Do you carry a jack kit? Bought one, but weighs A TON.

Hey gang, just received my jack kit and windshield sunshade, and both are really well made, but too heavy and bulky. The jack doesn't fit inside the trunk compartment, like I assumed it would. It also weighs quite a bit to haul it around all the time, not to mention you DON'T want that thing banging around your trunk. So, here are my 2 questions:

- If you have the kit, do you carry it all the time or just for trips?

- If you call roadside assistance, do they have a jack low enough to lift our cars with a flat, and more importantly, do they do a R&R job (remove wheel/tire, get it repaired, bring it back and install) in lieu of flat-bedding the car? I assume they do, at least within city limits (cheaper, I guess), which would justify not carrying the jack kit around. Comments welcome.

elp_jc wrote

Hey gang, just received my jack kit and windshield sunshade, and both are really well made, but too heavy and bulky. The jack doesn't fit inside the trunk compartment, like I assumed it would. It also weighs quite a bit to haul it around all the time, not to mention you DON'T want that thing banging around your trunk. So, here are my 2 questions:

- If you have the kit, do you carry it all the time or just for trips?

- If you call roadside assistance, do they have a jack low enough to lift our cars with a flat, and more importantly, do they do a R&R job (remove wheel/tire, get it repaired, bring it back and install) in lieu of flat-bedding the car? I assume they do, at least within city limits (cheaper, I guess), which would justify not carrying the jack kit around. Comments welcome.

Which jack kit are you referring to? I have the standard BMW 3-series jack which does fit in the trunk floor compartment.

GregW / Oregon wrote

Which jack kit are you referring to?

The one listed for my car: http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemView.aspx?modelId=440&categoryId=11&productCategoryId=&menuId=0&subItemId=1&productId=276

Which unfortunately doesn't look anything like yours, but how secure is yours to raise our cars? My jack's 'top' fits perfectly inside the jacking pad's inner rectangle for a secure lift. But much rather have yours than nothing at all. Crap. Do you happen to have a part number? I also ordered the super expensive small BMW flashlight just to complete the 'stock look', and turns out it's too big to fit on the glove box holder (there's ANOTHER part number for that). Geez. Oh well. Thanks man.

elp_jc wrote

The one listed for my car: http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemView.aspx?modelId=440&categoryId=11&productCategoryId=&menuId=0&subItemId=1&productId=276

Which unfortunately doesn't look anything like yours, but how secure is yours to raise our cars? My jack's 'top' fits perfectly inside the jacking pad's inner rectangle for a secure lift. But much rather have yours than nothing at all. Crap. Do you happen to have a part number? I also ordered the super expensive small BMW flashlight just to complete the 'stock look', and turns out it's too big to fit on the glove box holder (there's ANOTHER part number for that). Geez. Oh well. Thanks man.

Mine is from the E46, and yes, it has the top sized to fit in the jack pad. It has this number on it, but not sure if it is the part no.: 117876 10 DE.

Edit: See following post.

#1 in diagram: Articulated car jack, steel #71 12 6 757 131, 1 1.826 kg / 4.026 lb, €50.90

GregW / Oregon wrote

#1 in diagram: Articulated car jack, steel #71 12 6 757 131, 1 1.826 kg / 4.026 lb, €50.90

Many thanks buddy. Darn, why the hell BMW keeps selling stuff supposedly for this car that doesn't fit? First, I bought the stupid small flashlight just to put it on the glovebox and it doesn't feaking fit. Now I buy the jack kit supposedly designed for this car and doesn't fit either. Geez; $200 down the drain so far. Oh, and I also bought the BMW windshield sunshade and besides weighing a ton and being ultra bulky, it has a HUGE gap in the middle; so much for being 'custom fit' when it's listed for many models. I'm done buying BMW crap ... although I still have to receive many items more I bought (rubber mats, etc). Well, maybe I'll buy this other jack and that's all .

So it seems like our trunk styrofoam divider is a carry over from the E46 then, no? Your E46 jack seems to fit perfectly. Will try to find a 'used' one (but not used ). Having this heavy a$$ kit sloshing around is not only inconvenient, but dangerous on an emergency stop. Thanks again man; appreciate your help.

Sounds like your parts counter doesn't know what they're doing. BMW roadside assistance will cover a flatbed tow. I trust a flatbed for my ride.


Allen

GregW / Oregon wrote

Mine is from the E46, and yes, it has the top sized to fit in the jack pad. It has this number on it, but not sure if it is the part no.: 117876 10 DE.

Edit: See following post.

That thing is the biggest POS.

I just bought a $20 floor jack from walmart. I just use the package that came with it for storage. Yeah, takes up trunk space but its 100x safer than the OEM E46 jack.

elp_jc wrote

Many thanks buddy. Darn, why the hell BMW keeps selling stuff supposedly for this car that doesn't fit? First, I bought the stupid small flashlight just to put it on the glovebox and it doesn't feaking fit. Now I buy the jack kit supposedly designed for this car and doesn't fit either. Geez; $200 down the drain so far. Oh, and I also bought the BMW windshield sunshade and besides weighing a ton and being ultra bulky, it has a HUGE gap in the middle; so much for being 'custom fit' when it's listed for many models. I'm done buying BMW crap ... although I still have to receive many items more I bought (rubber mats, etc). Well, maybe I'll buy this other jack and that's all .

So it seems like our trunk styrofoam divider is a carry over from the E46 then, no? Your E46 jack seems to fit perfectly. Will try to find a 'used' one (but not used ). Having this heavy a$$ kit sloshing around is not only inconvenient, but dangerous on an emergency stop. Thanks again man; appreciate your help.

Can't you return the items you bought or exchange them? The insert is not a carryover, but the jack does fit fairly securely.

bigjae1976 wrote

That thing is the biggest POS.

I just bought a $20 floor jack from walmart. I just use the package that came with it for storage. Yeah, takes up trunk space but its 100x safer than the OEM E46 jack.

I would not use that for regular use, but in the 8 years I've had it I've never had to. Can't imagine carrying a heavy floor jack around all the time.

GregW / Oregon wrote

I would not use that for regular use, but in the 8 years I've had it I've never had to. Can't imagine carrying a heavy floor jack around all the time.

The floor jack is not that heavy. Trust me, you would come on this forum and thank me if you ever had to.

I got caught with a flat tire on a hill. The OEM jack is more dangerous not to mention I almost dropped the car on the rotor. I've since thrown that POS thing out.

I throw it in my car when ever I'm traveling far. I don't bother when I'm around town.

GregW / Oregon wrote

Mine is from the E46, and yes, it has the top sized to fit in the jack pad. It has this number on it, but not sure if it is the part no.: 117876 10 DE.

Edit: See following post.

That jack looks nice.

elp_jc wrote

The one listed for my car: http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemView.aspx?modelId=440&categoryId=11&productCategoryId=&menuId=0&subItemId=1&productId=276

Which unfortunately doesn't look anything like yours, but how secure is yours to raise our cars? My jack's 'top' fits perfectly inside the jacking pad's inner rectangle for a secure lift. But much rather have yours than nothing at all. Crap. Do you happen to have a part number? I also ordered the super expensive small BMW flashlight just to complete the 'stock look', and turns out it's too big to fit on the glove box holder (there's ANOTHER part number for that). Geez. Oh well. Thanks man.

I have the same kit. I have a car container box thing with velcro so it does not move around in the trunk. Thats where I put my kit in with other emergency stuff. Very secured. Something like these but more compact. Works Great. http://www.shopwiki.com/Folding+Car+Trunk+Organizer?page=1

if you don't have a spare then why have the jack?? if you get a flat aren't you screwed either way. i can't see carrying a jack unless you have a spare to go with it. not being a smart ass i am really asking. i assume most just get towed right??

unless your leaving the car there on the jack and bringing the wheel somewhere but i would rather flatbed my car then leave it on the side of the road on a jack that some punk could stop and let loose or something to be a dick

H Bomb wrote

if you don't have a spare then why have the jack?? if you get a flat aren't you screwed either way. i can't see carrying a jack unless you have a spare to go with it. not being a smart ass i am really asking. i assume most just get towed right??

unless your leaving the car there on the jack and bringing the wheel somewhere but i would rather flatbed my car then leave it on the side of the road on a jack that some punk could stop and let loose or something to be a dick

The jack is a necessary part of the equation.

jack + spare compact wheel/tire in the trunk = not being stranded or having to call a tow truck.

H Bomb wrote

if you don't have a spare then why have the jack?? if you get a flat aren't you screwed either way. i can't see carrying a jack unless you have a spare to go with it. not being a smart ass i am really asking. i assume most just get towed right??

unless your leaving the car there on the jack and bringing the wheel somewhere but i would rather flatbed my car then leave it on the side of the road on a jack that some punk could stop and let loose or something to be a dick

The compact spare is the essential piece of the equation: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253769

H Bomb wrote

if you don't have a spare then why have the jack??

Because if a rear tire (the usual culprits) gets punctured on the inside, I'd just remove it, plug it (yes, I have a flat tire repair kit), and reinstall it. Better than laying on your back looking for the puncture, and having to drive the car all dirty to roll it a few inches at a time until you find it, no? And if close to a city, taking just the wheel is another option. I like options .

But yes, adding the spare would be even better, and that's exactly what I plan to do one of these days when I have the time to look for everything. Take care.

Why even bother carrying a jack when you are not carrying a spare tire with you sounds pointless.

Trier Germany wrote

Why even bother carrying a jack when you are not carrying a spare tire with you sounds pointless.

Answered in the previous post.

I appreciate all the info and research that some of you have done, but why not just switch over to regular tires and carry a couple of cans of of that aerosol flat repair stuff rather than a jack and a spare?

Does anyone know if you can replace the front tires with regular (non RFT) tires and leave the RFT's on the back? I hate these RFT's and have to figure out how to get rid of them without breaking the bank.

elp_jc wrote

The one listed for my car: http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemView.aspx?modelId=440&categoryId=11&productCategoryId=&menuId=0&subItemId=1&productId=276

Which unfortunately doesn't look anything like yours, but how secure is yours to raise our cars? My jack's 'top' fits perfectly inside the jacking pad's inner rectangle for a secure lift. But much rather have yours than nothing at all. Crap. Do you happen to have a part number? I also ordered the super expensive small BMW flashlight just to complete the 'stock look', and turns out it's too big to fit on the glove box holder (there's ANOTHER part number for that). Geez. Oh well. Thanks man.

I have that same kit, and I’ve been carrying it since my first E46 M3. I don’t understand your issue. You say it weighs a ton. I haven’t weighed it, but I don’t believe can be much over 10 pounds. I don’t know how light a steel jack can be made, assuming I trust it to safely lift a car. I keep it between my compact spare tire and the side of the trunk, all held in place with a couple of nylon straps, and very secure. I don’t believe it is significantly larger or heavier than the one in the above response.