[dradernh]

Originally Posted by ggggbmw

I'm liking the tape idea. I'll have to try that the next time I jack the car. Only needs to stay in long enough to not fall out until they rest on the jack or stands. I'm a bit tired of pinching my fingers holding it in place while I run the jack up to them. For the money those Reverse Logic pads just seemed goofy. Be nicer if there was a more positive retention system.

dradernh , I thought you had the fancy Reverse Logic tilting block posts for those Esco jack stands? Or was it someone else? Those look real nice, but pricey, and I'm guessing a bit fiddly to deal with.

I've been using my cheap Northern Tool jack stands with the Y-shaped tops. They are just narrow enough so that one arm of the Y will fit in the jack pocket when the Y is oriented lengthwise to the car. I do have to be careful that the other leg of the Y isn't hitting anything. A bit tricky to place, but they lock in nicely when the weight is on them, and it doesn't seem to damage the lift pockets any.

Then again, I'm wondering just how critical it is to use jack pads anyway. My BMW dealer doesn't use them. Their lifts just have plain rubber pads they center on the lift points. The plastic seems to be strong enough that if the load is evenly spread around the lift point receptacle edge they don't deform. The flat rubber pads on the stock Esco jacks would seem to be fine.

First, thanks for posting, as you make many excellent points.

Re the tape approach: I won't be surprised if tape turns out to be the obvious solution to using jack pads in an easy-to-manage fashion. Sometimes, simpler is better, isn't it. The Reverse Logic jack pad solution would have worked better if the orange silicone plugs functioned more like a brake caliper piston; e.g., extending hydraulically by, say, pressing a button on the bottom of the pad after inserting it into the car's jack pad pocket. As in: slap the jack pad into place, push the button, slide the jack stand into place, and your'e good to go!

Re Reverse Logic's tilting block posts: yup, I'm that guy. I've used them once, and they're not a solution to the problem, as you still have to futz around a bit before dropping the car down. It was only after I had them in hand that I took the time to actually think about what I'd have to do to use them. Before I used them that one time I realized I needn't have bought them - they're just as fiddly (as you say, and well-said, too!) as the jack pads. Still, full marks to Reverse Logic for making very nice pieces, and I mean that sincerely. It's their pieces I'll tape if that's what I end up doing.

Re your Northern Tool jack stands: you know, in the end it's all about what each of us can find that works for us. I'm still determined to use my Esco jack stands, if only because I feel safer with my car's side(s) being up on stands with their footprint and top.

Re whether or not jack pads are even needed: This is an excellent point. I suspect a BMW dealer's equipment (and its techs) are much gentler on the car's jack pads than are many other shops. I bought extra (car) jack pads just in case I ever need them, and while they're certainly sturdy (easy to confirm when you're holding one in your hand), they're not going to stand up to the treatment they'll receive in some shops. A couple of mine have become very mildly misshapen since I bought my car (it's only been lifted at the dealer once, but quite a few times at my independent shop, even though based upon my observations that shop is exceedingly careful to not abuse customers' equipment), and I wonder with what frequency owners are having them replaced. But yeah, do we even really need to be fooling with these overpriced hockey pucks in the first place. Food for thought.