Front tyre outer edge wear

[acideraser]

Noticed front tyres are getting more wear on outer edges but center and inside are still good.  I've got 285/20 in front and 315/20 rear. Car registered in April 2011, last service April 2012

Is it wheel alignment or incorrect pressure (I run what BMW recommends) or simply because they are 285?

[IanP]

Are you enjoying your driving a bit too much  ) ). But seriously I would have the tracking checked.

[acideraser]

Hi IanP

I do indeed enjoy my driving but most of the time my other half is behind the wheel...  BMW quoted me £300-400 for wheel alignment which sounds rather high - do you know if they do something special there?

Would it make any difference if I go to a local garage something or say .. Halfords?

[Horizon]

I would have a 4 wheel alignment done, there are specialist garages that have all the kit. They check all the alignment, then give you a before and after readout ( printed ) for around 75 quid.
Dealers just have your pants down for a load of money.
I had my E60 530I re tracked at an indie due to a reoccuring " Active steering fault", on the Idrive and it came out with the steering wheel 5 degs out ! and was told that if it hadnt cured the problem I would need a new 3 grand steering rack
Yes you guessed it changed the battery and it was sorted. 200 quid for tracking/alignment. 80 quid for a battery.

[Denis O]

£300 to £400  :'( Are they 'avin a giraffe.

Try this to find a local one in your area

http://www.alignmycar.com/

[IanP]

As Horizon said it should cost around £75. I had mine done as the inside edges of the fronts were going. I took it to a specialist rather than the Main Dealer.

[X5Sport]

[quote="acideraser"]
Hi IanP

I do indeed enjoy my driving but most of the time my other half is behind the wheel...  BMW quoted me £300-400 for wheel alignment which sounds rather high - do you know if they do something special there?

Would it make any difference if I go to a local garage something or say .. Halfords?
[/quote]
If you lived anywhere near Blazingsmoke or Milton Keynes then their obsession with roundabouts will definitely reduce the life of your tyres!!  It did with all ours.. >:(

I'm not sure I'd trust Halfrauds to do a decent job with tracking, even if they could do a 4-wheel alignment.  They probably don't do many and could end up messing the whole system up which given the cost of the tyres is not desirable.

Richard

[Don Coffey]

[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="acideraser"]
Hi IanP

I do indeed enjoy my driving but most of the time my other half is behind the wheel...  BMW quoted me £300-400 for wheel alignment which sounds rather high - do you know if they do something special there?

Would it make any difference if I go to a local garage something or say .. Halfords?
[/quote]
If you lived anywhere near Blazingsmoke or Milton Keynes then their obsession with roundabouts will definitely reduce the life of your tyres!!  It did with all ours.. >:(

I'm not sure I'd trust Halfrauds to do a decent job with tracking, even if they could do a 4-wheel alignment.  They probably don't do many and could end up messing the whole system up which given the cost of the tyres is not desirable.

Richard
[/quote]

+1, I wouldn't trust them with a push bike, let alone a four wheel alignment!

Don

[AW8]

BMW use KDS or KDS2 systems.............effectively camera alignment.

Link given to "align my car" will give you local independent outfits with Hunter System which is pretty much same as KDS. I believe the alignmment specialists on that site are properly trained to use the relavant kit.

I have had a KDS done before & car came back with alignment out............Like anything - kit only as good as the operator.

Maybe double check to ensure make sure you are running correct PSI for 20's as cspecified presures can vary depending on tyre size.

[acideraser]

Thank you all for replies, not going to dealer, not going to Halfrauds. :'(
Will find a specialist in my area.

I suspect tracking went off because of bumpy/patched roads where I live i - arguably the worst road surface in London!

[acideraser]

Is alignment part of 1st or second service by any chance?

[X5Sport]

I don't think it's part of any routine service.  I expect it's one of those 'if we find an issue we'll phone you and tell how much!!' jobs.