[AdnanH35]

My tires started cupping in the front after about 10k miles on them. I’ve had Michelins on all my M cars and always got 20-30k miles out of them. After going back and forth with my local BMW, they did not do anything for me. Said it was due to an alignment and they can’t prove it wasn’t caused by me. I know I didn’t hit anything and the car never pulled to the side. Alignment was off just slightly where you wouldnt feel it on all tires. I thought it was very odd alignment was off, but ofcourse it lead to nowhere. I’m part of a G87 Facebook group and I come across numerous posts about everyone complaining their cars not being alignmed properly in the new plant in Mexico.

[JABCAT]

https://g87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2061643

Alignment is covered under warranty for the first 2k mi.

[AdnanH35]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

https://g87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2061643

Alignment is covered under warranty for the first 2k mi.

Unfortunately for me I found out way too late when it affected the tires

[abrandonment]

Is there a layman's hack to checking how far from spec alignment is?

[AdnanH35]

Originally Posted by abrandonment

Is there a layman's hack to checking how far from spec alignment is?

Only way to really know is if BMW does an alignment check at services which my dealer never does

[maxwell smart]

I do my own alignment work, when we received our g87 the steering wheel was off to the left with the steering wheel spoke covering the right stalk, you couldn't see the functions of the wiper stalk. on the second day we were out driving it I said to my wife I'm going to align the car when we get home. After using my system I came up with to find the angles of how the wheels are sitting I found the problem was the left rear wheel had no toe in. it was straight ahead. the right rear toe in was correct. so, I revised the left rear toe to match the right side. then took a little toe in from the front out because I prefer less toe in than the factory setting on the front. I know what people are thinking like how do I know I am getting it close to factory specs, I feel the actual technical numbers are not as important as having a perfectly square and straight driving vehicle set up to the specs I like. my alignment system is good enough i did a 1:27 lap at Grattan raceway Sunday , giving everyone in advanced group a lesson on M dynamics.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by abrandonment

Is there a layman's hack to checking how far from spec alignment is?

Been decades since I did any driveway alignment work but I used a fine -- but strong -- thin diameter fishing line around the tires -- middle of the wheel.

This gave one a way to judge if toe was ok or not or if there were other serious alignment issues. (Like the front and rear axles were not in line with each other.) And I used some other tools I had available to align the car. (I had installed camber bushings and needed to align the car after.)

But that was a long time ago, around 1972. Since then I use how the car feels.

Or if the car doesn't feel that bad then I go by tire wear. If I see signs of uneven tire wear, feathering, or scrubbing, then I suspect the alignment.

I have been known to as preventative maintenance -- preventative in the sense it saves tires (and given the expense of tires for some cars saving a lot of money!) -- have a car in for an alignment (at my expense) to ensure the alignment is good.

[maxwell smart]

For an example of how I do my alignment work look at the bmw M article on the g87 doing the 7:38 hot lap of the Nürburgring . In the photos they show a M engineer using the same tools I purchased to do my own work.

[luv2bike]

Just an FYI, I took my G87 in for an alignment (on my own dime) just to verify factory alignment. Rear toe was out a chunk on passenger side. Also, set front toe to factory min.
No real change that I could feel in driving dynamics but my peace of mind is much better

[DSTR]

Originally Posted by AdnanH35

Only way to really know is if BMW does an alignment check at services which my dealer never does

My dealer here in Germany knows I wont take a new BMW from them without the alignment up to perfect book spec. The factory gets the alignment 'good enough' for it to leave the factory. Do not take a new BMW home without the alignment being updated.

[iifymbro]

I'm planning on getting the dealer to do an alignment check at the break-in service, it feels alright to me but ya never know until you measure it

[xtougher]

Originally Posted by iifymbro

I'm planning on getting the dealer to do an alignment check at the break-in service, it feels alright to me but ya never know until you measure it

I did the same thing at my break-in service...I asked them to check the alignment and they told me they would and reminded me it was covered up to 2,000 miles.