Jack pad adapter question

dreamspeed · 03-13-2014, 06:22 PM

I'm looking at photos of the pad adapters being used and I can't figure it out.

Which part of the adapter is supporting the car? The rectangular protrusion or the flat surface of the disk?

If it's just the rectangular part can't i just cut a small block of wood that would fit in that hole and use that?

FormulaMMM · 03-13-2014, 06:28 PM

The rectangular portion slides into the jack point on the car, the circular part meets the jack pad flush.

Small block of wood might work.

Depends on how much you jack the car I guess. The $20 for the adapter was worth it for me due to changing wheels @ track, etc.

pbonsalb · 03-13-2014, 06:29 PM

Both. If you jack from some other part of the car, you do not need a jack pad adapter, but you will eventually crack the plastic jack pads if you do not have an adapter with the rectangular top that fills the recess in the pad adapter.

dreamspeed · 03-13-2014, 09:43 PM

Cool thanks,

dagolfpro · 03-13-2014, 10:40 PM

Order these. Fred's a great guy. http://www.reverselogic.us/phone/bmw_jack_pad.html

Genericuser1 · 03-14-2014, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

The rectangular portion slides into the jack point on the car, the circular part meets the jack pad flush.

Small block of wood might work.

Depends on how much you jack the car I guess. The $20 for the adapter was worth it for me due to changing wheels @ track, etc.

Don't most people use the front and rear jack points for swapping tires? Or is it better to get this adapter and use the four jack points on the sides?

jphughan · 03-14-2014, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genericuser1

Don't most people use the front and rear jack points for swapping tires? Or is it better to get this adapter and use the four jack points on the sides?

Most jacks can't reach the front center jack point even on M3s running the stock ride height, so you either need a very expensive jack like an AC Hydraulics model, or you need to drive onto ramps before jacking, or you need to jack one side high enough to get a second jack under the front center (which is the same amount of work as doing one side at a time and also takes two jacks). The rear is reachable but I somehow don't like the idea of using the diff housing, so I just use each of the four side jack points one at a time. I bought two jack pad adapters in case I ever need to raise the car on two jacks simultaneously.

ersin · 03-14-2014, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jphughan

Most jacks can't reach the front center jack point even on M3s running the stock ride height, so you either need a very expensive jack like an AC Hydraulics model, ...

Do you have any idea how long and how low a floor jack needs to be to get under and reach the center jack points on the M3?

I always wanted to get the floor jack that griotsgarage sold. Alas, I waited too long and now it's gone. It looked like it was long and short enough to reach, but now I'll never know.

Cheers.

jphughan · 03-14-2014, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

Do you have any idea how long and how low a floor jack needs to be to get under and reach the center jack points on the M3?

I always wanted to get the floor jack that griotsgarage sold. Alas, I waited too long and now it's gone. It looked like it was long and short enough to reach, but now I'll never know.

Cheers.

Sadly no, I've never measured it. Sorry!

W/// · 03-14-2014, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

Do you have any idea how long and how low a floor jack needs to be to get under and reach the center jack points on the M3?

I always wanted to get the floor jack that griotsgarage sold. Alas, I waited too long and now it's gone. It looked like it was long and short enough to reach, but now I'll never know.

Cheers.

The Harbor Freight one reaches, but the probably is that it's too tall. However, I don't mind driving up on a couple of 2x4's first, and then reaching the jack points. They can be had for $100 shipped and they are great quality IMO.

Hagasan41 · 03-14-2014, 03:14 PM

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4333_200514333

This is the one I'm planning on picking up.

Kurt_OH · 03-14-2014, 03:38 PM

A block of wood will work, as these adapters' rectangular part are taller than the jack point depth anyway.

Full disclosure: I have and use the adapters.

dreamspeed · 03-14-2014, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt_OH

A block of wood will work, as these adapters' rectangular part are taller than the jack point depth anyway.

Full disclosure: I have and use the adapters.

Thanks, this is exactly the info i needed

03-13-2014, 06:22 PM	#1
dreamspeed Lieutenant Colonel 260 Rep 1,616 Posts Drives: 6MT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Jack pad adapter question I'm looking at photos of the pad adapters being used and I can't figure it out. Which part of the adapter is supporting the car? The rectangular protrusion or the flat surface of the disk? If it's just the rectangular part can't i just cut a small block of wood that would fit in that hole and use that? __________________
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03-13-2014, 06:28 PM	#2
FormulaMMM Brigadier General 3663 Rep 3,422 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Midwest iTrader: (2)	The rectangular portion slides into the jack point on the car, the circular part meets the jack pad flush. Small block of wood might work. Depends on how much you jack the car I guess. The $20 for the adapter was worth it for me due to changing wheels @ track, etc. __________________ M4 GTS, GT3, C63 S \| E90 M3s, E39 M5
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03-13-2014, 06:29 PM	#3
pbonsalb Lieutenant General 5216 Rep 10,601 Posts Drives: 18 F90 M5, 99 E36 M3 Turbo Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (4)	Both. If you jack from some other part of the car, you do not need a jack pad adapter, but you will eventually crack the plastic jack pads if you do not have an adapter with the rectangular top that fills the recess in the pad adapter.
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03-13-2014, 09:43 PM	#4
dreamspeed Lieutenant Colonel 260 Rep 1,616 Posts Drives: 6MT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Cool thanks, __________________
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03-13-2014, 10:40 PM	#5
dagolfpro Colonel 247 Rep 2,271 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: SF Bay Area, CA iTrader: (9)	Order these. Fred's a great guy. http://www.reverselogic.us/phone/bmw_jack_pad.html __________________ 2011.75 E90 AW \| DCT \| ZCP \| ZCV \| ZCW \| ZP2 \| Prem Sound \| Moonroof \| BMW Apps \| Mods List: Evolve Exhaust \| M Perf Steering Wheel \| Tint \| Lux \| Hardwired V1 \| KW V3 \| Volshlag CP \| Brembo BBK \| BBS FI \| Yokohama AD08 R\| Schroth 4 Point Harness \| Challenge GT Diffuser \| OEM GTS Wing\| GTS Lip\| I lied earlier, I wasn't done with mod, but I swear, I'm done now, no more mods...
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03-14-2014, 03:14 PM	#11
Hagasan41 First Lieutenant 266 Rep 349 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 ///M3, 1999 E36 ///M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (1)	http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4333_200514333 This is the one I'm planning on picking up.
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03-14-2014, 03:38 PM	#12
Kurt_OH Captain 12 Rep 734 Posts Drives: E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (0)	A block of wood will work, as these adapters' rectangular part are taller than the jack point depth anyway. Full disclosure: I have and use the adapters.
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