I am seriously considering buying one of these...... like a dream come true!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mTxB-8CTIU

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Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

I can't find a price or where to buy one, but would be very interested in one as well. Let me know if you find where to get one!

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Von
Fairport, NY
1973 Unimog 416 Doka
1980 Unimog 416 Doka
1981 Unimog 416 Doka
1984 Euro 280CE w/diesel conversion
1985 300TD Estate wagon
(I really need to stop buying these things!)
http://vonsmog.com

No, the lift takes up all of the valuable real estate under the car where you want to be able to work. Convenient for rotating tires maybe.

The other hesitation is a 3000lb. car on such a small rotating point. I wouldn't trust it for very long. I would rather invest the same money in a good set of Race Ramps.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

The latching device looks like it has all the shear strength of a bobby pin!

Don't you need stands anyway? Given the light balance, the engine will come down on you as you turn the oil pan drain plug. It'll be more annoying than painful since you can blow the car back on its rear axle.

Sixto
83 300SD
98 E320 wagon

Interesting design in that it also tilts ounce it is up so you can really get either the front or back up pretty high and looks like the guy used an electric impact gun to power the lift unless I viewed it wrong and it was air he used? I too am looking to get a lift soon what I have found out is there are basically 3 types of lifts the one you have shown a scissor lift, a 1 post, 2post, 4 post design they each have their good points and bad depending on your wants and needs. With the scissor lift you have shown not bad but yes does take up valuable real estate, and would nothing get high enough to stand under. The big question is yes what does it cost and where can you buy one? I personally am leaning towards a 2 post fixed lift you can probably pick a used one up or even new in the $1500-$2,000 range but then again it is fixed non moveable and you need a high ceiling. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Maybe we could put a group order in the one you have shown and get a good price on it?

A tire shop franchise in the Chicago area uses a stouter version of this design that uses a pair of air cylinders to provide the lift. The shop near me likes it for summer use in the parking lot. But they are only doing tires & flat repairs. IIRC they paid about $3500 for it from the vendor (I think it was 4500#). A good new 8000#, domestic built, staggered two post lift runs about the same or more. The off shore stuff that is somewhat lighter duty can be had for around $2000. I picked up an older used two post 8K# lift for $750 & some sweat. I bought it as part of a package when a shop was closing. I had to buy all the lifts & remove them, all in one day. If you google auto lifts you will find lots of domestic vendors of DIY and Pro grade lifts for reasonable $$.

A real two post lift from Twin Busch is cheaper and will be much more useful in my eyes.

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'80 300SD - '83 240D - '00 E55 AMG - '02 G500

You are probably right Harvmag providing you have the ceiling height and are willing to bolt it down in one spot my thoughts also. I have never seen one like in vidio that can seesaw the vehicle when up pretty innovative but also could be more dangerous. If you wanted to pull a trans. or do exhaust work that scissor lift would be useless.

Check out this lift:

MaxJax Portable Car Lift - Home Garage Lift - Dannmar - MaxJax USA

It's what I use and am very happy with it. 89 inches max. height and portable. The only complaint I have is that the hydraulic hoses that come with it are barely long enough.

Around $2000.

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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"

I love this!... i just wish it had a higher capacity... i wanna lift my trucks...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Yes I have been doing some research on lifts what I have discovered are there are basically 4 different concepts.
1. EZLift need 2 basically a tripod on 3 wheels lift car with floor jack put under car front and rear lift height is nonadjustable 17" cost $1000 made in USA endorsed by Jay Leno.

2.Scissor lift Harbor Freight sells one portable moveable lift height 53" capacity 6,000lbs. cost $1500.

3.Two post lift bolt down or for low clearance ceilings they make a bolt down portable unit that can be unbolted with 8 bolts and moved out of way when not being used cost approx. $2,000 lift height would be around 48"- 52". The reg. bolt down unit lift height would be higher according to what you ceiling height would allow.

4.Four post lift with these being the safest and sturdiest and most costly but they are on wheels and can moved on concrete floor very easily would again go high enough that you could stand underneath if ceiling allows and also could assist in pulling motors out if you attach block and hoist attachment to. I know a place I could put a bulk order in new and purchase for about $1900 out the door picked up at east coast facility. They do not have to be bolted down.

So yes there are many different types of lifts and hoists on the market prices varying from approx. $1000- $2600 new less if found used. Just have to decide all your wants and needs and go for it to make life easier while working on cars.

I had an in-ground hoist at the shop in MI and that was nice to have as the column serves as the uprights and it's completely out of the way. Mine was a "deep U" so there was clearance to pull a trans, etc. It was (IIRC) $1,000 used though I did need to have the top seal replaced. These are getting harder to find and there are environmental concerns in some areas because they can leak hydraulic oil into the water table.

My current hoist is Chinese made but with an American power unit that looks the same as that portable unit. It was $1700 delivered to my door from Pace Tools - the best deal I could find at the time. It has all the safety goodies including ratchet locks so the hoist is locked every 3" or so automatically as it goes up. The hoist columns do get in the way of the car doors and get in the way a bit when painting but all in all a good deal. The water table here is only about 18" below ground level so an inground was out of the question anyhow.

Dan

So did anyone ever get any info. On that lift in 1st post as to where or how much they cost? Looks to be a German product? When trying to find one I came across another name siecar that looks to be same lift only different color and made in Mexico. I tried to contact both companies waiting for a response. Seems they are nice in tight spaces and only need a drill to lift. Nice that they have that see saw ability drawbacks are about a 20" lift and the connecting middle part might get in your way depending on what you are doing.

Seems inconvenient to store in tight quarters. I guess you can slip it sideways behind a bench if it's not heavy. No hydraulics to leak.

Sixto
83 300SE
98 E320 wagon

Well the way I see it is it takes up about the very least storage you are gonna find. Do not have to worry about hydraulics, and it tilts which is a big plus if you want to get either the nose or rear way up. I see an opportunity here for someone to come up with a really innovative design for a lift I think it is a segment of the tool market that is overlooked. Esco makes a mini lift jack air operated that seems a step above a floor jack and good for 5,500lbs. and a height about 20". You could see the lift at www.esco.net. I imagine that autolift 3000 costs over a grand and I do not know if it is available in the U.S.