Front wheel alignment

Watersidef30 · 08-31-2017, 04:57 AM

I was wondering if a front wheel alignment check and adjust is OK on an f30 320D
2012.
The front left tyre edge has worn away.

Would a local garage be OK Do that?

Tinsta · 08-31-2017, 05:06 AM

Yes, any decent reputable alignment place can correct it, it doesn't necessarily need to go to a BMW dealer. Places that have the Hunter alignment system can give more accurate setups. Find a local place from alignmycar.co.uk

Last time I had my F31 in at the dealer, the KDS alignment (same thing) was £99, with adjustments included. Some places charge £30-£40 to give you the current setup and then charge xx amount per adjustment to get it back to factory settings.

Watersidef30 · 08-31-2017, 05:10 AM

I was quoted £24. Nothing like those kind of prices.
Is it not good Enough?
I expect it will be drive onto the plates and they hang the kit off the four wheels kind of thing.

teaston · 08-31-2017, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watersidef30

I was quoted £24. Nothing like those kind of prices.
Is it not good Enough?
I expect it will be drive onto the plates and they hang the kit off the four wheels kind of thing.

Waste of time, as said above go somewhere with a Hunter alignment system.

Watersidef30 · 08-31-2017, 07:46 AM

Oh too late!
Went to protyre. It says supertracker 3. 4 wheel
Guy shows me putting it all on.says it's 3mm out.

Adjusted up.... Good to go

teaston · 08-31-2017, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watersidef30

Oh too late!
Went to protyre. It says supertracker 3. 4 wheel
Guy shows me putting it all on.says it's 3mm out.

Adjusted up.... Good to go

I wouldn't trust it, not worth risking ruining another tyre for the sake of £80 for a proper alignment.

Watersidef30 · 08-31-2017, 08:29 AM

Does a steering wheel get moved during wheel alignment? Or no

HighlandPete · 08-31-2017, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watersidef30

Oh too late!
Went to protyre. It says supertracker 3. 4 wheel
Guy shows me putting it all on.says it's 3mm out.

Adjusted up.... Good to go

Did you get a 4-wheel alignment check?

'3mm' not the normal way of describing an error in alignment calibration. Toe is in degrees and minutes. What's the printout say?

Make sure you haven't got any strange steering behaviour, as EPS has a SAS (Steering Angle Sensor) within the rack. Correct adjustment of any settings must ensure retaining the zero position and/or recalibration. It is why a 4-wheel geometry check is essential before any adjustments are made.

HighlandPete · 08-31-2017, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watersidef30

Does a steering wheel get moved during wheel alignment? Or no

Simple answer is no.

What's happened, steering wheel now off centre?

Watersidef30 · 08-31-2017, 09:09 AM

No, it's not off center. I just wondered, as wasn't sure if it had moved. Just travelled down the motorway and Its all OK as far as it goes. He might of said 3 degrees out!
It was a 4 wheel check and It had kit on the rear wheels also.

Sound right?

Jeff123 · 08-31-2017, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watersidef30

No, it's not off center. I just wondered, as wasn't sure if it had moved. Just travelled down the motorway and Its all OK as far as it goes. He might of said 3 degrees out!
It was a 4 wheel check and It had kit on the rear wheels also.

Sound right?

Sounds too cheap to me. I paid £70 7 years ago and i thought i got a good price then. Took about an hour; very thorough.

Having said that, yours could be fine - maybe keep a look out for the start of any uneven tyre wear in the future.

Tinsta · 09-01-2017, 05:32 AM

Yep, sounds very cheap. Did you get a printout of before & after? if you can take a pic/scan it, we can help further if required.

As with most things, it might look/feel ok now, but 3-6 mths down the line, when you have abnormal tyre wear, it'll be more costly.

Watersidef30 · 09-01-2017, 05:38 AM

The tyre was scrubbing away on the outside of the nearside tyre. I've put a couple of new tyres on the front now So I'll see how it goes. I'll soon tell if it starts wearing.

This is what was used.

https://www.supertracker.com/products/str-1lchc24

JustChris · 09-01-2017, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watersidef30

No, it's not off center. I just wondered, as wasn't sure if it had moved. Just travelled down the motorway and Its all OK as far as it goes. He might of said 3 degrees out!
It was a 4 wheel check and It had kit on the rear wheels also.

Sound right?

You should have got a little printout of the results before and after adjustment within the price/work.

Jeff123 · 09-02-2017, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watersidef30

The tyre was scrubbing away on the outside of the nearside tyre. I've put a couple of new tyres on the front now So I'll see how it goes. I'll soon tell if it starts wearing.

This is what was used.

https://www.supertracker.com/products/str-1lchc24

Looks like its a pretty comprehensive piece of kit. I reckon you will be fine - just keep a watch on the tyres.

08-31-2017, 04:57 AM	#1
Watersidef30 Private 27 Rep 93 Posts Drives: f30 320d ed Join Date: May 2015 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	Front wheel alignment I was wondering if a front wheel alignment check and adjust is OK on an f30 320D 2012. The front left tyre edge has worn away. Would a local garage be OK Do that?
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08-31-2017, 05:06 AM	#2
Tinsta Lieutenant 189 Rep 585 Posts Drives: 1CSL Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	Yes, any decent reputable alignment place can correct it, it doesn't necessarily need to go to a BMW dealer. Places that have the Hunter alignment system can give more accurate setups. Find a local place from alignmycar.co.uk Last time I had my F31 in at the dealer, the KDS alignment (same thing) was £99, with adjustments included. Some places charge £30-£40 to give you the current setup and then charge xx amount per adjustment to get it back to factory settings. __________________ If its broke.. Mod it! if not, mod it anyway!
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08-31-2017, 05:10 AM	#3
Watersidef30 Private 27 Rep 93 Posts Drives: f30 320d ed Join Date: May 2015 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	I was quoted £24. Nothing like those kind of prices. Is it not good Enough? I expect it will be drive onto the plates and they hang the kit off the four wheels kind of thing. Last edited by Watersidef30; 08-31-2017 at 05:16 AM..
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08-31-2017, 07:46 AM	#5
Watersidef30 Private 27 Rep 93 Posts Drives: f30 320d ed Join Date: May 2015 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	Oh too late! Went to protyre. It says supertracker 3. 4 wheel Guy shows me putting it all on.says it's 3mm out. Adjusted up.... Good to go
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-31-2017, 08:29 AM	#7
Watersidef30 Private 27 Rep 93 Posts Drives: f30 320d ed Join Date: May 2015 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	Does a steering wheel get moved during wheel alignment? Or no
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08-31-2017, 09:09 AM	#10
Watersidef30 Private 27 Rep 93 Posts Drives: f30 320d ed Join Date: May 2015 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	No, it's not off center. I just wondered, as wasn't sure if it had moved. Just travelled down the motorway and Its all OK as far as it goes. He might of said 3 degrees out! It was a 4 wheel check and It had kit on the rear wheels also. Sound right?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-01-2017, 05:32 AM	#12
Tinsta Lieutenant 189 Rep 585 Posts Drives: 1CSL Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	Yep, sounds very cheap. Did you get a printout of before & after? if you can take a pic/scan it, we can help further if required. As with most things, it might look/feel ok now, but 3-6 mths down the line, when you have abnormal tyre wear, it'll be more costly. __________________ If its broke.. Mod it! if not, mod it anyway!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-01-2017, 05:38 AM	#13
Watersidef30 Private 27 Rep 93 Posts Drives: f30 320d ed Join Date: May 2015 Location: uk iTrader: (0)	The tyre was scrubbing away on the outside of the nearside tyre. I've put a couple of new tyres on the front now So I'll see how it goes. I'll soon tell if it starts wearing. This is what was used. https://www.supertracker.com/products/str-1lchc24 Last edited by Watersidef30; 09-01-2017 at 05:47 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote