Jacking up an E70 X5

[MattGTA]

Hi,

Could do with a bit of advice from the PH collective.

I'm selling the X5 (long story - I'll stick a detailed post of my gripes in the BMW section) which means removing the 19" SE wheels I've been running it on and putting it back on the (back breaking) M-Sport 20" wheels it came with.

I can't easily get to a tyre place this week, so I'm considering doing it myself - armed with a medium sized trolley jack and a willing friend.

So what do you reckon - am I kidding myself to think I can jack the thing high enough to do the job, or is this going to result in an expensive disaster.

To state the obvious, I'd rather avoid dropping the car on it's nuts if possible.



Thanks
Matt

[TEKNOPUG]

Pump the tyres up. Support the vehicle with axel stands. Let the air out of the tyres and remove the wheels. No jacking required.

[MattGTA]

TEKNOPUG said:

Pump the tyres up. Support the vehicle with axel stands. Let the air out of the tyres and remove the wheels. No jacking required.

Thanks.

I did wonder about that, but assumed the RFTs would maintain their shape when deflated.

Also, the M Sport wheels are wearing 335/35/20 rubber, so almost all of the diameter is wheel, rather than tyre.

[NoelWatson]

MattGTA said:

Also, the M Sport wheels are wearing 335/35/20 rubber, so almost all of the diameter is wheel, rather than tyre.

O/T, but isn't that supercar sized tyres?

[GPT]

TEKNOPUG said:

Pump the tyres up. Support the vehicle with axel stands. Let the air out of the tyres and remove the wheels. No jacking required.

I've never done this but surely it won't work. Won't the small amount of 'extra-room' generated by taking the air out of the tyres be more than used up by sag from the suspension once the wheel is removed?

[MattGTA]

NoelWatson said:

MattGTA said:

Also, the M Sport wheels are wearing 335/35/20 rubber, so almost all of the diameter is wheel, rather than tyre.

O/T, but isn't that supercar sized tyres?

You'd think so, wouldn't you. It's certainly one of the most ridiculous tyres I've ever seen on this kind of vehicle. I took them off within a couple of hundred miles (replacing with 255/55/19 from the SE) but even those, coupled with M-sport suspension are hard work on UK roads.

I'm a BMW fan, but IMHO they've got it wrong with their pimped approach to the current X5 - concentrating entirely on looks and body roll, rather than practicality and ride quality. (I've previously been happy with 5ers and M3s on RFTs, so this isn't a crusade against RFTs)

To be honest, we bought it because my wife wanted 7 seats and I didn't want an MPV. Not the best reason in the world and the result is that we're going back to a 5 series within 6 months. You live and learn....

[Beyond Rational]

You could take it offroad and get it cross axled.

[MattGTA]

Beyond Rational said:

You could take it offroad and get it cross axled.

What, they go offroad? (We did park on a grass covered car-park once, does that count?)

[NoelWatson]

Beyond Rational said:

You could take it offroad and get it cross axled.

I used this technique with a Citroen Saxo to change the rear wheel, but I guess it depends on X5 weight distribution.

[8400rpm]

You'll need quite a manly trolley jack to get one of those things in the air high enough, so that the suspension travel is covered and the tyre gets off the ground. Good luck sir!

[Deluded]

Surely the car comes with a jack capable of jacking the car up high enough to change a wheel?

[8400rpm]

Deluded said:

Surely the car comes with a jack capable of jacking the car up high enough to change a wheel?

No, as he mentioned the car came with runflats, hence dispensing with the need for any kind of jack. Sneaky German pig-dogs!

[MattGTA]

Deluded said:

Surely the car comes with a jack capable of jacking the car up high enough to change a wheel?

Nope, just run flats.

[NoelWatson]

8400rpm said:

so that the suspension travel is covered and

I didn't think they had much suspension travel

[MattGTA]

I'm going to go for it, will let you know how it goes !

[GKP]

Jack the car on the bottom of each suspension unit in turn.

[TEKNOPUG]

GPT said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Pump the tyres up. Support the vehicle with axel stands. Let the air out of the tyres and remove the wheels. No jacking required.

I've never done this but surely it won't work. Won't the small amount of 'extra-room' generated by taking the air out of the tyres be more than used up by sag from the suspension once the wheel is removed?

Didn't realise that they were quite so low pro. Maybe just require jacking up the suspension slightly?

[ZesPak]

MattGTA said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Pump the tyres up. Support the vehicle with axel stands. Let the air out of the tyres and remove the wheels. No jacking required.

Thanks.

I did wonder about that, but assumed the RFTs would maintain their shape when deflated.

Also, the M Sport wheels are wearing [b]335/35/20[b] rubber, so almost all of the diameter is wheel, rather than tyre.

HOWLY fk THAT'S WIDE!!!

What do those wheels weight?
I'm assuming there is more rolling involved than lifting

Edited by ZesPak on Tuesday 8th June 14:02

[off_again]

Its not an air suspension model is it? Mine is and tyre fitters get really worried (not an issue with mine by the way), but for some you need to switch off the computer to allow you to do all of the wheels as they get confused and screw everything up. If its not then just ignore me....

:-)

[GKP]

off_again said:

Its not an air suspension model is it? Mine is and tyre fitters get really worried (not an issue with mine by the way), but for some you need to switch off the computer to allow you to do all of the wheels as they get confused and screw everything up. If its not then just ignore me....

:-)

The Range Rover uses a similar system and I've no idea why tyre fitters get all scared about lifting them. The car has been designed with off roading in mind. It won't care it its belly is perched on a rock and all four wheels are dangling in fresh air. The suspension won't suddenly explode or stop working. Your only problem will be finding a suitable tree to winch from.