Alignment question
 

Is it better to schedule an appointment at the dealer for alignment with the old tires, or should I install new wheels and new tires and then schedule it ??

With my old tires, the techs can plainly see where the wear is actually occurring and can easily correct it.

I'm thinking I should wait until I have all my new stuff put on.

Thanks in advance.

Lol, you think the techs will pay attention to your actual needs. How sweet.

:D

Seriously though, they are going to put it up on the rack and look for "green" and that's it.

The alignment has nothing to do with the tires, so don't worry one way or the other.

Maybe not....

But I've always had alignments done with new tires installed (that is when tire replacement was near the same time I was wanting an alignment done...)

I do is this way mainly out of principle. The car will remain with the new tires after the alignment. If there are 'problems' with the alignment afterwards - they can't blame tire changes...

So I just got back from the dealer.

The Service Advisor recommended getting the new tires installed first before coming in for the alignment.

Then I'll be $149 poorer.

:lol:

I always ask for "before and after" printouts

Good idea, kog.

Thanks !!

That recommendation makes no sense whatsoever.

149 sounds steep for an alignment, unless it is a four wheel alignment.

heck even for a four wheel alignment that sounds steep

Huh. That's exactly opposite of what I was thinking.

I would NOT recommend you ever take an electric steer BMW in for an alignment. :ack:

It's a 4-wheel alignment for $149.

They don't call it "stealership" for nothing. :lol:

(BTW, I saw an ///M6 there. Nice car. With that purchase, I'd be about $130,000 poorer)

$149 sounds about right for this area, at an independent non-BMW performance shop.

what does electric steering have to do with it?

alignment is still a mechanical issue, isn't it? caster, camber, tie rod ends, etc are still the same, right??

4 wheel alignment (right front and right rear were toe'd out thanks to a monster pothole hidden by water puddle) on the Malibu just cost me 89.99 at the Chevy stealer

Got me, but they charge $350 to align it at the dealer - which is double the normal charge.

I paid $90-ish for a fantastic alignment at one of the tirerack approved shops near me. They even test drove and swapped the front tires among each other for perfection. New tires, that is.