Alignment Issue 08 X5

[Stevev]

It should be covered under factory warranty. I would also talk to the Service Manager if not complain to their upper management.

[y5choi]

well, for my visits (went in twice for alignment issues) first time they did alignment to the "E53 specs" and now on the 2nd visit they told me "We can only do toe adjustment on the E70s and although the toe little off, it is well within spec- we can adjust it but you have to pay"- I said no.

[watrob]

Originally Posted by y5choi

well, for my visits (went in twice for alignment issues) first time they did alignment to the "E53 specs" and now on the 2nd visit they told me "We can only do toe adjustment on the E70s and although the toe little off, it is well within spec- we can adjust it but you have to pay"- I said no.

I know it p**ses you off, well in spec, so why does it pull one certain way.

Anyway my new X5 arrives at the dealers Monday, the State technician for BMW is putting it on the dealers alignment machine before anyone touches it and then armed with the printout we are installing the 6mm Castor Bushes I had made to correct the 4mm front set back on the lefthand front wheel, so we end up with 4mm set back on the righthand wheel.

[autoque]

When you say it pulls to either left or right, are you sayng when you let the steering wheel go on a level surface, it will move itself either way?

[Weasel]

As far as it pulling after alignment and them saying it is well within spec, it will vary case by case depending on the tech and quality control guy driving it... When you drop it off for alignment make sure you remind them to make sure it does not pull. I can make a car well within specs drive like crap, and make a car all in the red drive perfectly.

When I'm done with an alignment if I can't aim her in a straight line and take my hands off the wheel for a while with no veering off, then I will pull back in and readjust. But some techs just see green on the screen and roll it... and they give the rest of us bad names.

[y5choi]

I'm not referring to the usual steering center problem that most people have (when the steering wheel is straight, car does not go straight), but rather its about how the car follows the contour of the road.

For example, on the right hand lane, the slope of the road is to the right toward the curve of the road for water drainage, and on that lane the car drives to the right. In the left lane it is less noticeable but it's the same idea and goes to the left. Whatever the camber (slope angle) of the road, the car follows it and thus requires driver counter-steering to keep it going straight. (ie, point steering wheel left on the right hand lane, steer right to center on the left hand lane, but to a much lesser degree than that on the right hand lane) mind you they are slight adjustments on the driver's part but still annoying on longer drives.

problem is exacerbated by having wide 20" and heavy steering. My wrist hurts sometimes after a long drive

[watrob]

Originally Posted by y5choi

I'm not referring to the usual steering center problem that most people have (when the steering wheel is straight, car does not go straight), but rather its about how the car follows the contour of the road.

For example, on the right hand lane, the slope of the road is to the right toward the curve of the road for water drainage, and on that lane the car drives to the right. In the left lane it is less noticeable but it's the same idea and goes to the left. Whatever the camber (slope angle) of the road, the car follows it and thus requires driver counter-steering to keep it going straight. (ie, point steering wheel left on the right hand lane, steer right to center on the left hand lane, but to a much lesser degree than that on the right hand lane) mind you they are slight adjustments on the driver's part but still annoying on longer drives.

problem is exacerbated by having wide 20" and heavy steering. My wrist hurts sometimes after a long drive

Hey, welcome to the club, hence the development of the 6mm castor bushes which suit left or righthand drive X5's. If the tow-in and camber is set correct and is in the "so called spec" then these bushing kits will set the castor for correct road conditions. And yes the wider the wheels the worst it gets, if you complain to Merc that your car is pulling one way they will install a castor kit themselves when they do the wheel alignment, well they do here anyway.

[Weasel]

Yeah, that is pretty much unavoidable... and you're right that it's exasterbated by the big wide tires.

The only way I could think of to correct for that would be more positive caster, but that would affect the way it handles. Oh well...