4 wheel alignment

[zluv778]

I just bought a new set of tires and am going to get an alignment this weekend. Is it necessary to pay the dealership $189.99 or just get a standard $70-80 4 wheel alignment at my buddy's shop (who works on BMW and whom I trust)?

I know he won't do the full tank of gas and weights, but I can't see what would be different as long as he's doing camber and toe?

[mryakan]

the accuracy of the machine being used and access to proper training/specs for this car are the only differences, so if you are confident of those being adequate, it should be ok. My brother does alignment at his place but he always has a hard time with BMWs, they are harder to get properly aligned and require different tools, but since your buddy works on BMWs, chances are it is the same. P.S. I only paid like 120 for my alignments.

[robmac36067]

i just took it to a local shope, got all 4 tires balanced and aligned, it was 100 bucks. the guy did tell me that it was hard to get aligned though. but he did it, so, oh well.

[ezbmr]

I just bought a new set of tires and am going to get an alignment this weekend. Is it necessary to pay the dealership $189.99 or just get a standard $70-80 4 wheel alignment at my buddy's shop (who works on BMW and whom I trust)?

I know he won't do the full tank of gas and weights, but I can't see what would be different as long as he's doing camber and toe?


Steelership.....lol

Go to your buddys, who knows maybe you can put some gas in the car and then sit in it while it gets aligned...

Chime in guys, does the weight stuff really matter?

[weenstan]

Interesting, I never knew there was a big difference, most of the time I'm just worried about which places my car can clear lol, gotta bring my own wood -_-.

[mryakan]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the e46 is trickier to balance than an e36 and the e9x trickier than the e46 or am I mislead?