Alignment off when rear seats are down

Motohip · 11-02-2015, 08:18 PM

Anyone else have this issue? It pulls right.

Solo_M_Tech · 11-02-2015, 08:23 PM

Lowering your seat will not affect your alignment in any way. You have something else going on.

Esteban · 11-02-2015, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApexResistance

Lowering your seat will not affect your alignment in any way. You have something else going on.

Makes sense.

RoundelM3 · 11-03-2015, 09:33 AM

You may be low on blinker fluid, which would affect the weight distribution. I'd have that checked immediately.

Motohip · 11-03-2015, 09:53 AM

Just don't reply if you don't know

IEDEI · 11-03-2015, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motohip

Just don't reply if you don't know

well I KNOW so lemme give you the lowdown, son!!!

When you lower the seat the leather changes its center of gravity dynamically----causing a moisture shift where the pores in the leather can head to one side directly communicating with your axles causing an alignment shift!!! Then you notice...we all noticed!

Motohip · 11-03-2015, 10:08 AM

The rear seats are a huge reinforcement for the car, so having them down will affect stiffness. I was just curious if others noticed this.

IEDEI · 11-03-2015, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motohip

The rear seats are a huge reinforcement for the car, so having them down will affect stiffness. I was just curious if others noticed this.

NO. putting them down does not affect stiffness, alignment, driving dynamics, or anything else.

Rear seats are not a 'huge reinforcement' for anything except seating people.

get your alignment checked----it's probably messed up. Has nothing to do with the seats..lol

Solo_M_Tech · 11-03-2015, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motohip

The rear seats are a huge reinforcement for the car, so having them down will affect stiffness. I was just curious if others noticed this.

You have to be joking....? The rear seats do literally nothing for structural support. Im not sure if this is a legit post, or an attempt to start a meme war... but I will start!

SchismX · 11-03-2015, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motohip

The rear seats are a huge reinforcement for the car, so having them down will affect stiffness. I was just curious if others noticed this.

PopsnBurbles · 11-03-2015, 03:42 PM

It would've been more convincing if the issue in question involves sitting closer up front than sitting farther back.

THEOS · 11-03-2015, 06:50 PM

RyanDavies · 11-03-2015, 06:56 PM

Oh boy.

MightyMouseTech · 11-03-2015, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PopsnBurbles

It would've been more convincing if the issue in question involves sitting closer up front than sitting farther back.

Or if you run with a full washer tank or empty.

tock172 · 11-03-2015, 07:04 PM

Back in the days of the E36 and E46, the OPTION of folding or fixed back seats did influence the structural rigidity of the car, but only between the two options. Actually folding down your fold-down seats does nothing. From what I recall, the cars with the folding seats were actually more rigid because of added reinforcement or something like that.

Regardless, OP, unless your car has been in a serious accident that compromised the frame, there is no reason why raising and lowering the folding back seats would have any influence on the alignment of the vehicle.

fjgregor · 11-03-2015, 07:11 PM

I do notice that when I drive with my seats down my car doesn't rev up as aggressive as when I drive with my seats up. It might be affecting the aerodynamics of the car.

The Wind Breezes · 11-03-2015, 07:16 PM

As far as pulling to the right goes...
1) roads are tilted for drainage "crowning"
2) cars are usually aligned slightly to the right so if you fall asleep at the wheel you don't go into oncoming traffic

3) you have suspension damage / wear and tear and or just need to get a fresh alignment
4) Just in case, make sure rear tires have equal pressure

To be clear, it's not your seats. If it is, then your car is fucked beyond all hope of repair.

Chunner · 11-03-2015, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IEDEI

well I KNOW so lemme give you the lowdown, son!!!

When you lower the seat the leather changes its center of gravity dynamically----causing a moisture shift where the pores in the leather can head to one side directly communicating with your axles causing an alignment shift!!! Then you notice...we all noticed!

6MT_Addict · 11-03-2015, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

As far as pulling to the right goes...
1) roads are tilted for drainage "crowning"
2) cars are usually aligned slightly to the right so if you fall asleep at the wheel you don't go into oncoming traffic

3) you have suspension damage / wear and tear and or just need to get a fresh alignment
4) Just in case, make sure rear tires have equal pressure

To be clear, it's not your seats. If it is, then your car is fucked beyond all hope of repair.

+1 especially if you've recently had anything done to the wheels.

Got a previous vehicle back after getting new tires, spec was 34 PSI. Tires were at 31, 29, 26, & 28. The thing felt like it wanted to tear itself apart on a slightly rough road, pulled hard right since FR was the one at 26.

The only thing folding the seats down may do is put the center of gravity slightly forward and lower, and I mean by like 5 LBS.

What's more likely is that you have loaded something heavy into the rear, assuming this is why the seats are down, and the extra weight over the rear is drawing attention to a misalignment, low tire inflation, suspension damage/wear, etc. that you had been accustomed to previously.

Good luck OP, and please post before, not after, enjoying a fine glass of scotch.

11-02-2015, 08:18 PM	#1
Motohip Lieutenant 37 Rep 435 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Washington iTrader: (5)	Alignment off when rear seats are down Anyone else have this issue? It pulls right.
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11-02-2015, 08:23 PM	#2
Solo_M_Tech Brigadier General 1688 Rep 3,140 Posts Drives: 2014 M5 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (7) Garage List 2014 BMW M5 [0.00]	Lowering your seat will not affect your alignment in any way. You have something else going on. __________________ 2014 M5 6MT
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11-03-2015, 09:33 AM	#4
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	You may be low on blinker fluid, which would affect the weight distribution. I'd have that checked immediately. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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11-03-2015, 09:53 AM	#5
Motohip Lieutenant 37 Rep 435 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Washington iTrader: (5)	Just don't reply if you don't know
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11-03-2015, 10:08 AM	#7
Motohip Lieutenant 37 Rep 435 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Washington iTrader: (5)	The rear seats are a huge reinforcement for the car, so having them down will affect stiffness. I was just curious if others noticed this.
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11-03-2015, 03:42 PM	#11
PopsnBurbles Captain 192 Rep 893 Posts Drives: 135is :) 192/586 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: LA, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW 135is Coup ... [10.00]	It would've been more convincing if the issue in question involves sitting closer up front than sitting farther back.
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11-03-2015, 06:50 PM	#12
THEOS Private First Class 19 Rep 150 Posts Drives: M240i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)
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11-03-2015, 06:56 PM	#13
RyanDavies Lieutenant 63 Rep 448 Posts Drives: 2012 128i MSport Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (2)	Oh boy.
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11-03-2015, 07:04 PM	#15
tock172 Beachtown Bill Collector 582 Rep 1,062 Posts Drives: 2012 135i Join Date: May 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1) Garage List 2012 BMW 135i [0.00] 1999 Lexus LS400 [0.00] 1985 BMW 325e [0.00]	Back in the days of the E36 and E46, the OPTION of folding or fixed back seats did influence the structural rigidity of the car, but only between the two options. Actually folding down your fold-down seats does nothing. From what I recall, the cars with the folding seats were actually more rigid because of added reinforcement or something like that. Regardless, OP, unless your car has been in a serious accident that compromised the frame, there is no reason why raising and lowering the folding back seats would have any influence on the alignment of the vehicle. __________________ 2012 BMW 135i Space Grey Metallic M-Sport DCT Dinan S2
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11-03-2015, 07:11 PM	#16
fjgregor Private First Class 42 Rep 105 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 Laguna Seca Blue Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Puerto Rico iTrader: (0)	I do notice that when I drive with my seats down my car doesn't rev up as aggressive as when I drive with my seats up. It might be affecting the aerodynamics of the car. __________________ 2009 135i e82 Alpine White N54 DNF 2012 M3 E92 Laguna Seca Blue S65 Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
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11-03-2015, 07:16 PM	#17
The Wind Breezes Lieutenant Colonel 912 Rep 1,850 Posts Drives: 135i N55 DCT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	As far as pulling to the right goes... 1) roads are tilted for drainage "crowning" 2) cars are usually aligned slightly to the right so if you fall asleep at the wheel you don't go into oncoming traffic 3) you have suspension damage / wear and tear and or just need to get a fresh alignment 4) Just in case, make sure rear tires have equal pressure To be clear, it's not your seats. If it is, then your car is fucked beyond all hope of repair.
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