DIY Ramp for steep driveway

Brian_Fantana · 02-23-2014, 06:51 PM

I live on a fairly aggressive hill and to access my garage you have to drive down and in to get to the garage. Before my M3 this wasn't a problem but the night I brought my car home my dad was there to see it and as I was pulling in he waved me off. I then tried all different angles but still the front end was going to come in contact. Needless to say he thought it was extremely funny that my expensive car was now going to have to sleep outside. So I had to improvise.

I laid two sheets of 5/8" plywood down so they overlapped about 12" and this enabled me access without contact. Well since I didn't make it look super nice the first time with my paint selection (I used plasti dip which peeled really bad) I decided to start over.

This time I did pressure treated plywood (to make it last longer in wet weather) and used an outdoor deck paint. I bought a gallon of it and yesterday sanded and painted. I hope to put it in place tomorrow. Here are some pics of my progress.

JEllis · 02-23-2014, 07:13 PM

Ha, I had to do the same thing once. Except my ramps were way worse looking! Nice work!

1MOREMOD · 02-23-2014, 07:17 PM

i have the raised lip style curbing thats the same height everwhere to overcome when pulling into my driveway and had to put together a small ramp to help me out. now car sits slightly higher and not an issue.

Brian_Fantana · 02-23-2014, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

i have the raised lip style curbing thats the same height everwhere to overcome when pulling into my driveway and had to put together a small ramp to help me out. now car sits slightly higher and not an issue.

How are you sitting higher? You switch to larger wheels?

1MOREMOD · 02-23-2014, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian_Fantana

How are you sitting higher? You switch to larger wheels?

when i bought my current e46 it was pretty slammed on gc coilovers by previous owner and to get enough front suspension travel on the track i needed it to be raised up slightly when i put the mcs on. now i can get in at and angle just fine without hitting the splitters. this will change again once aero happens.

Brian_Fantana · 02-23-2014, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian_Fantana

How are you sitting higher? You switch to larger wheels?

when i bought my current e46 it was pretty slammed on gc coilovers by previous owner and to get enough front suspension travel on the track i needed it to be raised up slightly when i put the mcs on. now i can get in at and angle just fine without hitting the splitters. this will change again once aero happens.

Must be curb and gutter style in your neck of the woods. I lived in Utah for a while and it's like falling off a cliff transitioning from driveway to the street in some parts. I remember forgetting sometimes in a duramax truck I used to own and it was almost worse than hitting speed bump with a fair amount of speed.

1MOREMOD · 02-23-2014, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian_Fantana

Must be curb and gutter style in your neck of the woods. I lived in Utah for a while and it's like falling off a cliff transitioning from driveway to the street in some parts. I remember forgetting sometimes in a duramax truck I used to own and it was almost worse than hitting speed bump with a fair amount of speed.

yeah new neighborhood and stupid design if you ask me. i want to go out there with a pick axe and fix it.

downtowncb · 02-24-2014, 11:19 PM

My M too couldn't get into my driveway without scraping. I bought a black curb ramp from bridjit.com and it has worked great. I still have to come in at a little angle, but as long as I do I don't scrape. Before I bought it I had destroyed the set of corner airdam felts within a month.

Brian_Fantana · 02-25-2014, 09:13 PM

Ok after like 30 minutes of back and forth with the wife finally got the angle.(that's what she said) I didn't realize I bought the thinner sheet from last time so it was more challenging this time.

Conzyo · 02-25-2014, 09:32 PM

The M looks awesome.

1sikbmr · 02-27-2014, 08:26 AM

I just bought cold press asphalt and pressed it down in front of my driveway. It comes out about 12" but without it my front end was done.

Mpowered · 03-13-2014, 11:36 AM

I wish I could do this, but my trouble area is where my driveway hits the street, so if I put a ramp there it would impede the sidewalk. Thinking about getting a contractor to regrade the spot, but not sure they city would like that as it would cause the sidewalk to not be level.

SVH · 03-13-2014, 01:45 PM

Mpowered-
Driveway entrances can be lowered but you have to taper down the existing sidewalk(s) as they approach your newly lowered driveway entrance. Most towns/city's have the specifications available.

Evolve Automotive · 03-13-2014, 01:49 PM

whoa thats pretty steep

02-23-2014, 06:51 PM	#1
Brian_Fantana Second Lieutenant 84 Rep 225 Posts Drives: 09 Alpine white E90 M3 DCT Join Date: May 2013 Location: Gig harbor wa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 M3 [0.00]	DIY Ramp for steep driveway I live on a fairly aggressive hill and to access my garage you have to drive down and in to get to the garage. Before my M3 this wasn't a problem but the night I brought my car home my dad was there to see it and as I was pulling in he waved me off. I then tried all different angles but still the front end was going to come in contact. Needless to say he thought it was extremely funny that my expensive car was now going to have to sleep outside. So I had to improvise. I laid two sheets of 5/8" plywood down so they overlapped about 12" and this enabled me access without contact. Well since I didn't make it look super nice the first time with my paint selection (I used plasti dip which peeled really bad) I decided to start over. This time I did pressure treated plywood (to make it last longer in wet weather) and used an outdoor deck paint. I bought a gallon of it and yesterday sanded and painted. I hope to put it in place tomorrow. Here are some pics of my progress. Attached Images __________________ They've done studies, you know. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time. ~ Brian Fantana
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02-23-2014, 07:13 PM	#2
JEllis Major General 531 Rep 5,498 Posts Drives: E36 M3, E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth iTrader: (4)	Ha, I had to do the same thing once. Except my ramps were way worse looking! Nice work! __________________ Instagram: jellismotorwerks
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02-23-2014, 07:17 PM	#3
1MOREMOD - 11817 Rep 23,187 Posts Drives: Race car-> Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: check your mirrors iTrader: (5)	i have the raised lip style curbing thats the same height everwhere to overcome when pulling into my driveway and had to put together a small ramp to help me out. now car sits slightly higher and not an issue. __________________ 02 Tiag e46 M3\|6MT\|GC plates\|MCS c.o.\|GC bars\|GC race control arms\|GC bushings\|BW eng. & tran. mounts\|subframe kit\|BW race shifter\|BW Jaffster\|Euro header\|BW exhaust\|K&N c.a.i.\|Epic race tune\|Rouge pulleys\|Seibon CF hood\|CSL bumper\|apr gt 250 & splitter\|ST-40\|XR-2\|SS lines\|half cage\|Recaro profi\|Profi 2 harness\|BMWpedals\|BW studs\|
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02-24-2014, 11:19 PM	#8
downtowncb Private First Class 48 Rep 165 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	My M too couldn't get into my driveway without scraping. I bought a black curb ramp from bridjit.com and it has worked great. I still have to come in at a little angle, but as long as I do I don't scrape. Before I bought it I had destroyed the set of corner airdam felts within a month.
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02-25-2014, 09:13 PM	#9
Brian_Fantana Second Lieutenant 84 Rep 225 Posts Drives: 09 Alpine white E90 M3 DCT Join Date: May 2013 Location: Gig harbor wa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 M3 [0.00]	Ok after like 30 minutes of back and forth with the wife finally got the angle.(that's what she said) I didn't realize I bought the thinner sheet from last time so it was more challenging this time. Attached Images __________________ They've done studies, you know. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time. ~ Brian Fantana
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02-25-2014, 09:32 PM	#10
Conzyo Pho is yummy 766 Rep 938 Posts Drives: E90 M3 & E70 X5M & 12' GTR Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: MN iTrader: (8)	The M looks awesome. __________________ 2008 \| 6 SPD \| Fox Red \| Forgestars \| B&G Springs \| M Performance Exhaust \| Catless X pipe \| Alpine Tune
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02-27-2014, 08:26 AM	#11
1sikbmr Brigadier General 145 Rep 3,329 Posts Drives: F80 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York iTrader: (16)	I just bought cold press asphalt and pressed it down in front of my driveway. It comes out about 12" but without it my front end was done. __________________ F80 ///M3 6MT Avus Blue ZCP
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03-13-2014, 11:36 AM	#12
Mpowered Enlisted Member 0 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 09 328i Wagon Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	I wish I could do this, but my trouble area is where my driveway hits the street, so if I put a ramp there it would impede the sidewalk. Thinking about getting a contractor to regrade the spot, but not sure they city would like that as it would cause the sidewalk to not be level.
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03-13-2014, 01:45 PM	#13
SVH First Lieutenant 152 Rep 392 Posts Drives: 2016 328i & 2011-e93 TT Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	Mpowered- Driveway entrances can be lowered but you have to taper down the existing sidewalk(s) as they approach your newly lowered driveway entrance. Most towns/city's have the specifications available.
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03-13-2014, 01:49 PM	#14
Evolve Automotive BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 118 Rep 691 Posts Drives: E46 M3 . E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	whoa thats pretty steep
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