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plenty wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 12:11 pm The Hilka product above is a good budget choice but make sure to get a rubber pad or use a thin block of wood to prevent chassis damage.

Pondrew wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 12:49 pm

plenty wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 12:11 pm The Hilka product above is a good budget choice but make sure to get a rubber pad or use a thin block of wood to prevent chassis damage.

I use mine 'as is' on both my BMs. Three of the four upstands on the lifting pad sit into the jacking points, the fourth is outside but doesn't touch anything. No damage to anything. I have had to make a timber 'adaptor' for my other car, as that doesn't have the box-section jacking points.

plenty wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 12:11 pm Don't worry too much about brand - trolley jacks are simple things, and failures are usually due to user error or using really old/worn jacks. I'm still using cheap jacks that are 15 years old. You should never be in a position to get hurt due to jack failure - use the jack to raise the car which is then supported by stands. Never go under a car that is only supported by a jack.

On an E85 you may need two jacks - one lifting at the side to get enough clearance for the second to reach the front jacking point under the cross member which is located quite far back, behind the undertray. You then remove the first jack, place the stands underneath the side jacking points, and lower the jack under the cross member and let the car's weight settle on the stands.

The Hilka product above is a good budget choice but make sure to get a rubber pad or use a thin block of wood to prevent chassis damage.

If you want to spend time underneath and do bigger jobs like exhaust or clutch you'll want more lift than what the cheaper jacks offer (usually max 35 cm, meaning you won't be able to use axle stands at max height). This Halfords job is another level up (and much heavier) offering 50 cm lift: https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-w ... 63126.html

patriot66 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 3:00 pm The O/P has an E89 which I'm unfamiliar with so don't know if they have a front central jacking point. On the E85/86 ONLY the M models have a central front jacking point

patriot66 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 3:00 pm

plenty wrote: ↑Thu Dec 22, 2022 12:11 pm Don't worry too much about brand - trolley jacks are simple things, and failures are usually due to user error or using really old/worn jacks. I'm still using cheap jacks that are 15 years old. You should never be in a position to get hurt due to jack failure - use the jack to raise the car which is then supported by stands. Never go under a car that is only supported by a jack.

On an E85 you may need two jacks - one lifting at the side to get enough clearance for the second to reach the front jacking point under the cross member which is located quite far back, behind the undertray. You then remove the first jack, place the stands underneath the side jacking points, and lower the jack under the cross member and let the car's weight settle on the stands.

The Hilka product above is a good budget choice but make sure to get a rubber pad or use a thin block of wood to prevent chassis damage.

If you want to spend time underneath and do bigger jobs like exhaust or clutch you'll want more lift than what the cheaper jacks offer (usually max 35 cm, meaning you won't be able to use axle stands at max height). This Halfords job is another level up (and much heavier) offering 50 cm lift: https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-w ... 63126.html

The O/P has an E89 which I'm unfamiliar with so don't know if they have a front central jacking point. On the E85/86 ONLY the M models have a central front jacking point