Here is what I use for jacking up E31 safely. I made up a set of jack adapters that will sit in the recess on a floor jack lifting pad
adapter:
http://www.mwrench.com/pictures/jacking/jackadapter.JPG
adapter in the jack:
http://www.mwrench.com/pictures/jacking/adapteronjack.JPG
jack adapter inserted where the jackpad was:
http://www.mwrench.com/pictures/jacking/jackinplace.JPG
Notice the jackstand? I found one a set that would fit inside the jack rails:
http://www.mwrench.com/pictures/jacking/jackinplace3.JPG

I made a set of four adapters and have four floor jacks with jackstands, and can safely have the car off the wheels. Nothing can slip or wiggle that would cause the car to come down on me! the jack adapters that I made prevent any damage to the plastic quarter panel covers.

I will have the writeup and pictures of the strut/shock removal later.

Happy New Year everyone!

Nice stuff there... Impressive.

Awesome as usual Ed, Thanks for sharing!