ramps are worth having IF you have a vehicle that can use them. There’s no way to get my WRX on a set of ramps without scraping the front lip. They work fine for our Outback.
facw
> TheRealBicycleBuck
07/12/2020 at 11:51 |
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I really didn’t find my manual especially helpful in that regard:
If a garage jack is used to lift the car, the two jack attachments points should be used. They are specially reinforced to bear the weight of the car. A garage jack can also be placed under the front of the engine support frame. Take care not to damage the splash guard under the engine. Ensure that the jack is positioned so that the car cannot slide off it. Always use axle stands or similar structures.
If a two-post hoist is used to lift the car, the front and rear lift arm pads should be centered under the reinforced lift plates on the inboard edge of the sill rail (see illustration).
I mean it lists some stuff, but it’s definitely a situation where a slightly better picture would make a world of difference (also the jack attachment points are really not a stable mounting surface, and I wouldn’t lift there without a specially shaped puck to cradle them)
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stuckMTB
> WilliamsSW
07/12/2020 at 11:54 |
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no plate, no problem! ;)
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stuckMTB
> TheRealBicycleBuck
07/12/2020 at 11:56 |
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OOF ! At least they fixed in the end. I wonder how many owners wouldn’t have fought that...
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stuckMTB
> PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
07/12/2020 at 11:57 |
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It’s definitely required equipment on my car which likes to seep/eat oil as well as gasoline.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> facw
07/12/2020 at 12:06 |
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I think the illustration is fine, but I’ll admit that it’s probably because I’m familiar with that style of lift point. The pinch weld style is annoying because it really only works with the stock emergency jack or floor jacks with a slotted puck.
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WilliamsSW
> stuckMTB
07/12/2020 at 12:11 |
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Lol the tech was surprised it wasn’t noticeable while driving. Cost a couple hundred bucks for a replacement as I recall.
As soon as I saw the photo I knew what car you had. All too familiar.
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MM54
> TheRealBicycleBuck
07/12/2020 at 15:14 |
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Both my rx7 and 124 require a piece of wood placed in front of the ramp to keep from scraping; still easier than jack + stands. I also will often jack the car up but then set it back down on the ramps, more sturdy than jack stands for work that you don’t need to pull the wheels.
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MM54
> MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
07/12/2020 at 15:15 |
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Most have quite a large lip at the front edge that probably makes it impossible to go over unless you’re doing like 10mph, but I agree it’s not a natural feeling thing to drive up a set of ramps. The first couple times it helps to have a spotter to encourage you along