Jacking a GP

[AprilWhine]

There have been a few questions about jacking up a GP, so here's some pics of ours being jacked up with the OEM jack. Also, the floor jack pictured with the block is used to fit inside the aero kit.

Other pics show the aero grill installed, and OEM 16" wheels, good for the pothole infested streets of Virginia.

[GBMINI]

What's the brake clearance with those wheels - I thought the JCW brakes wouldn't allow those wheels?

You ned some "laying on the floor" pics to see how the "factory" jack works with the blocks & trim - if it works, why didn't they include one?!

[Jim Ray]

1/4 inch clearance with the 16" wheels. No recommended by BMW because of inadequate cooling. If you drive the way I drive, the brakes don't need that much cooling.

My take on the jacks it that it adds weight. I just wanted to see if I could borrow a jack if I were at a meet and needed to plug a tire. I did not use the orange blocks, that is with the stock lift blocks only. It is a close fit, care must be taken.

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

What's the brake clearance with those wheels - I thought the JCW brakes wouldn't allow those wheels?

You ned some "laying on the floor" pics to see how the "factory" jack works with the blocks & trim - if it works, why didn't they include one?!

[herbie hind]

what kills me is if you put your jack under the rubber pad to lift the car then there's no where to put the jackstand . so you gotta put the jack behind the pad towards the center more on a piece of wood . then put your stand under the pad when it's up . i'm still gonna weld something up to allow lifting both sides at the same time from front or back using suspention points . bites not having a frame.

[herbie hind]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jim Ray (original)

1/4 inch clearance with the 16" wheels. No recommended by BMW because of inadequate cooling. If you drive the way I drive, the brakes don't need that much cooling.

My take on the jacks it that it adds weight. I just wanted to see if I could borrow a jack if I were at a meet and needed to plug a tire. I did not use the orange blocks, that is with the stock lift blocks only. It is a close fit, care must be taken.

i know a guy with a vette and he says he can plug a tire without lifting the car .

[stargate]

Shame to see that you've had to fit 16" Wheels to your GP instead of the super looking 18's.

But I can sympathise, I visited Boston MASS. last year and was disgusted with the state of the roads. I felt I was lucky that I had hired a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The only time you get roads in the UK that have potholes are the ones on the real country lanes.

Are your roads maintained by the State that you are in or by an overall organisation for the USA?
In the UK we have the Highways Agency who look after all of the roads.

Next time round I think you should vote for a new President whose interested in Car Racing! he'd soon sort it out!

Mark.

[AprilWhine]

Roads are the responsibility of each state. Interstate highways are maintained by the federal government. That is why the quality of surface streets varies wildly across the country. California has about the best but they collect a lot of tax to support the roads. New Jersey may be the worst.

[Jim Ray]

To add to the mess, City streets are the responsibility of the City. Norfolk Va has no budget for pothole repair.

The 18" will just have to be happy with going to MINI meets.

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jim Ray (original)

The 18" will just have to be happy with going to MINI meets.

Not for long ...

[MCSDCWGP06]

Due to the Big Dig in Boston much of the expenditure on road maintainence has been curbed until recently. Slowly but surely roads are being given attention; Mass Pike I-90 which is now great fun to drive on, although I am not sure it is state money that funds this work? Around cambridge MIT have had huge investment in creating nice roads with cycle lanes, shame they don't look after the rest of the state.

Currently I am driving my GP around New England at a pedestrian pace given the road conditions, when I do find an smooth open section I set the horses free, so much fun!

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by herbie hind (original)

i know a guy with a vette and he says he can plug a tire without lifting the car .

Done that a number of times. Finding the hole is the hard part.

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by MCSDCWGP06 (original)

... Slowly but surely roads are being given attention

They've been laying sewers from Gloucester to and through Essex for the last few years, but they're just finishing up the main work & re-surfacing in time to give GPMINI relatively good roads for my journey to/from work

[St00ge]

Quote: Originally Posted by herbie hind (original)

what kills me is if you put your jack under the rubber pad to lift the car then there's no where to put the jackstand . so you gotta put the jack behind the pad towards the center more on a piece of wood . then put your stand under the pad when it's up . i'm still gonna weld something up to allow lifting both sides at the same time from front or back using suspention points . bites not having a frame.

ditto...makes the car bloody hard to work on.

Is there any visible point where i should put the plank of wood, or is it as close to the pad as possible (from the centre of the car that is)?

[Lorien]

dont get it. why u change the wheels?

i also got an extra set. R94s but that is for winter tires.

what is your reason?

[AprilWhine]

The roads here are very rough, lots of potholes. These wheels give a smoother ride.