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[Cg335]

Hey guys,

I have a 2011 e90 335i standard with 17'' wheels. I just had a crack in rear left tire that made it lose all pressure and so I got it replaced with a new RF tire at Firestone (quoting me cheapest price for the service, plus I have been there before and I like their work). Anyway, they tried to get me to get a wheel alignment but I declined. This is the image they gave to me. Is this normal, should it be aligned, or am I still OK?

Thanks

[bmw325i]

I wouldn't waste the money on it. Rear camber being on the low side is better for tire wear and that is the only measurement that is "out of spec".

[Cg335]

That's what I figured.

Thanks!

So talking specs...I have seen them pretty much everywhere but usually in regards to sport suspension or with 18-20" or with a coupe or a different year where the body style is different. So, do any of those make a difference in factory wheel alignment or are they all the same regardless of year, sport, size, etc?

Thanks

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by Cg335

That's what I figured.

Thanks!

So talking specs...I have seen them pretty much everywhere but usually in regards to sport suspension or with 18-20" or with a coupe or a different year where the body style is different. So, do any of those make a difference in factory wheel alignment or are they all the same regardless of year, sport, size, etc?

Thanks

Toe is most important. Factory alignment calls for a little bit of toe in but it should be close to 0. I have my toe set to 0 which is technically "out of spec".

Camber can vary but less negative will give you more even tire wear.

Caster won't affect tire wear. Positive caster is what makes the wheel want to return to center. More positive caster will increase this effect.

[Abax335]

Originally Posted by bmw325i

I wouldn't waste the money on it. Rear camber being on the low side is better for tire wear and that is the only measurement that is "out of spec".

Did you miss the fact the front toe is 30 minutes out ? Not only does your front need to be addressed but the rear camber effects rear toe and rear toe effects the measurement of front toe. The 30* and 10* isn't out of 100. It's out of 60. So you have half a degree of toe on your left front. That's bad

Your steering wheel isn't centered based on those specs OP. Most likely you are counter steering by holding it to the left to fight the pull to the right.

Toe will wear tires out very quick. It's an investment.

Alignments in the NE I say should be checked/done twice a year.

Just do it

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by Abax335

Did you miss the fact the front toe is 30 minutes out ? Not only does your front need to be addressed but the rear camber effects rear toe and rear toe effects the measurement of front toe. The 30* and 10* isn't out of 100. It's out of 60. So you have half a degree of toe on your left front. That's bad

Your steering wheel isn't centered based on those specs OP. Most likely you are counter steering by holding it to the left to fight the pull to the right.

Toe will wear tires out very quick. It's an investment.

Alignments in the NE I say should be checked/done twice a year.

Just do it

Look at the total toe. They just had the steering wheel turned slightly to the right.

[Abax335]

Originally Posted by bmw325i

Look at the total toe. They just had the steering wheel turned slightly to the right.

Total toe is just the total from left and right. That more likely is a straight steering wheel with a bad wheel alignment.

I have never in my time doing this or training guys ever see someone measure and provide a read out of a vehicles alignment with a steering wheel turned.

[trixdout]

Like others have said, toe is your most important. That is what causes the wear on the inside edge of the tire if its in BMW's spec. Keep it as close to if not at 0

[bmw325i]

Originally Posted by Abax335

Total toe is just the total from left and right. That more likely is a straight steering wheel with a bad wheel alignment.

I have never in my time doing this or training guys ever see someone measure and provide a read out of a vehicles alignment with a steering wheel turned.

Total toe tells you if the wheels are rolling parallel to each other. Maybe you are right and the steering wheel is a little crooked when going straight down the road. If that is the case OP should know. Either way the steering wheel being crooked wouldn't affect tire wear.

Its also possible that they didn't have the steering wheel exactly centered when checking it. I know when I got my last alignment the toe changed after they moved the car and rechecked it. They told me something similar and had to mess with the steering wheel to get each side to 0 out.

Its up to the OP if he wants to get it aligned just to do it anyways but my opinion is its not needed in this case.

[Abax335]

Originally Posted by bmw325i

Total toe tells you if the wheels are rolling parallel to each other. Maybe you are right and the steering wheel is a little crooked when going straight down the road. If that is the case OP should know. Either way the steering wheel being crooked wouldn't affect tire wear.

Its also possible that they didn't have the steering wheel exactly centered when checking it. I know when I got my last alignment the toe changed after they moved the car and rechecked it. They told me something similar and had to mess with the steering wheel to get each side to 0 out.

Its up to the OP if he wants to get it aligned just to do it anyways but my opinion is its not needed in this case.

Even if the wheel was just turned when it is centered it will still be 20 minutes off on the one side which is out of spec enough to wear tires. I've seen much less do more damage to tires.

[hongsc]

They do have a lifetime alignment for $200 and there's usually a 10% coupon floating around.