1st Gen R52 Cooper Convertible Stupid jack points!

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by davavd, May 23, 2009.

  1. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    The OEMs are about $15 each.

    The TSW - Texas Speedwerks (not TRW) ones are certainly more expensive, but also much nicer. If you rarely jack up your car, it won't matter. If, like me, you jack it up almost every week, the OEM points will get "rickety" fairly quickly.

    But I went almost three years without losing a jack point, before buying the TSW ones when I saw that one of my originals was about to fall off. So they *can* last quite a while.
     
  2. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    OEM ones run about 5 bucks a pop. So yeah, TSW ones are a hella lot more expensive. However, they are so worth it. Plus they even have a model to use for those of us with the OEM Aero Kit side skirts.
     
  3. Way Motor Works

    Way Motor Works New Member

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    We use alot of the TSW jack points and they work well, and don't come out. But you are right the cost is a bit. If you plan on jacking up your car more offten they may be worth the cost, but otherwise stock one should work too. I've got some good used ones if you need.
     
  4. howsoonisnow1985

    howsoonisnow1985 New Member

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    A Must for GPs

    I just installed the TSW jack points and M14 to M12 studs, last saturday, sheesus I should have done this before. A must for all GP's, you don't need to lug around that big bag of orange blocks, no need to hold those orange blocks under your car while you slide jack in, and any jack will fit under TSW jack points even if you have 17 or even 15 inch wheels without having to get a pair of 2x4 blocks to drive over. BTW the studs have also contributed to more simplicity in changing my wheels from oem 18s, 17s and 15s, and you don't have to balance the GP wheel with my toe while screwing in bolts, simply slide on wheel and tighten nuts.
     
  5. miniowner

    miniowner New Member

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    pictures would be awesome....:)
     
  6. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    Does this pertain to prior 2009 only? I have never had a single problem with my OEM ones, so this thread is news to me. Should I be concerned? :confused5:

    Jim
     
  7. Rally

    Rally New Member
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    They're the same design on the second gen and would be susceptible to the same issues.
     
  8. Mr. Jim

    Mr. Jim Mudshark
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    My oem ones were fine, but I got the TSW ones as I jack the car every time it's washed to remove the wheels. Also they are slightly shorter so the jack fits nice as others have stated.
     
  9. jtbrown

    jtbrown New Member

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    Since it's a related topic...

    Obviously there are designated jack points to use; are there also specific points one should put their jackstands at underneath?
     
  10. Grasshopper

    Grasshopper New Member

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    Jack points

    I did the same thing but mine did hit the bottom of the door. Scrapes all the way down to metal. What is
     
  11. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #31 Minidave, May 27, 2012
    Last edited: May 27, 2012
    I made these......2 peices of 2" thick walled square tubing with a pocket on each end that fits over the jack points, kinda a cross between the 2X4 method and using the jack points. Once it's up the jack stands can go anywhere under the tube, but I generally put them under the jackpoints. These don't bend and crunch like a wooden 2X4 does!

    Then you go to the other side and do the same thing. Works a treat, but I only use them when I want the whole car up in the air, like to do brakes. For tire roatation I just use the floor jack under the jack point.

    BTW, if the plastic block is gone, there's no reason you can't lift the car at the same point, that's where it's meant to be lifted and there's still the square box that the block fits into to lift on.......I did that on my first MINI as all the blocks were gone and I didn't even know it was supposed to have them.
     

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  12. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. For those of us who can't fashion something like this out of metal, would a 4x4 block of wood work equally well?
     
  13. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    You mean under the jack point or down the side in place of a 2X?

    The only issue I can see is the extra thickness might make it difficult to get a floor jack under the side unless you have one of those low profile jacks....
     
  14. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    TSW jack points are the best. I also use the 30 inch 2x4 method to lift each side and just slide my jack stands under for any service I need to do.
     
  15. Way Motor Works

    Way Motor Works New Member

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