[GC0215]

Hi all,

I've recently had a 4 wheel alignment done on my F30 330d at Kwik Fit and now the rear is VERY skittish on even the slightest of bumps (gives a little wiggle but noticeable). All 4 wheels were out of alignment and have a print out to prove this. Any ideas as to what could be happening or is it just me?

TIA

[Clanger]

My experience of kwik fit type places is very poor. Try taking it to a somewhere that has a Hunter system if possible.

If you’re up north, Bram Racing near Castleford are very good at car set up.

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by GC0215

Hi all,

I've recently had a 4 wheel alignment done on my F30 330d at Kwik Fit and now the rear is VERY skittish on even the slightest of bumps (gives a little wiggle but noticeable). All 4 wheels were out of alignment and have a print out to prove this. Any ideas as to what could be happening or is it just me?

TIA

Also check tyre pressures, maybe they checked them before alignment and over inflated them?

Unfortunately quick fit do have a bad reputation. However does sound as if something is wrong. Every time I've had alignment of 4 wheels it comes out better than when it went in !!

[GC0215]

Thanks for the advice, I've booked it in with a local garage in Lincoln with a Hunter system fora 4 wheel alignment. If I'd known this before I'd have avoided Kwik Fit...

[Alscoob]

Originally Posted by GC0215

If I'd known this before I'd have avoided Kwik Fit...

Ahh, don't worry, we're all wise after the event!!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by GC0215

Hi all,

I've recently had a 4 wheel alignment done on my F30 330d at Kwik Fit and now the rear is VERY skittish on even the slightest of bumps (gives a little wiggle but noticeable). All 4 wheels were out of alignment and have a print out to prove this. Any ideas as to what could be happening or is it just me?

TIA

Assuming they have done a good job and tyre pressures are correct, (original tyres?) to correct a misaligned chassis, could simply be the way the tyres have worn on a bad alignment and now have a poor footprint.

[GC0215]

Potentially, I've only had the car since July so no idea how long it's been out of alignment. It has new tyres as part of the deal so they are only 3 months/4500 miles old

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by GC0215

Potentially, I've only had the car since July so no idea how long it's been out of alignment. It has new tyres as part of the deal so they are only 3 months/4500 miles old

With that limited mileage, (unless the tyres are showing bad wear patterns), I'd be looking at how accurate the geometry really is. Has to be a second opinion.

An alignment is only as good as the rig setup and the operator.

[Eddamoo]

Due to the amount of adjustment available on a BMW and the potential repurcussions, i would always take it to a specialist. I had exactly the same issue with my old Z4. Their machine must be out, or operator error.

Do you have the before and after pictures to share?

Take a look down the length of the car from behind the rear wheels with your dominant eye. Line up the front and rear of the rear tyre walls and see which way they're pointing. They should be pointing ever so slightly inward.

When my Z4 was skittish, the rear tyres were quite obviously toeing out to the naked eye like this.

[GC0215]

Thank you so much for all your advice, nice to know there's still people out there willing to help you out! I don't have any photos, only the print out from before/after from Kwik Fit which obviously can't be trusted. I have it booked in at DACK Motors with a Hunter Machine on Tuesday who specialise in BMW, Mini and Jaguar

[muffking]

Good call. I've just seen your post and am also in Lincoln.
My previous F31 was tracked up at DACK as it was eating the inner edge of the rear tyres. Cost £85 and they were spot on. It was skittish before I took it in and then spot on after they had adjusted it. Unfortunately the car only lasted another couple of months before the EGR burned the car out on the A46/A57 though

[Lincoln61]

Im also in Lincoln. First issue would be Kwik Fit.....never go near them!

Try ZR on Canwick road. They are very good

[Lorcan]

Dack are very good, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and one of our dealers

It's not unheard of for an alignment machine to be out of calibration. I know of a BMW dealer that had two machines, one Hunter and one BMW KDS. The Hunter was out of cal, every car that went on it showed up as "wrong" and had to be put "right". They ran it like that for months and charged customers to mess up their settings on the Hunter and then charged them again to put them right on KDS when they complained.

[James-335dx]

I had a very similar thing after having 2 new rear tyres fitted on my old 320d. Back end was all over the place, even on the motorway it felt like it was breaking free. Checked the tyres when I got home and found they were inflated to over 120 psi !!!

[GC0215]

[QUOTE=Lorcan;25399126]Dack are very good, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and one of our dealers

It's not unheard of for an alignment machine to be out of calibration.

You'd think a tool that is integral to correctly setting a car's handling and ultimately the safety of the driver/occupants would be regularly checked... If it's wrong I will be in contact with Kwik fit and ask for my money back, but not sure how far I'll get...

[muffking]

I agree. I do a job which certain regulations require annual calibration of certain tools.
In this case I'd be claiming the Weights & Measures Act, but I guess the customers never knew.

[GC0215]

So, just returned from Dack (very impressed, will certainly be going back!) with some very interesting info. Having given the technician the paperwork from kwik Fit he quickly noticed something that I hadn't, they had set my car up as a F31, not a F30! Even then, he said that they had set the alignment up 'appallingly', whether by user error or a badly calibrated machine (see attached photos for before and after using their Hunter). I have logged a complaint with Kwik Fit and I have got a full refund for the work done.

Not all bad though, I did get a free 11mm socket and wrench from all this - the Kwik Fit technician kindly left it for me on one of the rear adjuster bolts! Lesson learned - AVOID KWIK FIT!!

[HighlandPete]

Wow! That is some error. With a rear toe setting like that and the resulting thrust angle, no wonder the car was skittish.

[muffking]

Spot on and well done on the refund.
Were Dack still £85?

[GC0215]

Thanks, I was surprised that I got a refund actually, but I think it was helped by the fact I kicked up another fuss when the area manager asked "is this in regard to the alignment done on you BMW 3 series E91!!" Utterly clueless!! No, cost me £79

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by GC0215

Thanks, I was surprised that I got a refund actually, but I think it was helped by the fact I kicked up another fuss when the area manager asked "is this in regard to the alignment done on you BMW 3 series E91!!" Utterly clueless!! No, cost me £79

Did you have to show them the second alignment "before chart"?

BTW, forgot to ask, has the recalibration given you a 'planted' chassis?

[GC0215]

No I rang them and the management rang me back, I wanted to hold some ammo back for if they were going to be difficult. Yes thanks, car is back to its normal self; doesn't feel like driving on ice anymore!!