Best way to store a car with no wheels on

Voodoomelon

Hey all.
I'm considering sending all x5 of my alloys to the UK for full refurbishment and repolishing. The process takes about 10 days total and i'm wondering what the best way would be to store the car whilst they're off getting done.

Car is an E38 728 and weighs 1.9 tonnes, it has four jack points on the car where I normally put axle stands, but I don't like the idea of leaving the car propped up for that long on stands.

I'd also be afraid of concrete blocks cracking, would wooden block be the best choice?

Thanks.

YouTookMyName

http://www.pxwheels.com/Store/list.php?brand=BMW

Check there for a straight swop, can pick them up from a tyre centre just outside enniskillen, they'll fit them for you.

You could use heavy duty axle stands.

CiniO

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I'd also be afraid of concrete blocks cracking, would wooden block be the best choice?

What's wrong with concrete blocks.
I kept mine on them for a week once.

peasant

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I don't like the idea of leaving the car propped up for that long on stands.

Why not?

You have them already, they have been proven to work, a few days won't do any harm.

Unless of course you prefer the redneck charms of wooden blocks ....

hrcbob

Unless its a rust bucket axle stands under the jacking poiints or a decent suspension link with the chassis rails should be perfect..
If youre still nervous try source a set of cheap steels from the local scrapper..

E39MSport

I use a couple of sleepers if its a long job. Solid as a solid thing. You could do worse than support the wheels a bit too to take the strain off the suspension bushings.

Re: the refurb. Why the UK? Theres a few places here. I got mine done in Collins Engineering in Bray and it is an excellent job.

-Corkie-

CiniO wrote: »

What's wrong with concrete blocks.
I kept mine on them for a week once.

Theres some difference in his 7 series and a sardine tin Fiat Bravo. Absoloute madness using cavity blocks.

Best idea is what E39 said is to cut up a railway sleeper and use that. I know the axle stands would be OK but at least you will sleep when you know your baby cant move.:)

Voodoomelon

Thanks for the feedback, maybe I will just use the axle stands, i have four of them.

I want to use Lepsons in the UK as they have a special diamond cutting process that works wonders on polished wheels. They are also regarded as one of the best in the UK.

Here is a job they did on one M-Parallel wheel, I want to get all x5 of mine done:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/BMW-18-M-Parallel-Refurbish-Alloy-Wheel-37-7-E38-Front-/220709412731?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item33634e5f7b

How much did the crowd in Bray set you back E39 and what did you get done?

CiniO

-Corkie- wrote: »

Theres some difference in his 7 series and a sardine tin Fiat Bravo. Absoloute madness using cavity blocks.

My bravo is 1000kg
His 728 is 1800kg

Only 200kg difference on each block.

I'm sure they can take much more

E39MSport

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback, maybe I will just use the axle stands, i have four of them.

I want to use Lepsons in the UK as they have a special diamond cutting process that works wonders on polished wheels. They are also regarded as one of the best in the UK.

Here is a job they did on one M-Parallel wheel, I want to get all x5 of mine done:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/BMW-18-M-Parallel-Refurbish-Alloy-Wheel-37-7-E38-Front-/220709412731?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item33634e5f7b

How much did the crowd in Bray set you back E39 and what did you get done?

I think it was 450 for 5 well knackered 16" cruiser wheels incl fitting my new BFG's. Blasted, painted to original colour and lacquered. They're not polished though. Might be worth giving him a shout. For the life of me I can't remember the guys name. He's decent though.

I'll probably be dropping the recently acquired LS400 wheels over to him.

edit: - just checked the link to their work - very nice indeed.

Big Nasty

Go down to a breakers and get four steel wheels, 5er wheels would do!

E39MSport

.. and take pics for us

Voodoomelon

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Go down to a breakers and get four steel wheels, 5er wheels would do!

E39 stud pattern is slightly different to E38s as far as I know, M-Pars from an E39 won't fit an E38.

€450, hmm thats a bit pricey. I can ship to the UK and have the whole lot done for just over €400. I think ill go with the UK crowd, they seem to be very, very good. Will post pics alright if I go ahead!

mickdw

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Go down to a breakers and get four steel wheels, 5er wheels would do!

Not a bad plan, at least it will stop the neighbours giving you dirty looks and calling a meeting to get the guy with the 'scrap car' to take it away.:p

E39MSport

Voodoomelon wrote: »

E39 stud pattern is slightly different to E38s as far as I know, M-Pars from an E39 won't fit an E38.

€450, hmm thats a bit pricey. I can ship to the UK and have the whole lot done for just over €400. I think ill go with the UK crowd, they seem to be very, very good. Will post pics alright if I go ahead!

I can't remember tbh. 400 seems like good bang for the euro to get them over, done and back though. Get some pics up when they're on.

darragh o meara

I'd go with axle stands, have two railcars up on them 6 months of the year and they never budged. Don't use trolley jacks or any jack for that matter, they have a tendency to slip or go down.

Concrete blocks will Mark the underside of the car,

Timber sleepers wouldn't get you up to a height high enough to get the wheel off unless they're on their side which means they are less stable standing upright.

Axle stands are designed for this job but get good quality ones that don't fold up. I got 2 pairs last week (draper) from auto factors for 30 euro and they'd hold a lot bigger than your 7series.

Cookie_Monster

Voodoomelon wrote: »

How much did the crowd in Bray set you back E39 and what did you get done?

90-110 is what they quote a corner.

I had a wheel with a buckle knocked out and refurbed for 100