Quick alignment question

[4.8isX5]

Hey guys,,

Did some searching, havent really come to a definite answer,,


Some alignment places / people say bmw only place that can do it cause you have to load the car etc,


Others say they have gone to tire shop chains etc and came out fine.


The place i wanted to go to has a hunter hawkeye machine, but he said he couldnt do the X ( i want to take it there anyway if i insist i want it done and he will do it ) but he said he didnt have "proper equip".


So basically can i get a good alignment without the "loading" or whatever special procedure is supposedly needed, and also have read its the toe that kills the inside of the tires,, so if i go to this shop, get my toe set as close to zero as possible, and i can keep the factory camber?

Last thing is, does it matter if my current tires are worn when i go get my alignment (only in rear), or it wont matter really? In the next month planning on getting new ones, but still want to finish these off good.

[Ricky Bobby]

I got mine done on a Hawkeye at an independent tire shop, came out fine. The software should have a procedure to load the car, or should be able to calibrate the alignment without the weights. I'd be wary of any shop which didn't sound confident enough to align an X5.

I would recommend you get all settings (toe, camber etc) within spec, camber I would get set to as little as possible, especially in the rear, I think low end of rear camber spec is -1.0. Camber adjustment is on the inner eccentric bolt of the lower swingarm, toe adjustment is at the inner eccentric bolt at the frame on the straight forward position upper control arm (the guide link)

On my X, they were able to get my rear camber set to -1.5 on the left rear and -2.8 on the right rear (obviously I have some pieces to replace back there), so I had them set rear toe to +.01 (closest to zero) to counteract the extra camber that couldn't be dialed out.

Your tires will wear fine with camber set within spec, just make sure the toe in the rear is set either at minimum spec or close to zero if you have extra camber. The toe will shred your tires in combination with the negative camber, the camber won't do it alone.

[4.8isX5]

Yeah tell me how i found out..... when it was too late lol, so im just killing them now, wish i had found out earlier, but when i did it was already alot more worn then outside.




That was like 1.5 months ago

[Ricky Bobby]

Mmmmm that's tasty. I'm betting you probably have -2.5 camber on each side and +.15 toe on each side, those numbers might even be conservative because you're lowered.

That may be another reason it might be hard to get camber within spec, if the shop tells you that just tell them to get the rear as low as you can get the camber and zero out the toe, you should be good after that.

[4.8isX5]

Do you know if i still get the alignment with these tires on it wont matter for when i get new ones? Or can it be off or something. (Im assuming not)

[Ricky Bobby]

why not wait until the new tires are mounted to get an alignment?

It might be very minute differences but I would imagine new tires with fresh tread might affect the alignment specs, and it might just be my OCD but if your current meats are already FUBAR'ed, just roast the shit out of them while some Allentown teen mom groupie is getting a test drive in the back seat (with rear seat heaters on obviously)

LOL

[4.8isX5]

hahahah lmao, there actually was girl from my HS i believe on that show,

but thats the plan, the day i have new tires at my house, taking out fuse 46, and gonna make a lil vid of the rears going bye bye lol, didnt see one with the X5 yet.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by 4.8isX5

hahahah lmao, there actually was girl from my HS i believe on that show,

I know there was that's why I said it LOL, my wife dvr's all the seasons lol its the greatest form of birth control for her to watch that show (I have no interest in children at this point in my life)!

[bcredliner]

I have had several independent shops that wouldn't align an X5. I have mine aligned by the dealer and request a color version of the before and after sheet to have a history.

It will make a difference (very little) in alignment between new and worn tires. I would wait, no reason to do it now.

FYI-Aligning your X outside of BMW specs will change the handling. Less negative camber will reduce the turning grip and turning response but that doesn't matter to many.

[4.8isX5]

Thanks bcredliner, im aware of changing camber/toe etc has different effects, with any car i usually drive i much prefer oversteer versus the understeer plow you get with the X, especially if you get on it hard in the turn literally feel the front lift up lol.

I guess im going to wait till i get new tires mounted, but ive also read people had problem with dealers taking the toe out and wont adjust it "out of bmw spec"