[Soul_Glo]

Replaced the fronts not so long ago and noticed the outside edge of the n/s/f tyre was slightly worn hinting at positive camber.

Local dealer has quoted £150. Local Alignment Specialist £80.

Is there any difference aside the price and the person carrying out the alignment making the difference to the result?

Both have KDS/Hunter machines.

Wondering what the dealer would have to offer over the local specialist?

Ta

[makkan00]

£80
who does it for £80?

[Drshan0]

£40 cash at Nottingham wheel and alignment services..... Sytners take there cars here and charge £150 ish.......

[makkan00]

I always paid £120 for all 4, but I made sure that I go to well known guys.

[-Ju-]

I had a 4 wheel alignment done on my old Audi S3 at a hunter equipped garage for £60. That included a before and after printout.
£150 sounds like a typical main dealer mark up tbh and not necessarily a better job.
I would look up your nearest hunter dealer and go there.

[Digitalize]

£30-£40 per axle is the regular really, less if it doesn't need adjustment. Anymore and you best be getting a happy ending too.

Always get a proper laser one hooked up to a computer with before/after print outs.

[m20b25]

does £40 include adjustment or just a check?

[Digitalize]

Adjustment. I've never paid more.

[Drshan0]

The £40 @ Nott's wheel align is inclusive of print out / adjustment as required, have used them for many years on all my cars, would highly recommend to anybody in the vicinity.

[Subzero2003]

I pay around £70 for mine from Warne Motors Bury, in Bury St Edmunds. Takes about 1.5hours to do.

[Soul_Glo]

Took the plunge and had it done... KDS.
Looked at the print out and glad I did before I learn an expensive lesson in tyre wear.
7 adjustments made and IIRC 4 of them were wayyyyyyyyy out.
They said that their KDS machine is loaded witih BMW specific software. I went with the dealer in the end as the alignment centre quoting £80 are always busy and said that they could only do it on the weekend... but I need to rack up some miles over the week on the motorway...

[Dan-danGT]

We use Nottingham allignment for our Mercedes they seem descent lads

[KM79]

KDS setup is an absolute ball ache but it's absolutely spot on.Takes over 2 hours to do as car has to be weighted down to simulate driver/fuel/etc but BMW don't like it done any other way.They even put 5 little holes in their wheels just so the heads can fit accurately.At £150 we don't even make that much doing them plus the machine costs £40k

[kevin@bndynamix]

Originally Posted by KrisM79

KDS setup is an absolute ball ache but it's absolutely spot on.Takes over 2 hours to do as car has to be weighted down to simulate driver/fuel/etc but BMW don't like it done any other way.They even put 5 little holes in their wheels just so the heads can fit accurately.At £150 we don't even make that much doing them plus the machine costs £40k

Depends which tech at dealer does the kds, what system they're using not all use same same kds machine. I was at hj's in warrington and had complaining customer who was racing car driver and had his kds done 3 times at bowkers preston and didn't feel right. I did it and was ok but when checked there adjustment figures to ours weren't the same slightly different. not all cars need weighing down either, machine gives tolerance of +/- 10mm suspension height each corner but if tech can't be bothered weighing it down figures always can be inputted in to bypass it. Kwik fit use Same as bmw.

[KM79]

Some of that us true,but we always weigh down and if you're ramp is off even by couple mm you're readings are scrap hence why we have the ramp optically aligned every 90 days.KwikFit?last time I saw their workshop they where using gauges that had a bit of string connecting them..
And we use KDS 3.

[kevin@bndynamix]

The kwik fit by my garage use same kds as dealer I was at hunter system

[KM79]

The better system being the Beisbarth.bmw themselves only fully endorse this as the hunter ones can be bought to bring costs down.

[kevin@bndynamix]

but at end of day all do same job if done correctly with correct adjustments.

[KM79]

True but will Kwik Fit reset you're Steering angle settings once completed?
As have had plenty customers coming in 'oh I just had my alignment done at Kwik fit/national/ ATS/etc and now there's a load of warning lamps on'
My point being if it's done by the dealer there will be no further issues assuming as you say it's done by a conscientious tech.

[kevin@bndynamix]

We do it for them if needed, but will they at bmw!!!! Bet they don't if szl light is not on. I don't put to much faith in dealer I have 22yrs at dealer and senior tech, when a apprentice is doing kds on your car only been there 6months or one of new tech from Vauxhall who to tell its szl been reset!!!! I know my own work others I don't.

[KM79]

Well you've got me I've only had 18 years,worked in 3 dealers been a master tech in 2 and heading that way for BMW.
I know what you're saying about inexperienced techs etc but not all dealers are the same.Mine for one has a high standard and only techs who have done the chassis training course can do the work.SZL must be done,it's not a case of maybe .Its part of the job and printout must be supplied,if you've seen this happening then that's a pretty poor dealership.

[kevin@bndynamix]

didn't say did witness it, but my old dealer not that bad just won uk's number 1 dealer. But all in all not all dealer are as good as one an other .