|
|
SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS! |
Post Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
04-06-2012, 01:37 PM | #1 |
Lieutenant
24
Rep 416
Posts |
Denied alignment?
I inquired places about doing a 4 wheel alignment and I was told by the shops not even to waste my time with them and that only the dealer could do it. Is this true?? $230 at the dealer is a little harsh.
|
04-06-2012, 01:40 PM | #2 |
Second Lieutenant
16
Rep 266
Posts |
curious why they sent you away. I always have indy shops align my car...
__________________
2009 BMW X5 4.8i
2006 BMW ///M Roadster 6spd manual 2006 BMW 330i 6spd manual - gone |
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 01:47 PM | #3 |
Major
55
Rep 1,224
Posts |
For whatever reason they don't want to do it and who knows why? Even Sears will do a four wheel alignment on a Hunter machine for $80 (not a bad way to go IF you get a good tech and you know what you want). Your indies can run (locally) around $125 to $180 depending on the shop, equipment, and experience level. Look around, talk to some of the local club and autoX people for a good referral.
__________________
If you can't take the time to teach a kid something good, someone will take the time to teach them something bad.
Last edited by Incompatible; 04-06-2012 at 01:54 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 01:51 PM | #4 |
Member
15
Rep 178
Posts |
BMW's are somewhat known for being difficult to align properly and they probably just don't want to take the time. A correct alignment from a good independent (i.e. race shop) should be in the $100 range. Obviously a corner balance would be more.
The last agressive alignment I had done on my car (by an alignment only shop) was $80 bucks. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 01:55 PM | #5 |
Custom User Title
142
Rep 661
Posts |
Four-wheel alignment is indeed do-able, necessary for a sportscar, and pretty straightforward.
Also: "Only the dealer can do it" is just plain wrong. Any shop with a decent machine can do a four-wheel alignment. Call around or post on your regional forum on this board for recommendations. Or, just call a decent indy tire shop and ask them who they use....easy. In fact, a dealer will only align to factory specs, which are extremely conservative (read: abiding understeer.) There are many good threads on this board for better alignment setups on Z4s. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 02:11 PM | #6 |
Brigadier General
1913
Rep 4,128
Posts
Drives: M235i & G30 540i
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Boynton Beach
|
I would not do mine at BMW unless it was under warr. I had one done few weeks ago front and rear cost me $200.
__________________
Lack of money is not the problem. It is merely a symptom of what's going on inside of you! - T Harv Eker
Follow me on Insta https://www.instagram.com/bmwm_life_/ https://www.instagram.com/autogiftua/ https://www.instagram.com/phoenixbmwlife/ |
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 05:05 PM | #7 |
Lieutenant General
2282
Rep 12,565
Posts
Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CT
iTrader: (99)
Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75]
E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.22] |
My indy shop charges 150 for alignment, 200 for corner balance
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 05:51 PM | #8 |
Colonel
187
Rep 2,138
Posts
Drives: Me
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Virginia Beach
|
It's not that they physically can't do the alignment, it's most likely they don't have the extra machine/computer to reset/rezero the steering angle sensor.
Even with a Hunter series alignment machine, when you input the cars parameters into the Hunter system, a warning will come up stating that you must reset the steering angle sensor. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 06:45 PM | #9 | |
Lieutenant General
2426
Rep 11,667
Posts |
Quote:
I've been in the shop many times while they were doing the alignment and have never seen that come up Is it in the T1S?
__________________
'21 M2C Hockenheim Silver
'18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold) |
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 06:52 PM | #10 |
Save the Manuals
1714
Rep 2,937
Posts |
reset steering angle sensor??
what does this do exactly? a guess: ensure on-center steering once the alignment is done
__________________
2023 G80 6MT, CCBs
2002 330i Dinan, 5MT 2000 Z3 Conforti, 5MT |
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 06:59 PM | #11 |
Captain
24
Rep 784
Posts
Drives: 2011.5 E90 M3
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South OC
|
Apparently the sensor is for dsc, there is a thread on it on m3f here: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...55#post3584555
The sensor is just that, a sensor. It should have no impact on steering wheel angle vs wheel angle. It is there so dsc knows how far ahead of you the rear tires are... What it actually does is correlate yaw rate with the steering wheel angle. If the yaw rate is too high given a steering angle, it reports that you are in a spin.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 09:02 PM | #13 |
Colonel
187
Rep 2,138
Posts
Drives: Me
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Virginia Beach
|
cliffhopper is correct.
Several years ago, I had an alignment done on the Roadster. They (the shop) forgot this step and the car was really weird. The DSC would kick in at the wrong times. Yes, this is in the TIS. It is not crazyness. The shop does not have the very expensive computer (BMW's INPA, an Autologic, etc.) to do the reset. Don't blame the shop because they don't want to work on this type of system. Just say thanks and go somewhere else. At least they were smart enough not to perform the alignment and then screw it up.... |
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 09:31 PM | #14 |
Colonel
187
Rep 2,138
Posts
Drives: Me
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Virginia Beach
|
Tis: RA 61 31 996
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-06-2012, 09:35 PM | #15 |
Lieutenant General
2426
Rep 11,667
Posts |
Good info on this, thanks!
Doing a quick search here I'm surprised that there hasn't been more discussion on it. Did a little digging elsewhere, I see that it's an optical disc sensor. I found one discussion where BMW wanted to replace it ($1,300) because of problems the guy was having. He removed the airbag and cleaned the dust off the sensor and optical disc..... Cured the problem.
__________________
'21 M2C Hockenheim Silver
'18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold) |
Appreciate
0
|
04-07-2012, 06:42 AM | #17 |
Colonel
187
Rep 2,138
Posts
Drives: Me
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Virginia Beach
|
I have talked specifically about this topic on several occasions. Several on this board have told me I am, to quote: Full of s***
In RealOEM it is number five (5). http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...84&hg=32&fg=30 |
Appreciate
0
|
04-07-2012, 07:49 AM | #18 |
Captain
21
Rep 704
Posts
Drives: '08 MC
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NNJ
|
Just called my local tire place I trust a lot. They charge $125 for a 4 corner, I specifically asked for a BMW.
__________________
ZHP/Zeck CDV/VT engine mounts/RE trans mounts;clutch stop/Stubby
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-07-2012, 08:55 AM | #19 |
Gone but not forgotten
4
Rep 148
Posts |
Call Hans at Texas German Autohaus. (713) 850-8282 I had mine aligned for $160, IIRC. They work only on BMW, Porsche and MB. Good guys.
__________________
2015 Audi SQ5
RECENT PAST 2013 Porsche Boxster S 2009 335i/Coupe/Dinan S3 2006 BMW Z4 3.0si |
Appreciate
0
|
04-07-2012, 10:09 AM | #20 |
Captain
21
Rep 704
Posts
Drives: '08 MC
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: NNJ
|
Was just informed by a friend here on the forum here that the place I refer to above - sucks. Soooo, $150 for the performance place he goes to is where its at. cost is in-line with the German Autohaus place mentioned in Houston area above.
__________________
ZHP/Zeck CDV/VT engine mounts/RE trans mounts;clutch stop/Stubby
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-07-2012, 12:46 PM | #21 | |
Dog Listener
701
Rep 7,850
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-08-2012, 08:37 AM | #22 |
Captain
24
Rep 784
Posts
Drives: 2011.5 E90 M3
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South OC
|
I will refer to your sig, common sense is not so common.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|