Using jack stands to change gearbox oil

xmicros · 04-23-2009, 08:55 AM

I want to change my manual transmission fluid and I need to get the car up high enough to work under it. I have jack stands but I have never put this car (1985 325e) up on four jack stands before (or any car for that matter). I started to put it up on the stands, but I am really unsure where to jack the car and where to place the stands on this vehicle. I had the front up on two of the stands placed at the jack points, but I was just not comfortable trying to get the rear up as well. Is there a technique for doing this?
I'm not even sure I would be comfortable working under the car while it's up on these stands. (They are 3 ton stands)
I have a set of ramps which I would feel a lot more comfortable using, but then the car is not level when I drain & fill the oil. Is it OK to do the gear oil change with the front raised up? Would it really be a problem?

Yurick · 04-23-2009, 09:53 AM

Why don't you use the ramps for the front and jack stands for the rear?

xmicros · 04-23-2009, 10:57 AM

I've been under the car with the front up on ramps and the rear wheels chocked, but never tried raising the rear while the front end is up on the ramps. Have you ever tried this? Maybe it's me, but I'm just a little squeemish working under the car. I don't want my wife to come home and find me dead under the car.

Yurick · 04-23-2009, 11:16 AM

Well,
Your options are somewhat limited, unless you happen to have a car lift in your garage.

xmicros · 04-24-2009, 04:30 AM

I ended up using the ramps in front and jack stands in back. It was kind of a pain to do, and it's a messy job. I read a good suggestion in another forum and I wish I read it before I did the job.
It said to just jack up the front passenger side high enough to do the job (and use a jack stand), fill the tranny till it drips out the fill hole. BEFORE putting the fill plug back in, lower the vehicle and let any excess fluid drain into a pan. (This prevents from being overfilled). Then raise vehicle back up & install plug.

It might waste a little bit of fluid, but it's quicker & safer than putting the vehicle up on four jack stands.

Yurick · 04-24-2009, 10:39 AM

Working on cars at home, sometimes you just have to improvise the best you can.

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

4 jack stands is perfectly safe. Each one only hold 1/4 of the weight so that's less than 1000 lbs on most cars.

Also the cars weight distribution is such that if any one jack stand failed the car would not fall.

Leave a jack under there as well if you are worried.

Are you trying to get it up on 4 jack stands using 1 jack? You really need 2 jacks, 3 is best.

xmicros · 04-25-2009, 07:51 AM

Yeah I only have one jack. I guess I should invest in another one. Also, there just doesn't seem to be enough spots to place the jack stands on the e30. I wish someone could show me a diagram as to where to place the jack stands. I just don't want to damage anything. I guess I did OK where I had them, but it was just the uncertainty that was making me nervous.