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      09-09-2019, 09:43 AM   #1
Kermit
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4 hours for a BMW wheel alignment??!!

I really want to believe that having wheel alignment done at a BMW dealership is best but I've just called to see if they can do it while the car is being serviced... I was astounded to learn that its a 4 hour job and costs £129.

Is there something special they do in the workshop or am I just as well popping down to my local Hunter garage for half the price... And quarter of the time...??! Thanks.
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      09-09-2019, 09:48 AM   #2
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Unless the car is still under warranty, I personally would go down the second route. You are paying £150 per hour at a dealership to do the same thing as someone you would be paying £60 per hour - IMO.
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      09-09-2019, 10:14 AM   #3
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4 hours for £129 is pretty cheap at stealers rates!
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      09-09-2019, 10:33 AM   #4
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find a good garage that knows about car set up and have it done there. In Surrey there is a tyre place in farnham. Chap is ex racer had mine done there. Changed the rear to make the tyre wear more even and rear happier as well
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      09-09-2019, 01:46 PM   #5
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When i had my previous BMW aligned at a specialist in Milton Keynes they said a lot of the main dealers bring their cars to them for alignment, it may be that your dealer doesn't do it themselves but takes it to the same place you are considering and chucks their mark-up on to the price!
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      09-09-2019, 02:00 PM   #6
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Worth finding out though. I paid £85 for a 4 wheel while U wait service.
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      09-09-2019, 03:20 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motoring_101 View Post
When i had my previous BMW aligned at a specialist in Milton Keynes they said a lot of the main dealers bring their cars to them for alignment, it may be that your dealer doesn't do it themselves but takes it to the same place you are considering and chucks their mark-up on to the price!
Was that Autowerx by any chance?
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      09-09-2019, 04:46 PM   #8
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I don't think that price was far off what we charged at BMW Milton Keynes about 15 years ago!
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      09-09-2019, 05:18 PM   #9
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The KDS alignment's a pretty generic price. It SHOULD only take about half an hour, unless something major is amiss.

I reckon the 4 hours quoted includes the time for it to be serviced as well, so it's just a miscommunication more likely.
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      09-09-2019, 05:25 PM   #10
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I've been following alignment procedures for the F30. A standard alignment should be around 2-3 hours for the laser set-up, driver bag weight, alignment adjustments, road test, and re-check. (The last 2 are what make great alignment shops great.)

Pushing 4 hours may include any electronic adjustments especially if you have Adaptive Cruise Control... which is what i think you are being quoted at. If you've got the "black square" on your front lower grill, you have Adaptive Cruise Control which requires a 4 hour book visit per the dealer.

Last edited by exE36M3; 09-10-2019 at 01:44 PM..
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      09-10-2019, 03:41 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kermit View Post
I was astounded to learn that its a 4 hour job and costs £129.

The Hunter Hawkeye alignment was £150 in April at my local KwikFit (Kingston) - front and rear needed adjustment. From memory, the car was ready for collection in around 3 hours... Got printed reports before and after and explanation...

Last edited by x-m4n; 09-10-2019 at 06:04 AM..
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      09-10-2019, 04:02 AM   #12
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£129 seems reasonable to me, I prefer to get all my work done at the dealer it helps when you need a favour or goodwill from BMWUK as well.
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      09-10-2019, 05:47 AM   #13
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Hi, just had Hunter alignment this morning at a BMW specialist (Gloucestershire) on my F31 330d
£65.00 all in. Took around 40 mins. before and after reports and discussion, pointed out what report means (although with 3rd BMW i kinda know now :-)... great service
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      09-10-2019, 06:45 AM   #14
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What is adjusted when they do a wheel alignment? I can't see what could be adjusted in my car.
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      09-10-2019, 07:00 AM   #15
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I believe it is just the Toe and possibly rear camber that is adjustable on the F30

However if the front camber was out of spec you could ask to get the correction hubs fitted under warranty
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      09-10-2019, 07:02 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RoShambolt View Post
Was that Autowerx by any chance?
I think it was JPS Wheel Alignment
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      09-11-2019, 10:11 AM   #17
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When a pothole buckled a wheel on my 328i dealer called and said the car needed realignment. As I was at work and just wanted it done I agreed. Anyway, seems they took it to a local tyre shop for the work and I sorta assumed they all did that now.
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      09-11-2019, 11:40 AM   #18
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£129 isn't actually much work. They'll probably do half an hour before leaving the car in the carpark for a few hours to get bashed until the valeting department finally butcher the paint before giving it back. That's your 4 hours.
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      09-12-2019, 03:51 AM   #19
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4 hours now makes slightly more sense of the fact that my dealer wants my car for 2 days to change the suspension! Parts guy that booked it thought it was odd too but figured it was because they're queued out the door due to the recall work.
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      09-12-2019, 05:36 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWILUVU View Post
What is adjusted when they do a wheel alignment? I can't see what could be adjusted in my car.
Here a picture of the report I got (Hunter Hawkeye alignment) https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...65&postcount=3

Last edited by x-m4n; 09-12-2019 at 05:56 AM..
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      09-12-2019, 07:15 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thescouselander View Post
£129 isn't actually much work. They'll probably do half an hour before leaving the car in the carpark for a few hours to get bashed until the valeting department finally butcher the paint before giving it back. That's your 4 hours.
That would be funny if it wasn't so true, so frustrated with my dealer, every time there is a problem with the car, even if I can prove it within seconds of showing them, they still want the car all day, when I pick it up, they "found" the problem that's glaringly obvious but have no parts so need to book it in again, the part will take 20 mins to fit, but it will need to be booked in all day again so we can at least risk the doors getting ding'd in our overcrowded car park and risk washing it even though you dropped it in clean and asked it not be washed.

"You want a courtesy car because you will be without your car for a whole day? Oh that will have to be in 6 to 8 weeks time minimum then as they're all booked for our pissy recalls"

The car I like a lot, although soured by the sheer amount of minor warranty work it's needed and the horrendous dealer after sales service. Let alone them fucking around with the dash cam miniature connectors even though I tell them it's disconnected in the boot.

Rant over.
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      09-13-2019, 04:33 AM   #22
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This! Always the problem with BMW service
Quote:
Originally Posted by RoShambolt View Post
That would be funny if it wasn't so true, so frustrated with my dealer, every time there is a problem with the car, even if I can prove it within seconds of showing them, they still want the car all day, when I pick it up, they "found" the problem that's glaringly obvious but have no parts so need to book it in again, the part will take 20 mins to fit, but it will need to be booked in all day again so we can at least risk the doors getting ding'd in our overcrowded car park and risk washing it even though you dropped it in clean and asked it not be washed.

"You want a courtesy car because you will be without your car for a whole day? Oh that will have to be in 6 to 8 weeks time minimum then as they're all booked for our pissy recalls"

The car I like a lot, although soured by the sheer amount of minor warranty work it's needed and the horrendous dealer after sales service. Let alone them fucking around with the dash cam miniature connectors even though I tell them it's disconnected in the boot.

Rant over.
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