Aluminum Jack - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

PCUT · 12th October 2006, 01:50

Looking to buy one. There are a ton of them on Ebay, but I have no way to judge quality. What kind are any of you guys using? I want one for the garage that I can take to the track 5-10 days/year so I want a semi-light one. Comments or suggestions? Anyone have one for sale??

TiSiBeast · 12th October 2006, 02:20

Believe it or not, Costco has a really nice looking all auminum low profile floor jack for sale. $99.00!

VetteRacer · 12th October 2006, 02:28

TiSi. I'll choose not!
Jk...
Any stats on it? Nothing on website.
They do have air jacks on there... Now whats the ground clearance on an M5? :P

CWY_M5 · 12th October 2006, 03:35

I got my Al low profile 3 ton jack from Harbor Freight tools - and I got it at a sale for under $65 bucks. Normally go for $129. If you live near harbor freight tools, look into this. They often have discounts and deals.

Must have low profile so you can go all the way under the front to the jacking point to get the entire front end up. Still feel funny about jacking entire rear end on the differential, anyone has issues with that?

Good luck.

TurboCarrera · 12th October 2006, 04:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCUT

Looking to buy one. There are a ton of them on Ebay, but I have no way to judge quality. What kind are any of you guys using? I want one for the garage that I can take to the track 5-10 days/year so I want a semi-light one. Comments or suggestions? Anyone have one for sale??

I have bought about 6 of these over the last decade. I keep two at home and two in the race trailer. They come in two varieties: inexpensive, which seem to last me about 3 years, and expensive ($500+), which last a long time. For me, seals go bad on the cheap ones and they can't get it up anymore. I have never paid attention to the brand names on the cheap ones, but Longacre makes a great jack on the expensive side, a jack which you can abuse everyday for years. ($675)

If you are just doing 10 track days a year, I would go for the inexpensive ones, and replace them every time they go bad. At $99, carry a backup.

Steve
00 M5
64 356C race

PCUT · 12th October 2006, 04:27

I'd go for a cheaper model as long as it's safe. While I don't mind the seals wearing out, I don't want to risk the body of the jack breaking or some other catastrophic failure. If there is some, if any such risk with the $99 jack, I'd rather go for the $650 number. Hopefully, like most things, there is a good compromise between the two extremes.

Salty · 12th October 2006, 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCUT

Looking to buy one. There are a ton of them on Ebay, but I have no way to judge quality. What kind are any of you guys using? I want one for the garage that I can take to the track 5-10 days/year so I want a semi-light one. Comments or suggestions? Anyone have one for sale??

Here's a good looking "racing" jack in Canada that I am considering:
http://www.bosstoolsupply.com/index....OD&ProdID=5782

Guaranteed for life and $199 with free shipping in Canada. We just can't get stuff as cheap as you guys...including M5s.
I will have to check out Costco.ca - thanks for the suggestion.

TiSiBeast · 12th October 2006, 04:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty

Here's a good looking "racing" jack in Canada that I am considering:
http://www.bosstoolsupply.com/index....OD&ProdID=5782

Guaranteed for life and $199 with free shipping in Canada. We just can't get stuff as cheap as you guys...including M5s.
I will have to check out Costco.ca - thanks for the suggestion.

Interestingly enough, that looks just like the jack that costco has minus the paint.

CWY_M5 · 12th October 2006, 07:40

That jack looks like the one I got from Harbor Freight Tools, for under $65 bucks, minus the paint as well. Life time warranty from Harbor Freight Tools.

$79 now on the website.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91039

Salty · 12th October 2006, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWY_M5

That jack looks like the one I got from Harbor Freight Tools, for under $65 bucks, minus the paint as well. Life time warranty from Harbor Freight Tools.

$79 now on the website.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91039

CWY, that jack looks perfect. A 3" minimum clearance is exactly what we need.
Why such a price difference though? We Canadians always get ripped off on merchandise.

I called Harbor Freight and got a very friendly phone assistant. They will get back to me with shipping charges to Edmonton.
They use FedEx which I don't care for. Cross-border charges are usually high.
I prefer USPS airmail.

Anyone in the Camarillo area driving to Alberta any time soon? LOL
Salty.

a_ok2me · 16th October 2006, 05:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboCarrera

I have bought about 6 of these over the last decade. I keep two at home and two in the race trailer. They come in two varieties: inexpensive, which seem to last me about 3 years, and expensive ($500+), which last a long time. For me, seals go bad on the cheap ones and they can't get it up anymore. I have never paid attention to the brand names on the cheap ones, but Longacre makes a great jack on the expensive side, a jack which you can abuse everyday for years. ($675)

If you are just doing 10 track days a year, I would go for the inexpensive ones, and replace them every time they go bad. At $99, carry a backup.

Steve
00 M5
64 356C race

What about this 4000lbs at Sears? I see it for $179 sometimes.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Personally, I like this one for 19 bucks.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Frits · 16th October 2006, 08:07

I got exactly the same jack, without the paint. 217 euros, at a local shop. Good quality, light, and low.

edit: there are 2 versions of this jack. The blue one is a smaller version, and costs about half the price of the bigger version.

jfdturbo · 16th October 2006, 20:20

What do you guys use to adapt the jack to fit the jack points on the E39?