[SN1P3]

Can anyone confirm the front center jack point for the G42?

Planning on doing an oil change this weekend and was planning the best way to get the car on jack stands.

[danallxt]

In line with the front axle centerline.

[SN1P3]

Originally Posted by danallxt

In line with the front axle centerline.

Any indicating markers on the underside?

[Opie55]

It may or may not be exactly in line with the axle. Some cars have an actual block that sticks out of the belly pan (e.g., my X3). But my 650 just has a very slightly raised rectangular area in the aluminum belly pan/stiffener plate. That raised area sits over a reinforced part of the axle carrier you cannot see. But it's forward of the axle line a bit for sure. Stick your head under there from the front and something may be obvious. Otherwise, maybe post up a pic.

I do agree with the other poster it will be on the centerline right to left, but not necessarily front to back.

[SN1P3]

If anyone is curious, this is where I decided to place the jack and seemed to work great. Looks like the center of those indents is the sweet spot.

[old_man_feet]

Originally Posted by SN1P3

If anyone is curious, this is where I decided to place the jack and seemed to work great. Looks like the center of those indents is the sweet spot.

I haven't been under my 230 but I'm wondering if this point would be different between the 230 vs 240.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by SN1P3

Can anyone confirm the front center jack point for the G42?

Planning on doing an oil change this weekend and was planning the best way to get the car on jack stands.

Odd that BMW would provide a center lift point. For years various cars have had 4 lift points for lifting the car to let the wheels/tires dangle.

Or of course one can lift the car by the tires/wheels.

For a number of cars -- Porsche Boxster, Cayman S, 996 Turbo, VW Golf TDi, 2006 Pontiac GTO -- for oil changes I just used a set of Rhino Ramps.

It is easy to get the car in the air: Just drive it on the ramps. The Porsche cars all required I back the car on the ramps. But the VW and GTO I drove the front tires onto the ramps.

The oil drained just fine. Being a bit out of level didn't affect the amount of oil that drained from the engine one iota.

I made sure to drain the oil with the engine up to temperature and let it drain the required amount of time. Then I added the required amount of oil started the engine and checked for leaks then drove it off the ramps and shut it down.

I cleaned up and after say 10 minutes or so checked the oil level to confirm it was good. With the Cayman S and Porsche Turbo there was no oil dipstick I had to check the oil with the engine idling and up to temperature and with the Turbo on flat ground.

[tooly]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

Odd that BMW would provide a center lift point. For years various cars have had 4 lift points for lifting the car to let the wheels/tires dangle.

Or of course one can lift the car by the tires/wheels.

For a number of cars -- Porsche Boxster, Cayman S, 996 Turbo, VW Golf TDi, 2006 Pontiac GTO -- for oil changes I just used a set of Rhino Ramps.

It is easy to get the car in the air: Just drive it on the ramps. The Porsche cars all required I back the car on the ramps. But the VW and GTO I drove the front tires onto the ramps.

The oil drained just fine. Being a bit out of level didn't affect the amount of oil that drained from the engine one iota.

I made sure to drain the oil with the engine up to temperature and let it drain the required amount of time. Then I added the required amount of oil started the engine and checked for leaks then drove it off the ramps and shut it down.

I cleaned up and after say 10 minutes or so checked the oil level to confirm it was good. With the Cayman S and Porsche Turbo there was no oil dipstick I had to check the oil with the engine idling and up to temperature and with the Turbo on flat ground.

My e90 has a very obvious center jack point and I believe it is even in the manual that it (and rear dif) are officially center jack points. Makes for easy wheel swaps jacking up, putting left and right jack points on jack stands… then doing the same for the rear.

[MPR]

Originally Posted by SN1P3

If anyone is curious, this is where I decided to place the jack and seemed to work great. Looks like the center of those indents is the sweet spot.

Is this a confirmed/safe front jacking point?

[danallxt]

Originally Posted by MPR

Is this a confirmed/safe front jacking point?

huh? dunno what you mean by "safe", safe for someone to crawl under?..nope...no jacking point only is....i always also underblock in case jack fails. If you mean safe for the car? As you seem to doubt posters that have indicated such use, i guess you will need to get a confirmation direct from BMW and good luck with that. Since the manual does not specifically mention that center lift point....i guess you can consider it unconfirmed by BMW. I've used a front and rear center jack point on the car, but since i am not a BMW engineer i can confirm nothing.
For oil changes i prefer the rhino ramps, less hassle by far.

[MPR]

Safe meaning able to jack up the car at that location without breaking something. I'd never get under a car without jack stands.

With those dimples in the metal plate, it does appear that they are hinting that it's where you should jack up the car from.

I've been on the fence with buying new jack stands or switching to ramps. Ramps seem so much easier than dealing with a jack+stands, and cheaper

[danallxt]

Ramps seem so much easier than dealing with a jack+stands, and cheaper

they really are, you won't regret it.
In my case the ramp slope seemed a little steep that the chin spoiler ahead of the front wheel wanted to come in contact with the ramp, so i just first drove up on a 1" board with the front tire/s.

[MPR]

I think I'm going that route. Harbor freight has a set on sale now for $45 that reviews say have a slope that allows for lower cars. I plan to also put a floor jack under the jacking point as i don't ever fully trust a single lift device.

[Hap]

Don't all newer BMW come with 3 years of the dealer does it all maintenance ?

I used to love doing all my own oil changes but now adays the dealer does it.

Hap

[KmtbS]

Yes but I believe it only covers oil changes every 10,000 miles.

[MPR]

Yes but I believe it only covers oil changes every 10,000 miles.

Exactly, and they only do the first 3 for free, IIRC as I did not buy a maintenance plan.

My plan is:

I do the first at 3500
Dealer does 10k
I do 15k
Dealer does 20k
I do 25k
Dealer goes 30k
I do every oil change at 5k increments from then on

[Hapbob]

I don’t like the oil change at 10K. Especially the first. I may change the first at 3500 and then let dealer do the 10k
Got me thinking.
Hap

[MPR]

Originally Posted by Hapbob

I don’t like the oil change at 10K. Especially the first. I may change the first at 3500 and then let dealer do the 10k
Got me thinking.
Hap

On paper they say 10k is ok. Doing them at shorter intervals can do no harm, aside from the damage to your wallet. It's worth it especially if you plan to keep the car beyond warranty territory, as I plan to.