[jimmyfloyd]

First, I am fairly new to newer BMWs. Second, this is second hand, as the E93 is my father's new car.

The car was taken to a shop to get a 4 wheel alignment. He's having it aligned because the rear wheels had wear on the inside edges. It's a 2010 328i with sport package and optional 18" wheels. The shop told them they could not align the car because it needed to be pre-loaded, or represent 4 adults in the car. This did not sound right to me, so I figured I would ask here.

[Joebie]

I think that the by-the-book BMW official alignment procedure does describe putting weights in the car to represent driver, passengers, and loads in the trunk or whatever... so in a way, the shop is technically correct.

I don't know this for sure, but I think most shops just align with no weights and 95% of the time everything works out fine. Maybe you could find a different shop that specializes in BMWs or European cars to do the alignment for you?

[Emilime75]

It does, the dealership will place weights in the car. Race car teams often do alignments with the driver/gear in the car. With that said, an alignment without those weights is still much, much better than no alignment, and most shops will do it.

The next issue you'll likely encounter, unless they've been replaced recently, is the outer tie rod ends seazeing to the inners.

[PerfectAce]

A non-specialist garage with somewhat older equipment is likely being straight with you about the prescribed method given in their reference materials. A lot of older Bentley manuals and even BMW technical service information for older models prescribe loading the car with weights to simulate typical loaded driving conditions.

[Soravia]

TYPICAL driving conditions.
What do you drive with? Mostly half tank of gas and ONE driver, right?

That's how you do alignment. I ask the shop to load up one of their employees in the car.
Obviously they won't let me in the bay for insurance

[jimmyfloyd]

thanks for the information. Based on that, it has an appointment at the BMW dealer to get it done. Figured that would be best.

[iqraceworks]

I would think that you want the car set-up how it's going to be normally driven. If you don't drive around with 4 adults and a trunk full of crap....why would you get it aligned with all that weight in the car?

[The Nightman]

BMW specifies to load the car down to "normal position" as follows:

Vehicle with complete equipment for normal operation with:
2 x 68 kg on front seats (seats in central position);
1 x 68 kg on rear seat (centre);
1 x 21 kg in luggage compartment (centre) and full fuel tank.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...rement/6KsEXqW

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by freedomfries

BMW specifies to load the car down to "normal position" as follows:

Vehicle with complete equipment for normal operation with:
2 x 68 kg on front seats (seats in central position);
1 x 68 kg on rear seat (centre);
1 x 21 kg in luggage compartment (centre) and full fuel tank.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...rement/6KsEXqW

But if 95% of your driving is with just the weight of the driver in the car....what's the point? BMW's spec isn't necessarily the best....it's the best "one size fits all" though...

All that being said.....I've NEVER seen an alignment shop ever put weight in a car before they align in......not that it's a bad idea...

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Emilime75

It does, the dealership will place weights in the car. Race car teams often do alignments with the driver/gear in the car. With that said, an alignment without those weights is still much, much better than no alignment, and most shops will do it.

The next issue you'll likely encounter, unless they've been replaced recently, is the outer tie rod ends seazeing to the inners.

That is the old way of doing it. Alignments use to require loading with various weights in the car. Instead, we now use ride height sensors on each corner, so the alignment can be set properly regardless of load in the car.