[IanS100]

I'm getting older with a bad back, and wheels are getting heavier, so I'm not looking forward to swapping the wheels over to the winter set tomorrow. I've looked around for a wheel lifter but the only ones I can find are the 'Ezy Wheel Lifter', which was an brilliant Australian invention that seems to have bitten the dust, and the Sealey 'Tyre & Wheel Handling Dolly' which looks a bit pathetic. Does anyone use or know of anything similar that doesn't cost as much as the wheels?

PS. I've got a couple of those screw in pegs that replace the wheels bolts, which are a help but not a solution

Would a trolley jack help?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...nnel%3ddesktop

[MrPogle]

I might be misunderstanding this but can't you just raise the car to the height where the wheel lines up when it is resting on the ground.

[IanS100]

If the tyres are resting on the ground it's almost as hard to shove them sideways across the flags, whilst adjusting rotation. I can't be the only person that finds this difficult so I'm surprised that nobody's come up with a solution, apart from the 'Ezy Wheel Lifter'.

I've decided to give one of these a try: http://r.ebay.com/weAuj4

[SpeedTrip]

Bet the local Tyre fitting place would do the next 2 or 3 swaps for that !

[MrPogle]

Whilst not denying that this will allow you to manoeuvre and lift your wheel, the 680kg capacity suggests that it is designed to lift the wheel whilst it is attached to the car. What is the point? Do some people use 4 at once and then push the car about?

[Martin2C]

Aren't they used to move cars around in tight spaces, such as a race teams garage or,car showroom?

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by Martin2C

Aren't they used to move cars around in tight spaces, such as a race teams garage or,car showroom?

Yes, that's what there designed for, but if there designed for 1500 lbs they shouldn't have any problems with 50 lbs

Originally Posted by SpeedTrip

Bet the local Tyre fitting place would do the next 2 or 3 swaps for that !

Good thinking, but I can't get all four wheels in the car in one go, and if I need to take the wheels off for any other reason I can't exactly have the wheels taken off and then drag the car home to paint the calipers etc, so if it makes my life easier it'll be well worth the money.

[red-max]

Originally Posted by IanS100

Good thinking, but I can't get all four wheels in the car in one go

I returned my F10 earlier this year, and just so you know, I did bring home my full set of winter wheels and tyres in the car. One wheel went in the boot, two more laid carefully on the back seats (with cardboard and plastic sheet protecting the leather), and the other one on top of those. I should have take a photo, but they went in fairly easily, with room for a passenger to sit normally in the front passenger seat. I would second the opinion that it's easier to get your local tyre centre to swap the wheels over for you, rather than jack up the car and do it yourself. My local place is very friendly, and charges £25 for a 4-wheel swap. Of course I still have to lift the wheels into/out of the car and stack them in my garage, so it's cheaper but not as "hands off" as the BMW Dealer tyre and wheel package service, where they take care of everything (including storing the other wheels), but charge considerably more.

Originally Posted by IanS100

and if I need to take the wheels off for any other reason I can't exactly have the wheels taken off and then drag the car home to paint the calipers etc, so if it makes my life easier it'll be well worth the money.

Ok, I concede that... but how often do you do that?

[IanS100]

The wheel lift arrived and I swapped the wheels over at the weekend, and I have to admit I'm suitably impressed. It certainly made the job an awful lot easier, and a darn sight quicker than loading wheels in the car and traipsing round to the tyre fitter, so for anyone considering going down this route, I can highly recommend

[MrPogle]

Originally Posted by red-max

One wheel went in the boot,

I can get 2 wheels in the boot so long as it's the 2 fronts.

Originally Posted by red-max

BMW Dealer tyre and wheel package service, where they take care of everything (including storing the other wheels), but charge considerably more.

Out of interest, how much do yours charge? Until last year I was using BMW's wheel storage and swap service. It was £30 a year for storage and 2 swap-overs. So, very cheap indeed but maybe prices vary from dealer to dealer.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by MrPogle

I might be misunderstanding this but can't you just raise the car to the height where the wheel lines up when it is resting on the ground.

I fitted my winter wheel/tyre set yesterday and that's exactly what I did - surprising what a difference it made.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by IanS100

I'm getting older with a bad back, and wheels are getting heavier, so I'm not looking forward to swapping the wheels over to the winter set tomorrow. I've looked around for a wheel lifter but the only ones I can find are the 'Ezy Wheel Lifter', which was an brilliant Australian invention that seems to have bitten the dust, and the Sealey 'Tyre & Wheel Handling Dolly' which looks a bit pathetic. Does anyone use or know of anything similar that doesn't cost as much as the wheels?

PS. I've got a couple of those screw in pegs that replace the wheels bolts, which are a help but not a solution

I know what you mean by the wheels getting heavier as the years go by. I'm 68 and prone to back problems if I'm not careful and I did my changeover yesterday by only lifting each corner until the wheel was barely off the ground (as per Mr Pogle's suggestion). It really does make the job a lot easier.
Having said all that, the wheel dolly you mentioned does look pretty good, please let me know how you get on with it.
I notice that you use some threaded posts and that would certainly make the alignment a lot easier - please could you let me know where you bought them?

[kinhwear]

Originally Posted by IanS100

I

PS. I've got a couple of those screw in pegs that replace the wheels bolts, which are a help but not a solution

Where did you get the screw pegs from, I cannot find them with Google?

They sound like they may be very useful.

Thanks.

[IanS100]

Have a look on Amazon for "wheel bolt alignment tool"

[kinhwear]

Thanks

[Jon D]

Found these on E-bay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Alloy-...3D231466008055