Car Shaking and Steering pulling to right

[netgeek]

I have a 2000 BMW 323ci. Just to give you some history which may not be related to the problem - recenlty I had a flat and I had to put in a new tire and a new RIM (becuase the rim got bent). Prior to that I have had few flats and ended up putting new tires. And before that, I also had front control arms changed.

Now the car is shaking when I start driving. Its relatively stable once i gain speed upto 40mph but it starts shaking around 60mph again. The wobble is very obvious as I can feel it on my hands while holding the steering wheel and from the noise in the car. Also, the car steering pulls to the right while driving. Sometimes, I also hear a knock when I turn the sterring to the right while making a sharp U turn on very slow speed but not while driving regularly.

I thought it was an aligmnet issues so I took it to the dealer and he said that the front control arm bushes are worn out, the sterring shaft angle needs to be adjusted and then we need to do alignment and gave me abill for over $ 1000.00. I did not get any work done and took the car to my trusted BMW mechanic for a second opinion. He said that the front 2 rims need to be changed and both front tires are worn unevenly and need to be changed as well. As per him, I must have hit some bad pot holes which I dont remember. I drove it for a couple of miles when I had the flat which caused the rim to go bad but I am not sure if it caused other rims to go bad as well. Could it?

I have 2 completely separate diagnosis for the problem and need advise on how to proceed further?? Do the rims go bad that easily and are these symptoms of bad rims/tires OR the steering shaft and front control arm bushes as the dealership is suggesting.

[netgeek]

desperate for a 3rd opinion (besides my mechanic and dealer), i took the car to mavis and isntanly found out that the right driver side rim was bent and was eating up the front 2 tires. got a new rim and 2 new front tires, got the realignment and the problem is now solved. I also found out that the sturs are not straight and will be getting new ones soon from Mavis who will realign after replacing struts for free.

So I still trust my mecahnic who diagnosed it perfectly and still feel that the dealerships just want to make money as they told me total crap.

FYI...Mavis uses hunter eqpmnet and as per one of the posts, thats what dealers use so i felt confident.

[dvmotorsports]

Most places do use Hunter and they are good machines. But as a short cut, most do not re-calibrate the steering angle sensor and/or add the proper weight to the vehicle during alignment.

Just an FYI

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

^ Custom Alignment does it they asked how much i weigh... and what i carry in it....