[YvesD]

Guys,

Has anyone had to have their geometry re-set after lowering or has a simple KDS alignment tweak been enough?

I'm just wondering what effect wider rims and tyres have on the set up too?

Some quick feed back would be appreciated, I'm off to the KDS shop at 2pm.

Cheers

Yves

[M3-FAST]

Yes, if lowered the car will need setting back up again

I used Car Planet Racing in Warrington who have a state of the art machine to assist in re-aligning the suspension.

I think the cost was about hundred ish (maybe £140, cant remember now!) and took about an hour and a half to complete.

The difference was noticeable and they offer a re-alignment if anything changes or your not happy with the setup.

[YvesD]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

Yes, if lowered the car will need setting back up again

I used Car Planet Racing in Warrington who have a state of the art machine to assist in re-aligning the suspension.

I think the cost was about hundred ish (maybe £140, cant remember now!) and took about an hour and a half to complete.

The difference was noticeable and they offer a re-alignment if anything changes or your not happy with the setup.

Cheers.

Sounds like you had some more work done than just a simple alignment then?
My dealer wants £200 for a full set up which sounds a lot to me.

KDS check is only £50 for both ends....


Yves

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

Yes, if lowered the car will need setting back up again

I used Car Planet Racing in Warrington who have a state of the art machine to assist in re-aligning the suspension.

I think the cost was about hundred ish (maybe £140, cant remember now!) and took about an hour and a half to complete.

The difference was noticeable and they offer a re-alignment if anything changes or your not happy with the setup.

Does CPR do KDS aswell?

I still need to get a kds done....

[zltm089]

Yves where are you taking your car for the kds?

[YvesD]

Originally Posted by zltm089

Yves where are you taking your car for the kds?

Decided not to have it done in the end.

Talking to a suspension set up specialist convinced me to have the full works done.

Not decided where to take it yet though.

Cheers

[Yahoo]

After my suspension work, I had a standard geometry setup by Bush (using a hunter alignment machine) - this got everything within standard spec. I then had M3 specs dialed in by Geoff Steel Racing - they race prep several BMW BTCC cars and certainly seem to know what they are doing.

I am very happy with this setup both on the motorway and the twisties.

[YvesD]

Originally Posted by Yahoo

After my suspension work, I had a standard geometry setup by Bush (using a hunter alignment machine) - this got everything within standard spec. I then had M3 specs dialed in by Geoff Steel Racing - they race prep several BMW BTCC cars and certainly seem to know what they are doing.

I am very happy with this setup both on the motorway and the twisties.

Cheers Buddy, I will be in touch to have a chat about this.

Yves

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by zltm089

Does CPR do KDS aswell?

I still need to get a kds done....

CPR do full 4 wheel alignment - castor, camber, etc...

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by YvesD

Guys,

Has anyone had to have their geometry re-set after lowering or has a simple KDS alignment tweak been enough?

I'm just wondering what effect wider rims and tyres have on the set up too?

Some quick feed back would be appreciated, I'm off to the KDS shop at 2pm.

Cheers

Yves

Mate, a KDS or Hunter tweak / setup IS a full geometry setup. Same thing, and essential after lowering to get your base level geometry back.

Dealer rob you for 200+ but an indy will do the check only for about 50. Adjustments are extra usually.

So about 100 or so for a full geometry setup (kds or otherwise) is about right.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Mate, a KDS or Hunter tweak / setup IS a full geometry setup. Same thing, and essential after lowering to get your base level geometry back.

Dealer rob you for 200+ but an indy will do the check only for about 50. Adjustments are extra usually.

So about 100 or so for a full geometry setup (kds or otherwise) is about right.

i had this argument with a dealer the other week...

in the end managed to get them to do it all for £100 + VAT

fricken joke..

[YvesD]

Interesting, the other thing I'm having BIG trouble with currently is getting my wheels balanced.

No one seems to be able to get them spot on. Very, very frustating. Latest attempt today sees even worse vibration at the rear than before and two of my recently purchased new BMW centre caps damaged!

Getting seriously cheesed off with the whole thing.

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by YvesD

Interesting, the other thing I'm having BIG trouble with currently is getting my wheels balanced.

No one seems to be able to get them spot on. Very, very frustating. Latest attempt today sees even worse vibration at the rear than before and two of my recently purchased new BMW centre caps damaged!

Getting seriously cheesed off with the whole thing.

Your average tyre monkey is never very bright.
Its always entertaining trying to align a car or sort tyres isn't it?

Sounds to me like it may not be seating on the hub/spigot correctly.
And remember, balance issues with the rear disk or binding handbrake or calipers can give this effect too

I always go to Chris Franklin for all suspension work, or TDI in Bluewater are pretty good too.

CG - Chris is a real petrolhead and has done extensive work for the Porsche and Honda owners clubs amongst others.
His enthusiasm is tangible, and he's happy to teach you everything he is doing if you are interested to assist.
An alignment here is not a paper print-out, its custom experience and tuition tailored to the way YOU drive your car.

http://www.centergravity.co.uk/

[YvesD]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

Sounds to me like it may not be seating on the hub/spigot correctly.
And remember, balance issues with the rear disk or binding handbrake or calipers can give this effect too

Great, yet more potential aggro!

Have been in touch with CG previously now you mention it. Can they balance wheels properly too???

Thanks for the feedback.

Yves

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by YvesD

Great, yet more potential aggro!

Have been in touch with CG previously now you mention it. Can they balance wheels properly too???

Thanks for the feedback.

Yves

Im not actually sure mate, I think Chris used to use the local tyre shop for basic stuff (basic-lol in this case!).

Give him a bell tomorrow and ask.

You may well have a damaged tyre carcass you know... not unheard of with RFTS either

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by YvesD

Interesting, the other thing I'm having BIG trouble with currently is getting my wheels balanced.

No one seems to be able to get them spot on. Very, very frustating. Latest attempt today sees even worse vibration at the rear than before and two of my recently purchased new BMW centre caps damaged!

Getting seriously cheesed off with the whole thing.

Make sure you ask them to take the old weights of and start again, most tyre monkeys will put the wheel on the machine, leave the old weights on and just add more weights to try and balance it out as this save the lazy gits about 10 seconds.

Also as m1jbr said, it only takes a tiny bit of grit or swarf or something on the wheel / hub face to make the wheel sit off-square and thus run out of balance when on the car.

Or if its not on the tyre balancing machine perfectly square again they will balance it out and then it will be no good on the car (less likely, but still possible)

Make sure when the wheels are off you mention this and get the hub faces and wheel mounting faces scraped clean and check by hand for any bumps or lumps.

[YvesD]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Make sure you ask them to take the old weights of and start again, most tyre monkeys will put the wheel on the machine, leave the old weights on and just add more weights to try and balance it out as this save the lazy gits about 10 seconds.

Also as m1jbr said, it only takes a tiny bit of grit or swarf or something on the wheel / hub face to make the wheel sit off-square and thus run out of balance when on the car.

Or if its not on the tyre balancing machine perfectly square again they will balance it out and then it will be no good on the car (less likely, but still possible)

Make sure when the wheels are off you mention this and get the hub faces and wheel mounting faces scraped clean and check by hand for any bumps or lumps.

Good advice, thanks, I'm going to let BMW have a go at it next as she needs to go in for a couple of bits so they can have a good look at this too.

Deffo need to get the alignment done too.

Cheers

Yves

[m1bjr]

How did this go?
Did you get it sorted mate?

[YvesD]

Wheel balance is much, much better but still not perfect. Fair play to my dealer, I dont think they can get it any better with the 'old' wheel balancer they have there.

Alufelgen have recommended a Hunter GS9700 balancing machine which is state of the art and can work with perameters normal balancers cant.

Regards geometry set up, I should have considered this before perhaps but as I am running wider than stock rim widths and different offsets, this effectively changes the track of the car and then presumably other stuff too?

The car is now set back up to the original factory specs and is within tolerance but it doesnt feel as 'natural' as the original 18 inchers and narrower tyres.

Perhaps some propper calcs need doing and a bespoke set up applied?

How much adjustment is available anyway? Suspension Gurus chime in please.

Cheers

Yves

Originally Posted by m1bjr

How did this go?
Did you get it sorted mate?