Camber adjustment (sounds like a rip off!)

mrbdm99 · #1 06-30-2008, 03:56 PM

So, long story, but I just had my steering rack replaced and the shop I didn't have what was needed to do an alignment. Notta problem, I planned to run it over to a tire shop I used in the past who was now under new management. They set out to do a 4 wheel alignment, but came back and said my rear camber was about 2.5 degrees off. Ok, still cool, just fix it and I'll be on my way. Well... tech says, after punching something on his computer, that it is a pretty complex procedure on an x5 and it will take about 2 or 2.5 hours, costing around 205 total. I didn't have too much of a problem with the cost or the time, but I just couldn't wait around as I had to get back to work, so they just did a front end alighnment on it. Now that I'm back to the computer, I did some searches on here and from the first couple of threads I read, it seems like adjusting the camber on the x5 shouldn't be much more complex than anything else (i.e. alighnment). One post even said it was a matter of minutes to adjust once you had on it on a lift. That brings me to my question. Is this place just going to rip me off? I mean, I sure feel like it is!

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Tomaz · #2 06-30-2008, 07:04 PM

My independent mechanic adjusted my rear camber in about 10 minutes. There is a easily accesable concentric bolt to do this. I had him dial out as much camber as possible to extend tire life. It looks like you're getting ripped off.

vinuneuro · #3 06-30-2008, 07:19 PM

dkl · #4 06-30-2008, 09:25 PM

+1. My local tire joint did my 4 wheel alignment in about 20 minutes.

carlgo · #5 06-30-2008, 10:19 PM

You can indeed do it fast, but the proper way is to do all 4 at once so that everything is aligned as one, not two separate alignments, one front and one rear. The 10-minute way may work out just fine or it may not.

My new used X was aligned under warranty as the steering wheel was off-center a hair. The head tech did the job and I sat there, walked to Starbucks, read magazines at Borders and actually watched soccer on the dealer's plasma. All this took over two hours.

Generally I don't trust dealer alignments and usually go to the best independent in town, but under warranty and having the head guy do it is fine and I can't complain about steering or tracking at all now.

mrbdm99 · #6 07-01-2008, 09:20 AM

That is what I thought, it sounded like they were charging too much. I went in for a 4 wheel alignment, but they came back with that quote of two hours, because, like I said, they told me it was very "hard" and "tricky" to adjust BMW camber. It tracks just fine and I can't visibly see anything, it is just tire wear that concerns me. I am going to make some calls this week and find a more reasonable estimate. This place used to be really great, but I guess it is more about making money under the new owners (the two other people waiting with me, also ended up with additional problems to get fixed that cost them more time and money!)

x5pdx · #7 07-02-2008, 05:53 AM

find a new shop.

rogerkiu · #8 07-02-2008, 07:35 AM

I just cannot understand why some people want to adjust the camber of x5. The camber setting of x5 is a kind of character of this beast, if you don't like it, just buy an MB ML/GL or VW Taureg or Audi Q7. Why X5??? More over, change the original factory setting of camber of an x5 will change the drive character of x5, it may result in reducing the stability of x5 when in high speed and cornering. Just re-think about it before doing it. What is the fxcking point by doing this? Is the cost of replacing tires too high compare to the cost of the vehicle? A set of tires can run at least 60K miles/100K KMs, about US$600 for a set of tires, one set tires can last at least around 2 years or more (in HK, at least 4 years), compare to US$50K-80K of cost of an x5. Is that too expansive to afford it? Come on! Guys!

mrbdm99 · #9 07-02-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerkiu

I just cannot understand why some people want to adjust the camber of x5. The camber setting of x5 is a kind of character of this beast, if you don't like it, just buy an MB ML/GL or VW Taureg or Audi Q7. Why X5??? More over, change the original factory setting of camber of an x5 will change the drive character of x5, it may result in reducing the stability of x5 when in high speed and cornering. Just re-think about it before doing it. What is the fxcking point by doing this? Is the cost of replacing tires too high compare to the cost of the vehicle? A set of tires can run at least 60K miles/100K KMs, about US$600 for a set of tires, one set tires can last at least around 2 years or more (in HK, at least 4 years), compare to US$50K-80K of cost of an x5. Is that too expansive to afford it? Come on! Guys!

In my case, the chamber is off of what it came from the factory. I wouldn't be trying to adjust it otherwise.

Tainui · #10 07-02-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerkiu

A set of tires can run at least 60K miles/100K KMs, about US$600 for a set of tires, one set tires can last at least around 2 years

I have 14k miles and the inside tread on both rears is SHOT.

So...umm...yeah, the camber need be adjusted. Since not many are racing their trucks on track, tire wear is more important than tenths on exit ramps.

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