E60I

Hey guys,

I want to buy two sets (four jack stands) of these 3 tons heavy duty jack stands from Harbor Freight (see link below). Can these fit under the standard E60 jack points?

Jack Stands, 3 Ton Heavy Duty

I want to use them to replace my water pump/thermostat and transmission fluid and pan.

Please reply quickly so I can start visualizing myself doing it without breaking anything. LOL

Thanks!

Daniel

bmwmonkey

Use these.
Home Page ES#128786 News E60_E61_ES251251 Jack Pad - Priced Each - 51717065919

pcy

Dan,

You don't need to raise rear of the car for replacing water pump and thermostat. I'd recommend you get ramps and drive up on to the ramps, set the parking brake.

Be prepared to taste coolant :-)

KyleB

daniel,

If I recall correctly you have an M54 or N52 powered car. I can't speak for the V8s, but for a six cylinder car you should not need to elevate the car at all do replace water pump, belts, etc.

I did my 04 530i about two months ago, did not use any jack or stands. The only thing I had to do under the car was unscrew the radiator drain plug, and I did that with the car sitting on the ground as normal.

good luck with your project.

baveagle

These are standard on the car unless they were removed.

Gee_115

Same for the V8, I just did the alternator on my 550, you don't need jack stands just remove fan and cover. He will need the stands for the transmission fluid and cover.

BimmerFan52

Yes, those jacks stands great. I have four of them (required for keeping the car level during draining and filling the ZF transmission). In the back of most of the auto magazines HFT runs an ad with a coupon for two jacks for $14.99 or $15.99.

To first raise the car, use the plastic jack pad in the front (shows through the rectangular cut-out in the front splash pan) and the rear differential cover in the rear (use a short piece of 2X4 on the floor jack pad to provide a nice flat surface to prevent damage to the cooling fins on the cover) prior to placing the jack stands and then lowering the car onto the jack stands. I use a couple of 2 X 12s to drive the front wheels up onto first to provide extra clearance for the floor jack under the front bumper cover. You don't need the plastic jack pads that come with the car. Mine were lost a long time ago and the jack stand head fits into the space on the frame just fine.

Whether you should put the car up on jacks while doing the water pump and thermostat will probably depend upon how tall you are in attempting to reach an ergonomic work position. I am 6'3" tall, so having the car up on the jack stands made bending over the engine much easier and as a side benefit provided more space under the car while draining the radiator and working on the AC belt from underneath.

pcy

Raising the car definitely helps with reaching in and removing the hose clamps and trying to undo those stuck hoses all while coolant dripping on the face :-)

ncsugrad2006

Those are the same pads that come on the car that, well, really don't fit a normal jack

ECS has this for something good to jack the car up with without messing up the plastic things:

BMW E60 545i N62 4.4L Search SiteSearch Jack Pad ES#251251 Aluminum BMW Jack Pad Adapter - ECS10721

I've used a jack stand on the plastic jacking points that come on the car, but it did ding them up bad enough to make it pretty tough to get the jack that comes with the car to work

E60I

Hey guys,

Thanks for the responses!

My car has an N52 engine and working under the car to replace the water pump and thermostat does not look like an option. Honestly, I just don't feel comfortable working or standing under potentially falling objects (that includes birds). :-)

The Harbor Freight 3 ton jack stands look pretty good. The contact points are wider than the width of the standard E60 jack pads (the ones that came with the car). It looks like they can fit right over and stay lock on. Besides, they are on sale for $15.99 a set. I will need two sets to do the transmission later when I have more confidence. ;-)

As for the "get ready to drink some coolant", thanks for the warning. I got that covered. ;-)