Body frame and rust question

[bmwsmurf]

Hi guys,

(Link to pictures and parts:)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1113&mospid=47309&prod=19870100&btnr=41_0250&hg=41&fg=20

The bottom lip of my driver's side #4 is rusty and small parts of the lip are disintegrating. It makes me nervous about using the jack point (#6) and also worry about the structural integrity of the car. But it looks like the jack point might actually rely on #2 (left side member) to lift the car up.

Questions:

1) Is #4 ("covering left", or what we would call rocker panel) just purely cosmetic or is it an important structural component?

2) #2 seems like the main side structural component. How do you tell if #2 is rusting or not, since it's hidden?

Thanks in advance. This is for my newly aquired beater. Just trying to "save" it from impending doom. Help save a life! :)

[bmwsmurf]

anyone?

[kowalski]

number 2 is the jacking point the rest is cosmetic, if you really dont want to use either of those get a floor jack and there is jack points under the car in the front there is a box, behind number 2 you can put it there use a piece of wood to distributre some weight. in the rear you can jack on the controll arms.

[Dave]

Go to the articles on the home Page. Jordan and Josh (Eurospeed88) took a picture of the underside of an e30 to show the good jacking points.

Get a floor jack - you don't want to use that thing in your trunk except in an absolute emergency.

[kowalski]

yeah i hate that jack :evil: