My Cars @ BMW Service Dept for Alignment

Alias · 07-19-2007, 07:53 AM

So Yeah 600 miles and my alignments is infact off. Car pulls to the right, very noticable at higher speeds. I had read some previous posts about new cars also having alignment problems, but this is basically what my Sa said

"So I spoke with the quality control/road test tech and he said "Naturally" 335's DO pull to the right."

Anyways they said there gonna try and put it up this morning and see whats wrong.

ToddPhilly · 07-19-2007, 08:04 AM

My car drives straight as an arrow on a non-crested roadway. You need to be aware of any crest in the road. Cars with staggered tire configurations are impacted more by road crest than those with non-staggered configurations. If your car is uniformly pulling to the right, there is a problem. Ask to see the full alignment report. It will show you the factory tolerances as well as what the specific values for your car are set to. Just look for ones that are outside the factory tolerance values.

Javier · 07-19-2007, 08:21 AM

Some times I think my car is pulling to one side, but after checking it out, I realize its just following the road. But it does this quite a lot, way more than any other car i've had.

LiveWire · 07-19-2007, 08:46 AM

I used to have that problem alot with my 330ci. I had it realigned 4 times in three years. I did have staggered tires though.

AndreTheGeek · 07-19-2007, 10:15 AM

In my experience most new cars I've bought needed an alignment right off the bat. I've had 4 BMW's though, and three of them did not have that problem. Having said that, my e90 did need an alignment.

Tell your SA that cars do not naturally pull to one side, and that a new car should track perfectly. Make sure that they do an alignment for you, especially now, during your free adjustment period.

Also check your tire pressures, as these RFTs seem to be particular about being just right. I had about 4 lbs too low in mine, and they seemed to tramline more. I got the alignment, and adjusted the pressures and I am now very happy with the handling (I'd still prefer non RFTs though).

Asiann · 07-19-2007, 11:14 AM

I would ask for an alignment regardless of what they tell you even if its just to put your mind at rest. I had one done for free and when I saw the price I'm glad I did. It was about $240 I think and I didn't think I needed one but the roads in Hawaii are not the greatest so I thought why not. I only had about 10k miles on the car.

dxb335d · 07-19-2007, 11:54 AM

maybe it was involved in an accident before it was registered

it does happen

E90330iS · 07-19-2007, 01:07 PM

One thing to keep in mind is that when you are on the freeway it is designed to keep you on the road so you will feel a pull to one direction usually the lower direction. See if that is the problem.

Alias · 07-19-2007, 01:18 PM

Car is being fixed as of right now. I did a lot of testing on smooth even roads and it just drifted off to the right. Anyways my SA just called me and said the alignment is indeed off by 5 degree's

Its just a dam shame they are letting the cars off the lot like this.

voltron1011 · 07-19-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToddPhilly

Cars with staggered tire configurations are impacted more by road crest than those with non-staggered configurations.

You are correct.. Plus, adding rear spacers increases this phenomenon even more.

Russellnyc · 07-19-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voltron1011

You are correct.. Plus, adding rear spacers increases this phenomenon even more.

Really? I have rear spacers and I haven't noticed any increase. In my experience, it's the wide front tires that cause tramlining.

voltron1011 · 07-19-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russellnyc

Really? I have rear spacers and I haven't noticed any increase. In my experience, it's the wide front tires that cause tramlining.

Yep, I put on 13mm on rears and noticed it. Not so much tramlining as the cresting problem that ToddPhilly mentioned.

normtrum · 07-19-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alias

Car is being fixed as of right now. I did a lot of testing on smooth even roads and it just drifted off to the right. Anyways my SA just called me and said the alignment is indeed off by 5 degree's

Its just a dam shame they are letting the cars off the lot like this.

Ya know it really doesn't take much to make a car go out of alignment. I've had my e46 aligned 4 times in the last 3 years. Simply driving over a railroad track with higher then normal rails can pop it out, or a pothole, or even a big speed bump that you take too fast. I mean I know we're not driving 4x4's, but I would expect a little more "forgivemess". I've had no issues with my e90 however.

07-19-2007, 07:53 AM	#1
Alias dork 38 Rep 477 Posts Drives: //M Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: so cal iTrader: (3)	My Cars @ BMW Service Dept for Alignment So Yeah 600 miles and my alignments is infact off. Car pulls to the right, very noticable at higher speeds. I had read some previous posts about new cars also having alignment problems, but this is basically what my Sa said "So I spoke with the quality control/road test tech and he said "Naturally" 335's DO pull to the right." Anyways they said there gonna try and put it up this morning and see whats wrong.
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07-19-2007, 08:04 AM	#2
ToddPhilly First Lieutenant 19 Rep 313 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: King of Prussia, PA iTrader: (0)	My car drives straight as an arrow on a non-crested roadway. You need to be aware of any crest in the road. Cars with staggered tire configurations are impacted more by road crest than those with non-staggered configurations. If your car is uniformly pulling to the right, there is a problem. Ask to see the full alignment report. It will show you the factory tolerances as well as what the specific values for your car are set to. Just look for ones that are outside the factory tolerance values. __________________ 335i Coupe: Crimson Red / Black X3 3.0si: Alpine White / Sand Beige
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07-19-2007, 08:21 AM	#3
Javier Major 80 Rep 1,109 Posts Drives: 335i E92 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Puerto Rico iTrader: (0)	Some times I think my car is pulling to one side, but after checking it out, I realize its just following the road. But it does this quite a lot, way more than any other car i've had. __________________ 2007 328i Crimson Red SOLD 2010 335i MSport AW E92
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07-19-2007, 08:46 AM	#4
LiveWire Enlisted Member 0 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (0)	I used to have that problem alot with my 330ci. I had it realigned 4 times in three years. I did have staggered tires though.
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07-19-2007, 10:15 AM	#5
AndreTheGeek Lieutenant 16 Rep 463 Posts Drives: 335i E90 Alpine White Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	In my experience most new cars I've bought needed an alignment right off the bat. I've had 4 BMW's though, and three of them did not have that problem. Having said that, my e90 did need an alignment. Tell your SA that cars do not naturally pull to one side, and that a new car should track perfectly. Make sure that they do an alignment for you, especially now, during your free adjustment period. Also check your tire pressures, as these RFTs seem to be particular about being just right. I had about 4 lbs too low in mine, and they seemed to tramline more. I got the alignment, and adjusted the pressures and I am now very happy with the handling (I'd still prefer non RFTs though).
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07-19-2007, 11:14 AM	#6
Asiann Got Seoul? 116 Rep 2,862 Posts Drives: 2012 535i MSport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Honolulu iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 535i [0.00] 2008 750Li [0.00] 2006 BMW [0.00]	I would ask for an alignment regardless of what they tell you even if its just to put your mind at rest. I had one done for free and when I saw the price I'm glad I did. It was about $240 I think and I didn't think I needed one but the roads in Hawaii are not the greatest so I thought why not. I only had about 10k miles on the car. __________________ Can you say Alooooha? [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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07-19-2007, 11:54 AM	#7
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 949 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	maybe it was involved in an accident before it was registered it does happen __________________ 997.2 GT3
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07-19-2007, 01:07 PM	#8
E90330iS Major General 143 Rep 6,333 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arcadia, California iTrader: (56) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	One thing to keep in mind is that when you are on the freeway it is designed to keep you on the road so you will feel a pull to one direction usually the lower direction. See if that is the problem. __________________ 2017 BMW M4 DCT Lease Transfer: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8#post23736398
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07-19-2007, 01:18 PM	#9
Alias dork 38 Rep 477 Posts Drives: //M Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: so cal iTrader: (3)	Car is being fixed as of right now. I did a lot of testing on smooth even roads and it just drifted off to the right. Anyways my SA just called me and said the alignment is indeed off by 5 degree's Its just a dam shame they are letting the cars off the lot like this.
	Appreciate 0 Quote