Elevating a car

[RustyH]

I have a 2002 BMW that I want to keep for a long time. I want to start doing my own annual man. transmission fluid changes (even my indy mechanic wants too much). This is a 5 series w/ sport pkg so it's lower to the ground by one inch or so. I have Rhino ramps for oil changes. So, I need to elevate this car and keep it level for the man. transmission fluid change. I have never used a car jack other than a tire jack. Using Rhino ramps in the front, and car jack in the rear doesn't seem so safe to me. Alternatively, I thought about using 3 ft 2x10 wood pieces and putting those in front of each tire and driving up. I may have to nail two together to get the elevation. Or I could just pay someone.
I don't want to do anything potentially unsafe.
Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Use the ramps up front, use 2 jackstands for the rear...or just buy 4 jackstands and put the entire car up. Safer than anything mentioned above, and adjustable so you can get it level pretty easily. You probably know better, but in case you don't...PLEASE don't get under a car supported only by a hydraulic jack.

 

[1sttruck]

I use some lengths of 2x12 for changing the oil on the sedans, and if needed will use a scissor screw jack if I need to get one side up a bit, but I'll also place some wood blocks next to the jack point. I won't trust a hydraulic jack as a jack stand.

 

[Kestas]

I vote for the 2x12s.

 

[surfstar]

30k OCIs is conservative for manual transmission fluid changes. How many miles do you put on in one year? With a good synthetic (redline, amsoil, etc) you should be able to go 50k w/o worry. Just wondering the need for annual changes.

 

[Papa Bear]

Dig a pit.

 

[JustinH]

I wouldn't get under a car supported by rhino ramps in the front and jackstands in the rear.

I would get four heavy duty jackstands, and get yourself a good quality floorjack to get the car in the air.

Once you get all four sides level, you'll be fine. Just use common sense.

 

[Donald]

Some (maybe only a few) places will let you use their lift on a weekend day when they are not open. Might not hurt to ask around if you have a buddy mechanic.

 

[RustyH]

Thanks for the suggestions. I forget the physics I took decades ago, but it seems to me that the Rhino ramps would be required to support more weight when the whole vehicle is jacked up as opposed to the front only. I'm with you, JustinH, on that one.
I might just find a QuickLube place and ask to supervise the whole procedure. It's easier than an oil change.

 

[01rangerxl]

I would go to Sears and look for a decent set of jack stands and a floor jack. Using jack stands at all four corners will be the safest way to go and will give you plenty of clearance.

 

[alreadygone]

Quote:

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I would go to Sears and look for a decent set of jack stands and a floor jack. Using jack stands at all four corners will be the safest way to go and will give you plenty of clearance.

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I'll second this.

Bob

 

[AcuraTech]

Jack stands all the way around! And make sure the stands are resting on level ground, preferably on concrete. That's the easiest and safest way, IMO.

I'm sorry, but any mention of using wood to support a car just doesn't cut it in my book. Jackstands aren't THAT expensive.

 

[iceberg]

I have had one of these for a while www.kwiklift.com on a suggestion from someone here on the board and absolutely love it. Its expensive but worth it. Just drive up the ramps wheel chock it and get underneath. I just painted it bright red last night with the duplicolor paint shop deal thru a spay gun. I would have bought one of these 10 years ago if I knew they existed.

 

[Tosh]

I must be missing something: How vital is it that this car be absolutely level to change transmission fluid? Can't you compensate somehow? Otherwise, I'm with the others about jackstands all around.