Rear Wheel Tracking

[powellmc]

The rear tyres on my X5 wore down on the inside edge, the tyre dealer identified a tracking misalignment but the tool to adjust is only available at the BMW dealer.

The dealers have quoted me £350 to carry out a full axel alignment (compared to £35 that the tyre depot charge) and i am reluctant to pay this unless other options are exhausted.

Any ideas how or where I could get this work done? getting very frustrated at being told I need more work than necessary and then them having a monopoly on the tools needed.

[Laurence]

Your best bet is to go to a tyre dealer with decent 4 wheel alignment facilities.
I've had mine done on a few occasions (at Merityre) with good results - no specialist tools needed as far as I know.

Check out this site:
www.AlignMyCar.co.uk
There is a post code search facility that will give you the nearest place.

[Disneygrad]

And............on the United States end, try Bimmershops.com. Has all the independent Bimmer authorized locations in each state.

[x555a]

Originally Posted by powellmc

The rear tyres on my X5 wore down on the inside edge, the tyre dealer identified a tracking misalignment but the tool to adjust is only available at the BMW dealer.

The dealers have quoted me £350 to carry out a full axel alignment (compared to £35 that the tyre depot charge) and i am reluctant to pay this unless other options are exhausted.

Any ideas how or where I could get this work done? getting very frustrated at being told I need more work than necessary and then them having a monopoly on the tools needed.

I had mine 4 wheel alinged at my local coachworks/bodyshop and it cost me £110 so thats a rip off and they don't need any special tools i don't think just the set up to do the alignment.

[Oscarguitar]

I had the alignment checked on my 335d at a specislist off the Align my Car site. Christchurch Tyres. Very thorough, full KDS check, tyres checked and car weighted down. Alignment was OK so they didn't even charge me! That would not happen at a BMW dealer I fear.

THe X5 hasn't needed it. Just past 42000 today and still on original (but nearly wornout) Michelins. So wear has been pretty even once I reduced the presures a bit to avoid the center strip wearing out. I fancy trying out the Vredestien SUV Ultrac, anybody in the UK tried them?