Alignment Cost And Other Questions. - BMW Forum

Jellybelly · 06-13-2005, 04:58 PM

The other day, I was driving home on I64 and there were a bunch of cars on the road. I had just gotten past Hampton and the traffic was just starting to thin out but everyone was still kind of close together and going 65-70. Well, I was about four car lengths behind the car in front of me when I saw the car in front of me hit something pretty hard and the right side of the car jumped up a bit. Then I saw the cursed thing, it was a 4x4x12 wooden post and about 15 cars ahead of me had all run over it. Some idiot didn't properly secure the post on the back of his truck or something and there it was, lying perpendicular to the road, on the busy Interstate during rush hour on a Friday afternoon. All of these cars were running over it because no one could see it due to traffic. Well, I hit the damned thing and bounced pretty hard. I felt the car vibrate a little and knew I had done at least a little damage to the wheel. I pulled off at the next ramp and pulled into a parking lot to inspect the car. The inside of the wheel was dented a little, not much where I couldn't drive it home, but enough to where I had to get the wheel fixed. Then I saw the shield under the car, which was broken a good bit. It was loose under the car because it was only on the car since the bumper was holding it on.

I called the dealership in VA Beach and they quoted me $150 on the alignment, and said I will need a new wheel and whatever it costs to replace the shield. $150 for a freaking alignment?!?! Jesus, that is stupid. I am still waiting for my BMWCCA car to get here, but hopefully that will save a little bit. But damn, $150 for an alignment? I wonder how much they are going to try and steal with the cost of the wheel plus all the work installing the new parts? Is there any way you can straighten out the bend in the wheel? I mean, it isn't that bad, but it does need to be fixed. My insurance deductible is $500, so if it is only a few hundred over that, I would rather pay it than get the insurance company involved. Anyone know someone in the VA Beach/Chesapeake area that might be able to help me out or at least look at the car and not want to drain my bank account?

mrogers · 06-13-2005, 06:04 PM

My dealer also charges $150 for an alignment, which is why I found an independent shop that knows how to do it right. If you call around and ask if a place can align BMWs (which are four wheel alignments) and they say yes, ask if they know the proper procedure with the weights. If they say no, if they say they haven't heard of that, or if there is just silence on the phone after you ask that question, hang up. What you're looking for is someone who knows the proper weights to put in the front seats and in the trunk during an alignment (usually 120-150 lbs). I found a place in my area that knew how to do it RIGHT and they did it for just $55. Great guys there; it's the same family that owns Tire Rack. So call around for the alignment.

rclMD · 06-13-2005, 06:14 PM

i actually am in a similar situation...there is too much negative camber on my rear driver side wheel and the dealer said i need an alignment which is $170. Anyone know of any places in the northern new jersey / ny area that aligns bmw's?

thanks.

2000BMW323i · 06-13-2005, 08:34 PM

I will be getting an alignment soon when I get my tires rotated, What is this I hear of placing weights in the front seats and the trunk? who recommends doing that and what is the purpose?

mrogers · 06-14-2005, 06:53 AM

That is the official BMW spec for aligning the car, and it is what your dealer does. I first heard about it over on RoadFly, and asked my dealer to confirm the information. The idea is to simulate as close as possible an average load in the car so you get the most accurate alignment.

Hootie361 · 06-23-2005, 02:22 PM

OK, so who here actually knows the proper weights?

PMB · 06-24-2005, 08:20 AM

The weight issue sounds like a load of rubbish to me. This would affect the castor but the castor on a BMW E46 $is fixed. It is not adjustable. Camber I beliee is only adjustable at the front.

Why do you think you need your alignment doing? Does the car drive in a straight line when you are on a flat road and you let go of the steering wheel? If yes, the post has not affected your alignment. If it has affected your alignment $150 for a new wheel will be the least of your worries because it will mean that the post has bent or dammaged something.

Also, anything over $60 for alignment is a rip off.