[AughtOcho335]

I called Bavarian Machine Specialites in Houston, Texas to inquire about an alignment and some woman quoted me $300 for an alignment. I and asked why? She said it took 3 hours. 2 hours to align the vehicle and then 1 hour to calibrate the steering sensor. I told her that the dealer, of all places, charged $150 after a rebate and they were insane for charging so much. She sounded a little insulted and said "thank you" and hung up. Needless to say I am not going there. I can't believe anyone would actually pay that.

I found a place that's going to do it for $105.00. A local indy shop contracts out there alignments to a place appropriately called, Inline Automotive. I simply can't believe there is such a disparity in price. $105 is round about what I've paid in the past and is sensible to me.

What have yall paid for alignments??

[Potty_Pants]

I've heard the adaptive steering adds to the cost of an alignment.

firestone lifetime alignment gets my vote.

ppp

[Nickanna]

BMW Dealer... $99 My service adviser likes me.

I'm sure some other shops do this, but I like the fact that the dealer uses a weighed sandbag in the drivers seat to simulate an occupant. Other places I've gone don't seem to care too much and get you in and out as fast as possible.

I agree with you on that other place, $300 is nuts.

[AughtOcho335]

There is Firestone five minutes from my house but I have had bad experiences with them in the past. It is firestone.....The nearest higher end independent shop is about 45 minutes away. Not a problem because I enjoy driving, naturally. It's just difficult to get there early enough after work so they have time to work it in.

I've read about BMW's requiring weights to be placed in specific locations within the vehicle in order to align in correctly. Is there any truth to this? I just want it done right the first time.

Do it right, do it light. Do it wrong, do it long.

[AughtOcho335]

Originally Posted by Nickanna

BMW Dealer... $99 My service adviser likes me.

I'm sure some other shops do this, but I like the fact that the dealer uses a weighed sandbag in the drivers seat to simulate an occupant. Other places I've gone don't seem to care too much and get you in and out as fast as possible.

I agree with you on that other place, $300 is nuts.

How big is that there sand bag? Do they have different sizes to match the driver's weight? I've read about the weights but I would think they would have to be a over 100lb each at least if they are supposed to simulate driver and passenger weight.

[AzureHaze]

Christ. For $300, you better be getting an alignment, full-body Swedish massage and a bj from that woman. Still feel likes that's too expensive though.

[ken1137]

Indy $100. Good thing b/c I'll need another in March due to all the damn potholes in Chicago.

[upstatedoc]

Is this your first BMW?

This is par for the course from stealerships.

[catcher22]

i've never paid more than $200 and that was at the dealership in the city ($$$ hourly rate) for my XI no discounts highest premium price possible. $300 is a joke

I normally pay $130 at my indy for all wheel

[AughtOcho335]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

Is this your first BMW?

This is par for the course from stealerships.

This IS my first BMW. However, this IS NOT a dealership. It's a BMW specfic independent shop in Houston. The dealerships around Houston charge anywhere between $129 & $200. I told the lady on the phone that and she acted like it wasn't a big deal.

What I don't understand is how can an independent shop that charges way more than the dealership keep their doors open....

[Benstuck]

Originally Posted by AughtOcho335

I called Bavarian Machine Specialites in Houston, Texas to inquire about an alignment and some woman quoted me $300 for an alignment. I and asked why? She said it took 3 hours. 2 hours to align the vehicle and then 1 hour to calibrate the steering sensor. I told her that the dealer, of all places, charged $150 after a rebate and they were insane for charging so much. She sounded a little insulted and said "thank you" and hung up. Needless to say I am not going there. I can't believe anyone would actually pay that.

I found a place that's going to do it for $105.00. A local indy shop contracts out there alignments to a place appropriately called, Inline Automotive. I simply can't believe there is such a disparity in price. $105 is round about what I've paid in the past and is sensible to me.

What have yall paid for alignments??

I called them to get my PE installed, and they quoted me $430 for 9 hours labor, just to cut off the factory exhaust and clamp on my PE. I paid $250 at BMW Southwest and I was good.

[AughtOcho335]

Originally Posted by Skhmund

I called them to get my PE installed, and they quoted me $430 for 9 hours labor, just to cut off the factory exhaust and clamp on my PE. I paid $250 at BMW Southwest and I was good.

Holy Hell! 9 hours of labor???? That's just asinine. That should take 1 hour at the most. Even $250 seems a little high considering how easy it would be once the car is on a lift. It's all about supply and demand though i guess.

Where do you take your car to get an alignment?

[fazman]

Firestone lifetime alignment FTW @ $200, you can come back as often as you want to any location nationwide. Just bring the car with a full tank of gas cuz it helps add weight to the trunk. Technically, you should be adding sand bags that you can buy from Toys R' Us ($6 for 50lb bag) in the car for weight (But that's really over kill).

The true procedure requires the following:
150 lbs front driver seat
150 lbs front passenger seat
150 lbs rear center seat
47 lbs trunk
and a full tank of gas

Also you can't get the front camber done unless the shop is willing to remove the front camber locking pins. All the other adjustments are easy for any monkey with a hunter alignment machine to do.

[ny325]

Paid $149.00 at the dealer.

[Benstuck]

Originally Posted by AughtOcho335

Holy Hell! 9 hours of labor???? That's just asinine. That should take 1 hour at the most. Even $250 seems a little high considering how easy it would be once the car is on a lift. It's all about supply and demand though i guess.

Where do you take your car to get an alignment?

Well I'm only at 25,XXX miles and I don't need one currently. I actually could use a reputable shop, but don't know of any :/

[_Sinister_]

Fuching crazy wow $300

[Alohaaaaa]

I got a free alignment at Kal-Tyre cause my left tie-rod was seized (went back after very very easily freeing it, and they didn't charge me to finish the job)...

[AughtOcho335]

Originally Posted by Skhmund

Well I'm only at 25,XXX miles and I don't need one currently. I actually could use a reputable shop, but don't know of any :/

This is the independent shop I am going to go with in the future. Their prices are great compared to the local competetion and they've been in business a while based on their website.

http://www.orionautoservice.com/

[Benstuck]

Originally Posted by AughtOcho335

This is the independent shop I am going to go with in the future. Their prices are great compared to the local competetion and they've been in business a while based on their website.

http://www.orionautoservice.com/

Just what I needed, thank you sir

[fun2drive]

Actually the dealers no longer use any weights in the car. They have abandoned that method of doing alignments. I saw that covered in another thread that comes up from time to time. I can't say I have ever seen the two dealerships I frequent in two different state every use any weights in the car but some others still might be doing this.
Regardless unless you have beat the suspension up via huge potholes the alignment should not change much staying stock.
300 bucks for an independent is of course way out of line compared to so many other shops including the dealer...

[AughtOcho335]

My car is about to get an alignment due to improper camber/toe up front that is causing them to wear excessively on the inside inch of each tire. Both of them have 70% tread left. However, on the inner tread blocks of each they are worn down to about 25% tread.

I've had tires on other cars with tread wear far more concerning. Only difference is I didn't expect them to hold up under the kind of stress I put these tires through.

I'm at work now so I can't post a picture. The guy at discount tire didn't think they were all that bad. I just want to know, from other's experience, if these tires will be fine once the car is aligned.

I've thought about having the two fronts dismounted and rotated from side to side so the now-inside will be the later-outside.

Thoughts?

I posted a new thread about this but this one is related and why not throw two worms out right?!?

[Nickanna]

I know I've put on some winter weight, but come on... 100lbs each? haha, no clue on what they used or how many. The paperwork said "sandbags used" and I believe it was the drivers side only since they assume most drive alone.
Sometime I spend a little more at the dealer, but it gives me piece of mind that it was done to BMW specs. I save on other stuff like brakes, shocks, etc... when I do those things myself. It all balances out I'm sure.

Originally Posted by AughtOcho335

How big is that there sand bag? Do they have different sizes to match the driver's weight? I've read about the weights but I would think they would have to be a over 100lb each at least if they are supposed to simulate driver and passenger weight.