[Spider-Wilson]

Hi guys!!

I'm about to fit new springs to the car with my friend, and I just remembered that I'm gonna need a wheel alignment after that. However I just realized that my mum will be driving the car while I'm away to snowys this weekend. I was planning to take the car to super wheel tyres in waterloo, but they're kinda hard to book in, especially one day in advance.

So I was wondering.....if Im just hoping to return it to factory default, will all shops do the same job? (looking at maybe....jaxquickfit?)

Thanks in advance!

[pavo335]

Originally Posted by Spider-Wilson

Hi guys!!

I'm about to fit new springs to the car with my friend, and I just remembered that I'm gonna need a wheel alignment after that. However I just realized that my mum will be driving the car while I'm away to snowys this weekend. I was planning to take the car to super wheel tyres in waterloo, but they're kinda hard to book in, especially one day in advance.

So I was wondering.....if Im just hoping to return it to factory default, will all shops do the same job? (looking at maybe....jaxquickfit?)

Thanks in advance!

I am sure this is a highly technical job that requires a 4 year uni degree to master but have you seen the blokes that do the work?? IMHO they are all the same, just walk in and say "neg 2 all round buddy, I'll be back in half"

[DR-JEKL]

I have heard way too many horror stories going to your local half a job Jane Bob, jax etc

I would either go to heasmans or road & race if you can? (any other suggestions guys?)

I'm curious to know who's the BMW alignment specialist is in Sydney also I have used the aforementioned shops with great results in the past?

[kaitan]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

I have heard way too many horror stories going to your local half a job Jane Bob, jax etc

I would either go to heasmans or road & race if you can? (any other suggestions guys?)

I'm curious to know who's the BMW alignment specialist is in Sydney also I have used the aforementioned shops with great results in the past?

+1 for heasmans, Been highly recommended but I havent done it myself there. Just wondering anyone know what does wheel allignment cost with them? I might need to do mine soon.

[dr335e93]

Don't let anyone touch your alignment except BMW. It takes 1.5 hours to align with weights in the front seats/rear seats etc. Highly specialized process. (not a Holden)
Cost at BMW: $95 incl wheel balance at kloster in Newcastle.

At your local joe-blow: $55 plus extra for wheel balance. And they are guaranteed to fuck it up.

I speak from my own experience.

[pavo335]

tbh it still sounds like a pretty simple job, but it sounds like you chaps know what your talking about, i'll be quiet now.

[Ninjaoz]

Where abouts do you live in Sydney? I'd recommend East Coast Suspension at Taren Point http://www.eastcoastsuspensions.com.au they know their stuff and specialise in race cars.

[HecticX5]

Originally Posted by dr335e93

Don't let anyone touch your alignment except BMW. It takes 1.5 hours to align with weights in the front seats/rear seats etc. Highly specialized process. (not a Holden)
Cost at BMW: $95 incl wheel balance at kloster in Newcastle.

At your local joe-blow: $55 plus extra for wheel balance. And they are guaranteed to fuck it up.

I speak from my own experience.

+1

I had enquired about it with North Shore BMW service and they had lube on hand (no pun intended) when they were expecting a response. If i had said yes i was going to walk out with an empty pocket and sore...Unfortunately it takes over 1.5 hours to do wheel alignment due to the electronic steering yadi yadi yada. I guess BMW went for soft steering so they can make money out of wheel alignments as well Don't know why there is so much difference in price, having an X5 should be no different in alignment cost to a 3 series??

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Any specialist can do your alignment

Spinning Wheels, Alexandria
Road & Race, Rydalmere
Heasmans, Arncliffe

Also you might not need the alignment done after springs install... will be obvious if it's needed after driving.

[skycat]

Peter @ Road & Race Rydalmere do our race cars and Con @ Pedders James Rouse Drive Auburn do all our BMW cars he also owns a Bimmer and is an enthusiast.

[Ninjaoz]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

Also you might not need the alignment done after springs install... will be obvious if it's needed after driving.

Oh really? I thought you might have to adjust the camber settings, toe in/out etc to ensure even wears on the tires.

[John_01]

I think some of the posts are making it seem harder than it really is. Some of the jax outlets in north shore and eastern suburbs would see a lot of BMWs, although that doesn't make them experts or guarantee they will show appropriate care. If you don't really trust them, you can say you only want to check/adjust the toe settings and leave camber as it is. Normally I get my wheel alignment done by spinning wheel tyres in Waterloo which I found to be very professional in all regards.

BTW, what suspension did you fit? Is it dropped very low?

[Spider-Wilson]

Thx for the advice guys! I managed to book into spinning wheels tyres tmr for an alignment and checks, coz the car does pull left.

John, I put a set of Eibach pro kit on it, didnt drop the car that much

[BMJ]

I highly recomend Tyre Power North melb for other Melb members Evans just fixed my 335 this morning.

[John_01]

Originally Posted by Spider-Wilson

John, I put a set of Eibach pro kit on it, didnt drop the car that much

Eibach pro-kit should be good on your car and not too stiff. The springs are probably going to settle after a month or so. I'm interested to see pics of your car with the drop and new wheels.

Enjoy the snow - Hopefully you will have decent conditions this weekend!

[335arctic]

thanks for the support BMJ, I'll pass it on to Evans. An alignment is only as good as its technician, cos you're adjusting a number of bolts in the same time to get the desired settings & some car makes are easier to adjust than others.

[Spider-Wilson]

Hi guys.....
A new problem arose soon after the installation....(like just 20mins after we installed the springs)
2 warning lights came on, one with a circle and triangle, and a bracketed exclamation mark.
The next day, when I brought the car for the alignment, I thought it would all be good and well. But it wasnt, they told me that the steering wheel angle sensors were bad, and that the car has no traction control whatsoever right now as it all works together as one unit. I dont know whether we messed it up or it just wasnt my day...He told me to bring it to bmw. I did so today, and I'm booked in for a diagnostics next wed. But right now they're telling me that it'll cost approx 1k to replace the steering angle sensor....
Does this sound like a replacement or reset to u guys?
Should I keep getting quotes from other shops?

Thx heapsss

[John_01]

Seems like something was disturbed when the springs were installed. I don't know the specifics, but definitely go back to look at what was done when installing the springs. I think the steering angle sensor is in the steering collumn. Do you think its possible the fault may be triggered by the ABS wheel angle sensors instead? That just seems more likely to be disturbed by spring installation.

[ABC99G]

Have you checked that you did not accidently disconnect or damage the wiring for the sensors. I remember when I did my springs that there were some wires and sensors down there. Maybe take it to Advan and they may
be able to check it for you.

[Spider-Wilson]

no idea T.T I thought so too....could driving with a crooked steering wheel before the alignment trigger it?

And thx John! Snow this weekend was awesome! Great way to end the season. i'll definitely take some pics and show u once I get everything fixed T.T

[Spider-Wilson]

ooohhh thx ABC! That...I cannot be sure... hahaha but i hope that is the case coz it sounds easier to fix (and less costly) lol

Guess I'll leave it to the professionals....lesson learnt: dont try this at home XD