Alignment

Blubaron79 · 03-15-2012, 07:17 AM

How often does everyone align their cars? Am I wasting money by having it done twice a year when I switch from summers to do winters, and back??

mthomas · 03-15-2012, 07:34 AM

Yes. I switch tires also, just had align checked for the first time in 2 and a half years, everything was perfect except one minor adjustment. This is inspite of a couple wheel bending potholes. I feel the vehicles steering, etc is more durable than many think.

W.WCherry · 03-15-2012, 07:34 AM

Depends if the overall diameter between your summer and winter tires are different.

mike3000fl · 03-15-2012, 07:35 AM

firestone, pay once and get alignments for life. every week if you want.

pahlok · 03-15-2012, 07:46 AM

You should check alignment every year, or as said here before if diameter of winter and summer wheels is different.
Even more important is to make sure who ever aligns your car knows BMW factory requisites and procedures for alignment (height measurement with weight correction, SAS calibration, etc..)

anerbe · 03-15-2012, 08:07 AM

It's good to do once a year, especially if you are switching wheels/tires.

Check your tread wear every month or so to see if you find any uneven wear. Hitting a pothole can easily change your alignment. Better to pay the ~$100 vs new tires.

Sam335ix · 03-15-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

firestone, pay once and get alignments for life. every week if you want.

Even if you drop the cars height or increase it?

ndog14 · 03-15-2012, 08:25 AM

As somesaid Firestone. Also NTB has a X year plan for any vehicle you own.

mike3000fl · 03-15-2012, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam335ix

Even if you drop the cars height or increase it?

Are you asking if they will still do it or if they can get it right?

Yes they will still do it. As far as getting it right, when i put HR sports on my car, i took it to BMW and got them to align it right. Their kinematics alignment system takes ride height into consideration. Every alignment after that went back to firestone for the free alignments, from that point on it is just tweaking what BMW did.

Blubaron79 · 03-15-2012, 10:13 AM

Thanks all!

ek99civic · 03-18-2012, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam335ix

Even if you drop the cars height or increase it?

Yes I would change the height and camber settings on my RSX, that I used to own, about twice a year and had a lifetime alignment with no extra charge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

Are you asking if they will still do it or if they can get it right?

Yes they will still do it. As far as getting it right, when i put HR sports on my car, i took it to BMW and got them to align it right. Their kinematics alignment system takes ride height into consideration. Every alignment after that went back to firestone for the free alignments, from that point on it is just tweaking what BMW did.

Do they have different settings for the sport suspension and non?

Wrngway · 03-18-2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

firestone, pay once and get alignments for life. every week if you want.

I did this, unfortunately the shop near me didn't always tighten everything down all the way. Later in the day I would hear a clunking noise and had to go back. They fixed it, but it happened 3 times on two different cars.

It's a good deal if you can find a shop that pays more attention to detail though.

gary88 · 03-18-2012, 09:08 AM

I'd only get it checked if your car isn't tracking straight or you notice unusual tire wear.

03-15-2012, 07:17 AM	#1
Blubaron79 Brigadier General 1435 Rep 4,724 Posts Drives: 2021 M340i xDrive Join Date: May 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Alignment How often does everyone align their cars? Am I wasting money by having it done twice a year when I switch from summers to do winters, and back?? __________________ Current: 2021 M340i xDrive Previous: '18 340i xDrive; '15 335 xDrive; '14 435i xDrive; '09 335 E92 xDrive
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03-15-2012, 07:34 AM	#2
mthomas Private First Class 5 Rep 156 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: lNorth Shore, Lake Tahoe iTrader: (0)	Yes. I switch tires also, just had align checked for the first time in 2 and a half years, everything was perfect except one minor adjustment. This is inspite of a couple wheel bending potholes. I feel the vehicles steering, etc is more durable than many think.
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03-15-2012, 07:34 AM	#3
W.WCherry Lieutenant 35 Rep 419 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (3)	Depends if the overall diameter between your summer and winter tires are different. __________________ Performance \|Dinan Stage 3 Software\|Dinan IC\|Dinan OC\|UUC/Corsa Exhaust\|Koni FSD Shocks and Struts\|Eibach Spings\|Hotchkis Anti Sway Bars\|6MT\|Style \|Aero Lip\|Aero Rear\|M3 Spoiler\|BMW Gloss Black Kidney Grills\|BMW Aluminum Pedals\|BMW LCI Tail Lights\|HID Fog Lights\|25%Tint\|Advan AVS Model F7 19" Rims\|Lux V3 AEs\|Premium\|Sport\|Comfort Access\|
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03-15-2012, 07:35 AM	#4
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	firestone, pay once and get alignments for life. every week if you want.
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03-15-2012, 07:46 AM	#5
pahlok Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: E36 M3 3.0 Euro Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Portugal iTrader: (0)	You should check alignment every year, or as said here before if diameter of winter and summer wheels is different. Even more important is to make sure who ever aligns your car knows BMW factory requisites and procedures for alignment (height measurement with weight correction, SAS calibration, etc..)
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03-15-2012, 08:07 AM	#6
anerbe Lieutenant Colonel 121 Rep 1,568 Posts Drives: Red E90M 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: BH, MI iTrader: (2)	It's good to do once a year, especially if you are switching wheels/tires. Check your tread wear every month or so to see if you find any uneven wear. Hitting a pothole can easily change your alignment. Better to pay the ~$100 vs new tires.
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03-15-2012, 08:25 AM	#8
ndog14 Banned 52 Rep 1,746 Posts Drives: E90 328xi 6MT Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (0)	As somesaid Firestone. Also NTB has a X year plan for any vehicle you own.
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03-15-2012, 10:13 AM	#10
Blubaron79 Brigadier General 1435 Rep 4,724 Posts Drives: 2021 M340i xDrive Join Date: May 2009 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Thanks all! __________________ Current: 2021 M340i xDrive Previous: '18 340i xDrive; '15 335 xDrive; '14 435i xDrive; '09 335 E92 xDrive
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03-18-2012, 09:08 AM	#13
gary88 Ikea enthusiast 334 Rep 8,140 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [7.96]	I'd only get it checked if your car isn't tracking straight or you notice unusual tire wear. __________________ garyhebdingjr.com \| flickr \| Instagram
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