Any rear camber fix yet????

[X5Newbee]

I got my X5 back in April, knowing that it has built-in neg camber in the rear. What I found out is that it is out of specs, and CAN'T be brought into specs (no adj left)....WTF??? This is a CPO, and I am not happy. I had it at an independent shop, and then the dealer, for the alignment check....same story from both. Every record I can find says it was never in an accident, so how can the rear be out that much (-2.6 to -3.0)?

[Weasel]

All it should take to figure out is a tech that knows what they're looking at... Call and reschedule at the dealer for their best suspension tech that has the most experience with impact damage to look at it. If they don't have a decent suspension guy there it may be time to find another shop that does... (though I'd imagine your choices are limited by location)

[X5Newbee]

I've attached the alignment readouts from both shops.

[GT3Austin]

Here's my $0.02, and I've seen this occur many times in the race cars and street cars. It's just a theory for a car I don't know (your's) but here goes...

It's possible the rear shocks are dead, with 50k on the vehicle the front and rear dampers would normally be worn out if they're not the electric ones. The standard Sachs/ Boge stuff on all newer cars don't last like they used to and 5yrs or 50k is about all we can expect to get.

If the ride height is at the minimum spec, with new shocks it will bump back up just a bit probably bringing the neg camber into spec.

It's also possible that the rear suspension bushing are spent, even though there may be no visible tears. They can also be compressed and "stuck" on a certain position and worn in. You could and can loose each arm (lower control + camber arms) to let the rubber bushings reset themselves (this happens on Porsche's all the time whether the customer knows it or not) but they'll likely take the same position after a few thousand miles.

Well just some thoughts from things I've seen. Could also be the alignment tool they're using. See if you can find a hand held camber guage with the bubble (ie from Smart Racing's Smart Camber Guage) and do you own test also.

Best of luck.

[TowX]

Another race car trick might help. The rear of a 911 with torsion bars is tough to align. Similar concentrics used on that as on the rear of our E53's. I've had luck with pulling the concentric out, installing slightly smaller shank bolt, then prying on the control arm to move it further to gain more negative camber, then grinding the cam on the original concentric to fit it back in. On the X5, might do it in reverse- pull the concentric bolt, out in one that's maybe 2mm smaller shank size, push in the control arm to get the camber correct, then machine the original concentric to fit it back in. I bet you could get 1/2-3/4 degrees of negative out of it. I've done this on 911's for probably 20 years and have never had a problem with one.

Another option is to try H&R. They make concentric bolts for the front of our E53's, which are similar to the old VW Golf alignment concentrics. I got a pair for the front of mine and was able to get an additional 1/2 degree of negative camber out of the front of mine. Before that, I couldn't get loser than -1 on the left front, and -1.1 on the right front. Now both sides are at -.6 and the thing tracks much better, and tires aren't scalloping up like they used to.

[dpgx5]

What controls the top of the tire to be flush with the fender?

[Weasel]

upper control arm...

[GT3Austin]

Here's the realoem link to the parts film blow up
RealOEM.com BMW E53 X5 4.4i REAR AXLE SUPPORT/WHEEL SUSPENSION

[Brit6]

Which is the 2 camber bolts for the rear? And what are the 2 toe bolts for the rear?

Thanks!

[Brit6]

No one knows? My bolts are seized and the alignment tech said they will have to be replaced before he can finish my alignment.