Quick question about alignment

miringrains · 08-22-2014, 09:29 AM

My BMW service rep wants to do an alignment for $300. I work at a dealership and I can probably get wholesale price at mavis for $75. He did however have a point to say that the way BMW does their alignment, no one else does. What do you guys think?

bsiciliano · 08-22-2014, 09:35 AM

$300 is insane. I think you should post in your local forum and ask for alignment shop recommendations and go with someone who has a good rep.

///M3Fresh · 08-22-2014, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miringrains

My BMW service rep wants to do an alignment for $300. I work at a dealership and I can probably get wholesale price at mavis for $75. He did however have a point to say that the way BMW does their alignment, no one else does. What do you guys think?

that sounds like a load of sh!t to me.

300 is like top notch race shop alignment with good reputation that will adjust the height and do little tweaks on your car ect..

Race_Doc11 · 08-22-2014, 10:11 AM

I agree with SA for $300 no one else does. My BMW dealer does it for $149 just to let you know.

lsmkr01 · 08-22-2014, 10:16 AM

I get mine at the dealer for $140 on a sale but even normally its $170.

miringrains · 08-22-2014, 10:28 AM

I talked him down to $229 for alignment, balance, and nitrogen filling of tires (which I think is useless, but whatever)

Beemdog · 08-22-2014, 12:28 PM

"No one else does" is BS. It is a weighted alignment, however. My indie wheel shop adds a specified amount of weight to the driver and passenger seats ( and the trunk if not a full gas tank). They said the same thing: most shops will skip the weighting step or don't know about it.

M3 Esq · 08-22-2014, 12:50 PM

This is dealer BS. They should only be charging 1 hours labor for an alignment.

DBH · 08-23-2014, 11:20 AM

Do you really need an alignment? What are the symptoms? Don't do it just because the service advisor wants to do it! Most of the time it's not necessary! The SA is just trying to upsell you. It's generally just a cash cow for the dealer - $300!!!

Oh, and yes I lived and owned a car in Manhattan and Queens for over 15 years and never required an alignment!

modkrazy · 08-23-2014, 12:14 PM

$300 is horseshit. Any independent BMW shop can probably do a far better job at half the cost.

08-22-2014, 09:29 AM	#1
miringrains Banned 72 Rep 702 Posts Drives: '11.5 M3 E93 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	Quick question about alignment My BMW service rep wants to do an alignment for $300. I work at a dealership and I can probably get wholesale price at mavis for $75. He did however have a point to say that the way BMW does their alignment, no one else does. What do you guys think?
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08-22-2014, 09:35 AM	#2
bsiciliano Captain 51 Rep 698 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Convertible Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (4)	$300 is insane. I think you should post in your local forum and ask for alignment shop recommendations and go with someone who has a good rep. __________________ 2011 E93 - Space Gray - 6MT/Silver Novillo/ OE Tuning/Gruppe M Intake/ACS Springs/Vorsteiner CF Type I Rear Diffuser/Textured Matte Black Custom Powdercoated OEM 359s/Painted Reflectors/Matte Grille, Hood Vents and Side Markers/Arqray Race Exhaust/MS Pulley
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08-22-2014, 10:11 AM	#4
Race_Doc11 Lieutenant Colonel 463 Rep 1,633 Posts Drives: 2023 G82 M4 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2023 BMW G82 M4 [10.00] 2018 F80 M3 [10.00] 2013 Audi RS5 (Sold) [10.00] 2008 E93 M3 (Sold) [10.00]	I agree with SA for $300 no one else does. My BMW dealer does it for $149 just to let you know.
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08-22-2014, 10:16 AM	#5
lsmkr01 Lieutenant Colonel 42 Rep 1,629 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SC iTrader: (0)	I get mine at the dealer for $140 on a sale but even normally its $170.
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08-22-2014, 10:28 AM	#6
miringrains Banned 72 Rep 702 Posts Drives: '11.5 M3 E93 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	I talked him down to $229 for alignment, balance, and nitrogen filling of tires (which I think is useless, but whatever)
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08-22-2014, 12:28 PM	#7
Beemdog Woof! 352 Rep 1,323 Posts Drives: '11 M3 ZCP LeMans Blue Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sonoma Cownty, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 Dodge Viper [9.00] 2011 BMW M3 E92 [9.50] 2009 Ducati Hypermo ... [10.00]	"No one else does" is BS. It is a weighted alignment, however. My indie wheel shop adds a specified amount of weight to the driver and passenger seats ( and the trunk if not a full gas tank). They said the same thing: most shops will skip the weighting step or don't know about it. Last edited by Beemdog; 08-22-2014 at 12:55 PM..
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08-22-2014, 12:50 PM	#8
M3 Esq Automobilist 395 Rep 2,632 Posts Drives: E70 X5, 911 GT3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (12)	This is dealer BS. They should only be charging 1 hours labor for an alignment.
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08-23-2014, 11:20 AM	#9
DBH First Lieutenant 3 Rep 349 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E92 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	Do you really need an alignment? What are the symptoms? Don't do it just because the service advisor wants to do it! Most of the time it's not necessary! The SA is just trying to upsell you. It's generally just a cash cow for the dealer - $300!!! Oh, and yes I lived and owned a car in Manhattan and Queens for over 15 years and never required an alignment!
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08-23-2014, 12:14 PM	#10
modkrazy Lieutenant Colonel 171 Rep 1,536 Posts Drives: m3 Join Date: May 2014 Location: tx iTrader: (1)	$300 is horseshit. Any independent BMW shop can probably do a far better job at half the cost.
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