Getting under the car
 

What do you all use to get under your car to change the oil and whatnot? I don't have a lift or a pit in my garage and I'd rather do the work myself than pay some punk kid at the lube shop to do it.

I've got some steel ramps from Costco (probably 15 years old) that I use to get under my car. The other widely accepted method of raising a car is using a floor jack and jack stands.

Ramps - Pros
Easy and quick to use, very stable, useable in driveway.

Ramps - Cons
Two man operation(1), not suitable for low cars(2), doesn't raise the car that much.

Note 1: Usually my brother will drive and I'll place the ramps and spot. You could do it with one person, but there's a good chance of driving off the end of the ramps.
Note 2: I use a couple of 2x8's in front of the ramps to get keep the front facia from hitting the ramps. (FC stock ride hight)

Jackstands - Pros
Requires a level surface, can raise the car pretty high, lifts wheels off of the ground.

Jackstands - Cons
Not suitable for sloped surfaces, not the most stable platform, a bit time consuming to setup.

I guess what it really comes down to is having a level surface to work on. Level surface = jackstands, Sloped surface = ramps.

i just use a set of plastic ramps and a jack and stands in back. or i can back my car onto some ramps and jack up the front to get the wheels of fthe ground.
whatever u do never trust the parking brake always put some chocks or bricks behind the wheels that arent in the air

floor jack + jack stands. It's all you need. You can pick both up at autozone.

you go ahead and buy the ramps and for some reason your car doesn't start, goodluck pushing it up the ramps. A nice jack and jackstands makes everything perfect, no mess ups if everything is done right

If you take the A/C out of the car it becomes light enough you can push it up the ramps, or so i read ...








Oh hell it's friday!

Taking 50lbs off of a 2800lb car makes it that light?! ZOMG!! LETS DO IT!!

Yes, I know it sounds ludicrous...but you have to read some of the first gen stuff about guys 'ripping the AC out' to understand how this was just sarcastic humor.

1. Raise door and drive into air conditioned shop.
2. Pull into stall between twin post lift.
3. Swing lift arms under vehicle.
4. Push button and watch vehicle go up.

The joys of being a BMW tech.

my fb hasnt run in a few months and i never have any trouble pushing it onto ramps when im messin' around with it.

My car ('89 rx7 gtu, stock) wont go up my ramps, the bumper hits the ramps befor the wheels do.

LOL I have to lay down 2, 2X8s, staggered and beveled in front of each wheel, just to be able to get the floor jack under my widebody.