02-22-2020, 08:08 AM | #1 |
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Wheel Alignment - worth doing?
Took the 340i for an alignment check. Not to sure what the specific numbers mean - but is my alignment out by a noticeable amount?(pic attached).
Want to confirm it needs to be done before shelling out £150 |
02-22-2020, 09:09 AM | #2 |
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Without seeing the precise correct alignment range for your car it’s difficult to say exactly, but.. the rear left camber definitely looks wrong for an F3x I think, ..but it’s not a million miles out or anything.
I wouldn’t be paying £150 either way,.. my local tyre place with a Hunter Hawk Eye 4 wheel laser alignment system charges only £60 for 4 wheel alignment! |
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02-22-2020, 09:27 AM | #3 |
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That seems expensive to me - most places even with Hunters equipment as above will be charging £100 at an absolute max, £60-80 seems reasonable.
No idea about that alignment I’m afraid, so I won’t even try to advise. |
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02-22-2020, 10:39 AM | #4 |
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I paid more than £80 for my alignment but that's only because a couple bolts had to be replaced as they'd seized.
The rear camber isn't wildly out. What you really want to sort out is the toe as that heavily influences tyre wear. |
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02-22-2020, 11:30 AM | #5 | |
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And putting the camber right on that rear left will probably throw the toe out, so it's usual to do camber first and toe last. |
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02-22-2020, 12:02 PM | #6 |
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If those figures are genuine, front toe is way out. As other comments state, tyre wear is inevitable at those settings. Rear camber and toe also needs sorting. You don't want to be running toe like that, + one side, - the other.
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02-22-2020, 12:14 PM | #7 |
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As been said already, that front toe needs sorted, and even if it cost you £150 then you'd probably save that in tyres. That it a little steep, and I wouldn't have it done at a BMW dealership, rather find an independent place that does it.
Depending on where you are in London, then worth a visit it Wheels in Motion in Chesham. https://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/wheels-alignment.php
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02-22-2020, 01:40 PM | #8 |
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I havent done too much reading into it, but these are the factory specs for 340i RWD if you want to compare for your self.
Front axle: Total toe-in 0° 10' ± 12’ Total toe-in adjustment* 0° 10' ± 4' Toe difference** single wheel between left/ right max. 12' Camber (Difference between left/right maximum 30') - 0° 53' ± 30’ Camber adjustment* - 0° 53' ± 25’ Toe difference angle (difference between left/right max. 30’) - 1° 23' Castor angle (difference between left/right max. 30') Front wheel offset 0° ± 15' Maximum steering angle ‐ Inner cornering wheel Ca. ° 40° 00' ‐ Outer cornering wheel Ca. ° 33° 24' Rear axle: Total toe-in 0° 18' ± 12' Total toe-in adjustment* 0° 18' ± 4' Camber (difference between left/right max. 30') -1° 50' ± 25' Camber adjustment* -1° 50' ± 5' Geometrical driving axis 0° ± 12' *Note: To minimise adjusting errors (measuring inaccuracies), use a narrower tolerance for adjusting toe/camber. **Note: Toe difference front axle = criterion for steering wheel inclination |
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02-22-2020, 02:03 PM | #9 |
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Mertityre charge about £80 to fully adjust everything, they use Hunter machines.
Last edited by Russbmw; 02-23-2020 at 01:53 AM.. |
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02-22-2020, 05:31 PM | #10 |
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kwik fit have 2 years hunter alignment (i think you can attend 8 times in 2 years,) for £130.
They can be tricky but lead mechanic is my patient and ive known him since he was a baby so he treats me and my cars well. I only use them for alignment. |
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02-24-2020, 04:38 PM | #11 | |
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I am so fed up cause everytime the steering wheel ends up not centred, I end up comming back again and again, it takes so much of my time. I wish I never purchased it, rather have slight wear |
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02-25-2020, 06:56 AM | #12 |
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I'd be very careful with tracking places. If they didn't put ballast in your boot and drivers seat, dont go near them for starters as they dont know what they're doing. Saying that, it looks as though you only need to neutralize the front and rear-right toe, they should be able to do this with a minor tie-rod tweak.
I once took my old Z4 to a specialist Hunter tracking shop. They added all the ballast and spent ages fiddling - it all came out green. The result... the car was terrifying to drive. The rear end felt like it was going to step out at any time and any speed! I looked down the car and the rear Toe was visibly pointing outward a crazy amount. I used a tape with 2 wooden studs to calculate the angle and it was 3 degrees! They clatter away with impact guns, hammer stuck fixings and tugging the thing into line but never re-check the equipment is seated properly i think. I took the car somewhere else and it still took them 2 goes. Bloody nightmare |
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02-26-2020, 05:00 AM | #13 |
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here's mine for F31 2019, not sure if the 19" wheels make a difference - probably does
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Last edited by Deadlock; 02-26-2020 at 05:04 AM.. Reason: resize image |
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02-26-2020, 05:11 AM | #14 | |
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if I've helped - an Appreciate would be, er, very appreciated!
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01-03-2022, 03:16 PM | #16 |
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01-03-2022, 03:48 PM | #17 |
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And your initial "printout" was for an F31 on 18" wheels.... which I'm sure yours won't be.
TBH, you can't go wrong with BMW KDS. BMW will usually try & price match like for like for a bog standard 4-wheel alignment.
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