[els_86]

I've done the oil change on my car a few times already for ease but unfortunately, this time I wasn't so lucky.

I tried jacking the car up on the central jack pad and the jack slipped off it and went through the plastic under body of the car. It hit a hose (possibly more I don't know yet) and all my coolant came out. I had it towed to my friends shop as I know BMW would not be covering this under CPO. I could of swore the jack was securely in place but I guess not. Real frustrating day.

[TeinBMW]

how did it slip??

[els_86]

As I was raising the car it just lost it's grip I guess. I thought it was on there firmly.

[GreaseJunkie]

It could always be worse, at least you werent under there! Good luck with the fix, hopefully its something simple, maybe invest in some ramps for next time

[els_86]

Originally Posted by GreaseJunkie

It could always be worse, at least you werent under there! Good luck with the fix, hopefully its something simple, maybe invest in some ramps for next time

Yeah I guess ramps would be an easier way. I just figured jacks and stands would be more simple. I think it's just a radiator hose, so hopefully an easy fix.

[els_86]

I never really liked ramps thought. They are flimsy and seem hard to drive up on and down on. Maybe I am wrong? For our cars are they a lot better than using a jack and stands?

[gtaccord]

Ramps! The only way to go for oil changes imo. If you don't like the rhino ramps, check out raceramps.com.

[GreaseJunkie]

Originally Posted by els_86

I never really liked ramps thought. They are flimsy and seem hard to drive up on and down on. Maybe I am wrong? For our cars. Its better than using a jack and stands?

Well, I have a set of Rhino ramps, they're definitely not flimsy, but I do have to put cinder blocks in front of them if I'm by myself. Still seems safer for me regardless.

[GreaseJunkie]

Sorry to edit your quote. My phone does weird things...

[boris]

Buy some Race Ramps.

I got mine from Amazon.

With the shitty jacking points of the e9X Chassis, Ramps are a must.

[AceOnShake]

Damn I heard worse. I actually had a jack fail on me while doing a flat tire. Thank god for some reason it had two jacks. It was on an e36.

[AGO 530]

I place a hockey puck on the jack pad and ALWAYS chalk both rear tires before lifting.

On another note, even with the stock MSport suspension height and frontend design I couldn't get the car onto the ramps, the car would just push the ramps before the tires could connect. Now I drive the car onto two pieces of 2x6, creates just enough room to get the jack under the car and under that central lift point.

[els_86]

I think I just need a jack with a wider jack pad. The one I have is a cheap one with a small jack point, I figured just to get the car up it would be ok. The central jacking point is quite narrow though, I don't know why they would make it so think like that.

[Jklad]

Unsuccessful oil change? You may want to title this 'near death experience'!

[Efthreeoh]

I'm not here to flame you, but more of a concern. If you broke a coolant hose when the jack slipped off the center jacking point then I'm concerned you really don't have a good idea what you are doing. The only coolant hose you could of damaged is the plastic hose that runs from the thermostat over the heater core (it's a two-part hose actually). The plastic hose section runs across the front frame cross member, which is the wrong frame cross member that the central jack point is on (it's under the engine cradle cross member. So you were lifting the car from the wrong point on the chassis; no wonder why the jack slipped off, because it was not on the central jack point. Here are some pics to help understand what I just said. The plastic hose is under the black plastic radiator shield in the first pic (with the belly pan removed). The central jack point is the small black rectangle (with the bolt head in it) on the center cross member.
The second pic is the plastic heater hose.

Be careful and try to better understand what you are doing.

[els_86]

Originally Posted by Jklad

Unsuccessful oil change? You may want to title this 'near death experience'!

I wasn't under the car when it went town. I was jacking it up and the jack slipped. I would never get under a car while jacking it up or just on a jack.

[els_86]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=650432

This is the part I used as the jack point. I'm pretty sure I was using the correct part. I was on a very slight incline when jacking it up and I think it just slipped a little. MY fault. I am waiting to hear back from my mechanic today about the damages. The only fluid that leaked out was the coolant and form what I could see if was just that hose. I will keep you guys updated on the damages.

[els_86]

Did they change the central jack point on the later years? It seems the link I posted the jacking point if further towards the front of the car, which is how it is on my car.

[grzes]

so sounds like the issue was with the ground, incline, that makes more sense why it slipped. Glad it happen during the lift and not while you were under. Be careful

[els_86]

Originally Posted by grzes

so sounds like the issue was with the ground, incline, that makes more sense why it slipped. Glad it happen during the lift and not while you were under. Be careful

Yeah just a rookie mistake. I will pay in repairs for my mistake and be more careful the next time. I am assuming though that the point I used to jack the car was the correct one though?

[grzes]

Originally Posted by els_86

Yeah just a rookie mistake. I will pay in repairs for my mistake and be more careful the next time. I am assuming though that the point I used to jack the car was the correct one though?

yes, one thing, try never use metal on metal when jacking the car, I always put a wood between, wood will compress under the pressure which helps preventing sliding. Not sure if it would help you in your case since you were on the incline.

[els_86]

Originally Posted by grzes

yes, one thing, try never use metal on metal when jacking the car, I always put a wood between, wood will compress under the pressure which helps preventing sliding. Not sure if it would help you in your case since you were on the incline.

Thanks bro. I'm gonna invest in a better jack and use hockey puck in between.