changing wheels DIY

coladuna

Member
I still have winter set of wheels on my E89 Z4 and thinking I should really swap over to my summer set ASAP.
I've changed punctured tyres before, but I was wondering whether I could just swap over to the summer tyres myself?
I don't have a driveway or garage as I live in a flat, so I will have to do it parked on the street and I don't have a torque wrench or proper jack (other than what came with the car) or jack stand.
What are your thoughts? It's just that getting a full set of wheel over to a workshop to get it fitted is going to be a massive hassle as Z4 can't really fit much in the boot....
 
Invest in a trolley jack and torque wrench. A garage will charge you to change them over so by the end of the year you when you change back to winters the kit will have paid for itself.
 
srhutch said:
Invest in a trolley jack and torque wrench. A garage will charge you to change them over so by the end of the year you when you change back to winters the kit will have paid for itself.
Definate yes to buying a decent trolley jack.
Although I have a couple of torque wrenches, I don't use them on my wheels. For many years I have used one of those wrenches that are extendable and made for wheel nuts. Do the nuts up as tight as you can with the wrench in it's closed position, and when you need to undo them, use it extended.
I'm sure purists will say that the correct torque setting is important, and in most instances I agree, however ordinary wheel braces were used by motorist without problems long before torque wrenches were used by the general public.
Scorp.
 
+1 As Srhutch said. I too live in a flat, but I have my own parking space which helps. Buying and storing the jack is the best and cheapest bet in the long term for you, it will save you pounds!

I bought a good low profile jack, thread link here http://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=40336

Also bought a good torque wrench from Machine Mart for about the £27 mark I think.
 
Cheers for the link. I just wanted to avoid buying stuff as storage is quite limited in my flat and I seem to be accumulating a lot of stuff as is... So I should really buy trolley jack, jack stand, and maybe a torque wrench? Wish I had a garage...
 
coladuna said:
Cheers for the link. I just wanted to avoid buying stuff as storage is quite limited in my flat and I seem to be accumulating a lot of stuff as is... So I should really buy trolley jack, jack stand, and maybe a torque wrench? Wish I had a garage...

Definitely worth getting a low-profile jack as Swiftly mentions. It's surprising just how many cars an ordinary jack won't fit under, especially if you're trying to jack a car on a road with significant camber, or on gravel / grass where you would want to put a board under it to spread the weight.

Worth investing in a torque wrench too so as to cut out the guesswork.
 
Guys,

I'm absolutely useless when it comes to tools and knowing what to buy.
For torque wrench I'm guessing I need to buy the wrench itself and also sockets to fit on to the wrench? Will these fit ok for changing E89 Z4 wheels?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000LFTSG6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000LFXMOU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

I will also probably get a trolley jack. For the purpose of just changing wheels twice a year, will these be sufficient or do I need to get a low profile one to be able to fit under the car? Any other suggestions?
I don't need the best jack out there as I won't be using it for anything other than changing wheels so cheap and reasonable quality jack should be enough..

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7406205.htm#pdpFullProductInformation
 
Surly someone can help you out come on forum!! As RJS said if you where closer I would also help.

Are there no other members in Aberdeen?

Great place I have been twice once in October :( very grey and once in July completely different place loved it. I think there was a bar in a church?? Now that gets my vote :thumbsup:
 
Can anyone please help me with my questions?
I know I'm probably asking really stupid question but I just don't want to buy stuff only to find out it doesn't fit or isn't fit for purpose...
 
Back
Top Bottom