alignment - anything special?

[TheNorthWaves]

Hey guys, quick question... Have a 95 M3 with pretty much stock suspension excet for new shocks. It's time for new tires and an alignment. This is actually the first time the M3 has needed an alignment (it has a slight pull on the highway). I don't know anything about alignments - Should I get something special (fancy laser-guided computer-controlled weight-loaded crap or something) or should I pretty much just get the tire place to do a standard job and call it a day? I only ask because it's an M-car and sometimes these cars are finicky. I don't auto-x or anything. Daily driver.

[Rennmeister M3]

If you are going to wait on the alignment you might as well wait in the driver's seat. Your suspension will compress nearly an inch with someone in the car, and that will make a difference in toe, camber is not so important since small changes are negligible on street cars.

I suggest a good alignment on a Hunter laser rack. A good alignment is not only cost effective (saves gas and tires), but makes the car feel much more responsive and predictable.

[eurrofreak]

Most places have the fancy equipment anyway, but make sure the car feels good afterwards, if not go back and tell them to re-do it. Also ask them to see the print out of the job, you should see all the alignment numbers in green.

[deadlift]

And make sure they know how to align a BMW. These cars also have a little bit of adjustment in the rear, but it took two alignment shops to actually get someone to do it (the bimmer dealership knew).

[savage217]

If the shop is good, they will load the car up or compensate in some way for driver weight. Im going for mine on friday:alright

[MMMPR3S]

This is good information as I'm going to do my alignment soon.

[Jrdeamicis]

I got my car aligned with me in the driver seat and a 1/2 tank of gas.

[joenationwide]

well, if you want to work with what you have (ie. no front camber adjustment), i would make the front toe 0, rear toe 0.20 deg. total toe in, and minimize the rear camber. You will not have much front camber (unless you get camber plates, or by other methods) so the more rear camber you have, the less relative front grip you'll have.

[TheNorthWaves]

well, if you want to work with what you have (ie. no front camber adjustment), i would make the front toe 0, rear toe 0.20 deg. total toe in, and minimize the rear camber. You will not have much front camber (unless you get camber plates, or by other methods) so the more rear camber you have, the less relative front grip you'll have.

Pardon me for asking, but is this a normal stock setup or to improve things?

[VaTechE36]

what a perfectly timed thread! I just finished pulling my control arms, tie rods, and have new tires on the way. So it is also time for me to get my car in to get it aligned.

Thanks for the info guys!

[joenationwide]

well, if you want to work with what you have (ie. no front camber adjustment), i would make the front toe 0, rear toe 0.20 deg. total toe in, and minimize the rear camber. You will not have much front camber (unless you get camber plates, or by other methods) so the more rear camber you have, the less relative front grip you'll have.


Pardon me for asking, but is this a normal stock setup or to improve things?

Yes and yes. It is basically the best alignment you can get for stock components. IMHO its the best compromise between performance and tire wear (should be no noticeable uneven tire wear). To make the car handle much better, you'd want to get more neg. camber in the front, a good rule of thumb is -1 deg more neg camber up front than rear. But the stock M3 front camber is non-adjustable. I highly recommend getting more neg camber up front by swapping 96+ strut hats, shims, or camber plates.

BTW. The stock "recommended" settings are awful. They are poor settings for performance AND result in uneven tire wear. But it is deemed as "safe".