[Pcemkr]

lol

How can you say that one alignment is better than another? IF IT'S IN SPEC, IT'S IN SPEC. BMW owners are such snobs when it comes to some things. Call me old school, but I've never seen car people like the ones on BMW forums. These are entry-level luxury/performance cars, not F1.

I "corner-balanced" my car with a tape measure to 50.3%/49.7%; more accurate that what people pay $200 at a performance shop for. I took it onto a guy's scales in Boston and everyone was pissed that they paid for it when I told them how I did it.

P.S. I'm a professional Engineer.

[335TWNTURBO]

Originally Posted by pseto

Depends on how you want to set up your suspension. If you want something close to factory spec b/c your lowered, camber plates are not needed.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you want a true race setup or something a lot more aggressive for handling, I guess its possible (although I don't believe many e90/e92 guys have new camber plates).

When you say that rear is 'aggressive', do you mean that its totally slammed and fenders rolled (i.e. height)? Or, are you talking about having excessive negative camber or something related to your current suspension setup?

I have 19x10 Rears with +22 offsets. My fenders are definitely rolled. I would say I am considerably low.

Here are a few pics of my car for reference:

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

lol

How can you say that one alignment is better than another? IF IT'S IN SPEC, IT'S IN SPEC. BMW owners are such snobs when it comes to some things. Call me old school, but I've never seen car people like the ones on BMW forums. These are entry-level luxury/performance cars, not F1.

I "corner-balanced" my car with a tape measure to 50.3%/49.7%; more accurate that what people pay $200 at a performance shop for. I took it onto a guy's scales in Boston and everyone was pissed that they paid for it when I told them how I did it.

P.S. I'm a professional Engineer.

Yup spec is spec, agreed. Question is, what spec do u want? Oem spec? Fine if you are just cruising with the car.

You need to understand that not everyone is ok with standard settings/workmanship.

Many times I've taken one of my other vehicles to a chain shop only to have it leave with more work to be done. Scratched wheels, grease in the interior etc. These are not the



people I want working on my car, all I am saying.



Question, when you are using a tape measure are you just setting left/right side to equal heights?

[pseto]

Originally Posted by 335TWNTURBO

I have 19x10 Rears with +22 offsets. My fenders are definitely rolled. I would say I am considerably low.

Here are a few pics of my car for reference:

That's fairly low, I've seen plenty lower than that though

You still need to decide what kind of suspension setup you want custom or OEM.

Looks like that pic is from the McD's lot near Russet (I used to live there) and your Elite sticker means you know Chris. He didn't know a place for alignments?

[335TWNTURBO]

Originally Posted by pseto

That's fairly low, I've seen plenty lower than that though

You still need to decide what kind of suspension setup you want custom or OEM.

Looks like that pic is from the McD's lot near Russet (I used to live there) and your Elite sticker means you know Chris. He didn't know a place for alignments?

He recommended AT Speed.

Damn, you have good eyes. How did you know it was McDonald's of all places? I was coming from Chris's shop after getting my fenders rolled. I want to go lower but the front was rubbing like crazy. I had to raise the front up a bit. I want to go lower in the rear as well but Chris recommended me staying at this ride height.

[feaganszhp]

I am taking classes to become ASE certified in alignments and just taking it to the sub $100 alignment isnt the route you wanna take. There are many little things that have to be accounted for in bmw's and any of the higher performance vehicles. Most places like that won't weigh the car down to get the proper weight bmw says is needed to have the alignment done. Plus by lowering the car you have adjusted what the factory specs. You have to have the specs that are given by the brand suspension you have had installed on your car, all are a little different and then you can set the alignment to the car in addition to those new specs. I am not saying that those places wont get the car aligned and you wont have any problems with toe, camber, or caster but it was done right and when your looking at spending between 100-200 on a proper alignment dont skimp. You spend well over a thousand on a good coilover suspension set up and have probably invested much more into the car. So my advice is take it to a place that specializes in those kinds of cars and has the respect and know how to properly align the vehicle.

[1N54E92]

Originally Posted by 335TWNTURBO

I have 19x10 Rears with +22 offsets. My fenders are definitely rolled. I would say I am considerably low.

Here are a few pics of my car for reference:

The 1st picture ..is that in Bel Air...W. McPhail and 24 ?

Ok..I figured it out..the picture was taken in McDonald's parking lot in Laurel. McDonald is next to the Exxon gas station off of Laurel Fort Meade Road (Rt.198) and Russett Green.

[pseto]

Originally Posted by 335TWNTURBO

He recommended AT Speed.

Damn, you have good eyes. How did you know it was McDonald's of all places? I was coming from Chris's shop after getting my fenders rolled. I want to go lower but the front was rubbing like crazy. I had to raise the front up a bit. I want to go lower in the rear as well but Chris recommended me staying at this ride height.

I used to live in Russet and know that area well. Chris is a good guy; he rolled my fenders a few years ago before he got into BMWs. I thought after all these years, he would have gotten alignment equipment by now.

[Pcemkr]

Originally Posted by feaganszhp

I am taking classes to become ASE certified in alignments and just taking it to the sub $100 alignment isnt the route you wanna take. There are many little things that have to be accounted for in bmw's and any of the higher performance vehicles. Most places like that won't weigh the car down to get the proper weight bmw says is needed to have the alignment done. Plus by lowering the car you have adjusted what the factory specs. You have to have the specs that are given by the brand suspension you have had installed on your car, all are a little different and then you can set the alignment to the car in addition to those new specs. I am not saying that those places wont get the car aligned and you wont have any problems with toe, camber, or caster but it was done right and when your looking at spending between 100-200 on a proper alignment dont skimp. You spend well over a thousand on a good coilover suspension set up and have probably invested much more into the car. So my advice is take it to a place that specializes in those kinds of cars and has the respect and know how to properly align the vehicle.

I don't run factory specs though. I have 9.5" and 11" wheels with 225/265 tires and high negative camber.

[335TWNTURBO]

I just came back from Euro Tech in Baltimore and they said that I need to further roll my rear fenders so that the hunter can roll forward and backwards on the wheel. They also said that they have remove the fender liners in the front.

they quoted me a whooping: $370.00 (they have bumped their head)

[Pcemkr]

lol wow..

I should have bought a fender roller years ago to charge $10/corner

[Royal Flush]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

lol wow..

I should have bought a fender roller years ago to charge $10/corner

You should've, and put that Professional Engineering expertise to work!

[Pcemkr]

It doesn't take an Engineer to use a fender roller.

[Royal Flush]

Originally Posted by Pcemkr

It doesn't take an Engineer to use a fender roller.

Ah, sorry for the assumption! I just thought it does just like with corner balancing.

[Pcemkr]

It doesn't take an Engineer to corner balance either. Not sure where you're deriving these assumptions from.

[335TWNTURBO]

Ok guys:

I made an appt for an alignment yesterday at At Speed. Unfortunately, they called to reschedule for sometime next week due to having to prep cars for a track event this weekend. I really don't want to drive that long on my new tires. So, I decided to call IAG in Westminster, MD. They specialize in Subaru, Mazda, and Mitsubishi but they can do alignments on most cars. I posted a link to their alignment page and they do align BMW's.

Here is a link to their webpage: http://www.iagperformance.com/alignment.html

That have nice alignment equipment and they promised I wont be dissapointed with their alignment services. With their prices, I may even get my car corner balanced as well for a little more than the $220 that I was quoted from AT Speed.

I will update this thread once I come back from the shop today. I am excited to meet the guys over at the shop as they seem very cool and didn't mind me asking them 30 minutes worth of questions before making my appointment.



We will see how it goes.

[335TWNTURBO]

b

[tres]

i did mine at pep boys but im not lowered im still stock.

[335TWNTURBO]

b

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by 335TWNTURBO

Ok guys:

I made an appt for an alignment yesterday at At Speed. Unfortunately, they called to reschedule for sometime next week due to having to prep cars for a track event this weekend. I really don't want to drive that long on my new tires. So, I decided to call IAG in Westminster, MD. They specialize in Subaru, Mazda, and Mitsubishi but they can do alignments on most cars. I posted a link to their alignment page and they do align BMW's.

Here is a link to their webpage: http://www.iagperformance.com/alignment.html

That have nice alignment equipment and they promised I wont be dissapointed with their alignment services. With their prices, I may even get my car corner balanced as well for a little more than the $220 that I was quoted from AT Speed.

I will update this thread once I come back from the shop today. I am excited to meet the guys over at the shop as they seem very cool and didn't mind me asking them 30 minutes worth of questions before making my appointment.



We will see how it goes.

nice, how did it go? I drive by them all the time, looks like a legit place but I have no personal experience with them.

[335TWNTURBO]

Originally Posted by Sniz

nice, how did it go? I drive by them all the time, looks like a legit place but I have no personal experience with them.

Sorry UPDATE ON ORIGINAL POST