[kd0t]

Hello everyone!

So on November 1, I picked up my M235i off the lot at a local dealership. I realized immediately that if I put the steering wheel straight, the car veers left a little bit. I didn't care much for it because I was so excited and focused my attention on iDrive and all the cool gadgets.

Fast forward a week later, I didn't drive the car much but I swapped out the Runflats because it's a lease and I don't want to get charged a premium to replace them. But changing tires that have the same specs as the previous one will not throw off any alignment specs (caster, camber, toe).

So now here's my problem. If I call BMW dealerships to do an alignment for me, will I get charged the $250? I couldn't find anything in the warranty guides that says alignment is covered.

TLDR: drove the car, realized the car veers a little bit left. Switched out Runflats and wondering if BMW will cover my alignment.

Thanks!!

[golf_234]

Originally Posted by kd0t

Hello everyone!

So on November 1, I picked up my M235i off the lot at a local dealership. I realized immediately that if I put the steering wheel straight, the car veers left a little bit. I didn't care much for it because I was so excited and focused my attention on iDrive and all the cool gadgets.

Fast forward a week later, I didn't drive the car much but I swapped out the Runflats because it's a lease and I don't want to get charged a premium to replace them. But changing tires that have the same specs as the previous one will not throw off any alignment specs (caster, camber, toe).

So now here's my problem. If I call BMW dealerships to do an alignment for me, will I get charged the $250? I couldn't find anything in the warranty guides that says alignment is covered.

TLDR: drove the car, realized the car veers a little bit left. Switched out Runflats and wondering if BMW will cover my alignment.

Thanks!!

Explain your situation to a SA, they should address that on a brand new car.

[kd0t]

Thanks for the advice.

I just got off the phone with 2 different SAs. One said it's covered if under 1k miles. Another said it's not covered.

Oh boy.. Haha

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by kd0t

Hello everyone!

So on November 1, I picked up my M235i off the lot at a local dealership. I realized immediately that if I put the steering wheel straight, the car veers left a little bit. I didn't care much for it because I was so excited and focused my attention on iDrive and all the cool gadgets.

Fast forward a week later, I didn't drive the car much but I swapped out the Runflats because it's a lease and I don't want to get charged a premium to replace them. But changing tires that have the same specs as the previous one will not throw off any alignment specs (caster, camber, toe).

So now here's my problem. If I call BMW dealerships to do an alignment for me, will I get charged the $250? I couldn't find anything in the warranty guides that says alignment is covered.

TLDR: drove the car, realized the car veers a little bit left. Switched out Runflats and wondering if BMW will cover my alignment.

Thanks!!

I actually just switched out of the OEM PSS to a different tire this week and I noticed that my alignment is a little off too - or I'm crazy, one or the other. Either way, I'm taking mine to a specialty shop to look at alignment -- its $100 bucks at West End Alignment in Gardena, CA. I see you're in SoCal, so that might be an option for you.

[kd0t]

Well mine was off right when I got it. I should've waited until the alignment but I didn't pay much attention to it unfortunately. So I'm hoping the dealer can just do it so I don't have to pay for it haha.

Did you do the same tire sizes? It shouldn't throw off alignment if same size

And yeah I've been to West End before. Darrin and Chris are great people.

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by kd0t

Well mine was off right when I got it. I should've waited until the alignment but I didn't pay much attention to it unfortunately. So I'm hoping the dealer can just do it so I don't have to pay for it haha.

Did you do the same tire sizes? It shouldn't throw off alignment if same size

And yeah I've been to West End before. Darrin and Chris are great people.

Nope - had to go up a size to keep the stock 20mm stagger (not a lot of people make 245/35r18's). It's not off by much, but it needs to be addressed.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by kd0t

Thanks for the advice.

I just got off the phone with 2 different SAs. One said it's covered if under 1k miles. Another said it's not covered.

Oh boy.. Haha

I had a similar issue a few years back and i was told it is covered for the first 1k miles, so don't give up. A tech once told me that this happens when they are off loaded the carrier truck.

[kd0t]

Originally Posted by Liquidpaper

Nope - had to go up a size to keep the stock 20mm stagger (not a lot of people make 245/35r18's). It's not off by much, but it needs to be addressed.

Yeahh anytime you change the size, it knocks alignment off. But you're on the right track!

P.S: make sure you don't show up late to West End or else Darrin will give you an earful haha

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by kd0t

Yeahh anytime you change the size, it knocks alignment off. But you're on the right track!

P.S: make sure you don't show up late to West End or else Darrin will give you an earful haha

I've heard. I'll probably aim to be significantly early.

[2msport]

Firestone has life time alignment deals. I think it's usually around $250. I got it during a special. $150. I had it on my last car. Its nice to know an alignment is basically free compared to the cost from BMW or somewhere else for a one time fix. I already took my 2 in, they were able to adjust all settings. No issues.

[Roshi]

West End Alignment is a quality shop. Had Dinan springs installed today and an alignment done.

[mmmmm235i]

I have been told by a lot of big box stores that BMW alignments are a pain so you should go to a specialty shop if you want to keep the non-runflat tires and it can probably be done for around $100. The dealer will charge you around $200. If you go back to the run flats I would not hand over a dime to the dealer for an alignment on a car with less than 1k miles. Thats just my .02.

[kd0t]

Originally Posted by mmmmm235i

I have been told by a lot of big box stores that BMW alignments are a pain so you should go to a specialty shop if you want to keep the non-runflat tires and it can probably be done for around $100. The dealer will charge you around $200. If you go back to the run flats I would not hand over a dime to the dealer for an alignment on a car with less than 1k miles. Thats just my .02.

Yeah but it's such a pain to switch tires again with balance and tpms.

Are BMW alignments really that difficult? Are BMWs stock camber adjustable too? I came from an IS350 where only toe was adjustable.

[mmmmm235i]

Originally Posted by kd0t

Yeah but it's such a pain to switch tires again with balance and tpms.

Are BMW alignments really that difficult? Are BMWs stock camber adjustable too? I came from an IS350 where only toe was adjustable.

Yea I have a really experienced guy by me and for whatever reason it takes a little trial and error to get it right and most big box stores that offer the warranties aren't willing or able to take the time. I'm not exactly sure what makes it more difficult, but unfortunately your dealership is going to charge you to do an alignment when you got new tires. Because even though it sounds like it was off when you picked up they will blame the new tires.

[2msport]

Originally Posted by kd0t

Yeah but it's such a pain to switch tires again with balance and tpms.

Are BMW alignments really that difficult? Are BMWs stock camber adjustable too? I came from an IS350 where only toe was adjustable.

Not any more apparently. I can confirm as I just got mine done. I didn't know it at the time but they said thats the first BMW they've seen where the camber can be adjusted. Got lucky on that one.

[Liquidpaper]

Originally Posted by 2msport

Not any more apparently. I can confirm as I just got mine done. I didn't know it at the time but they said thats the first BMW they've seen where the camber can be adjusted. Got lucky on that one.

Wait...you were able to get your camber adjusted on stock suspension? How much can you adjust it? How much did you adjust it?

[mmmmm235i]

Originally Posted by 2msport

Not any more apparently. I can confirm as I just got mine done. I didn't know it at the time but they said thats the first BMW they've seen where the camber can be adjusted. Got lucky on that one.

Yes, can you please elaborate, I was speaking based on experience with my previous BMW.

[Racer20]

BMW alignments are more time consuming because it's not just a static alignment where you set things once and you're done. They typically have to load the car up to a specific weight to make sure the ride height is accurate, then do the initial setting, then do a few more settings at different vehicle loads to make sure the bumpsteer and camber curve is correct.

Further, tires CAN affect alignment quite a bit. No tire is perfectly cylindrical. They are all slightly cone shaped, and there is a spec for how much conicity is allowed. More cone shaped = more drift/pull.

OEM's have tight specs and can even sometimes make sure that the right and left tires' conicity offset eachother rather than add to each other. Aftermarket tires . . . not so much. Especially from a less reputable brand than, say Michelin.

And I'm about 85% sure the OEM tires are not runflats . . . the 228i track pack PSS aren't, so I'd be surprised if the M235i are.

[kd0t]

You're right that no tire is perfectly round but isn't that what balancing a wheel is meant to do? As opposed to aligning the car.

And yes my M235i came with runflats. They either come with PSS or Bridgestone runflats

[Racer20]

Originally Posted by kd0t

You're right that no tire is perfectly round but isn't that what balancing a wheel is meant to do? As opposed to aligning the car.

And yes my M235i came with runflats. They either come with PSS or Bridgestone runflats

No. Different things. Think about a cylinder on it's side. If you roll it on a flat surface, it rolls straight. If you roll a cone on its side, it rolls in a circular path. No tire is a perfect cylinder, and all tires are slightly cone shaped. The conicity of each tire acts to push the car in one direction or another even if your alignment is perfect. So, just changing tires can cause the issue you're having. I know you said it did it when you first got the car, but another poster said his happened after he changed tires.

[DanG]

If you get all season tires on a M235i, they are run flats.

[kd0t]

Originally Posted by Racer20

No. Different things. Think about a cylinder on it's side. If you roll it on a flat surface, it rolls straight. If you roll a cone on its side, it rolls in a circular path. No tire is a perfect cylinder, and all tires are slightly cone shaped. The conicity of each tire acts to push the car in one direction or another even if your alignment is perfect. So, just changing tires can cause the issue you're having. I know you said it did it when you first got the car, but another poster said his happened after he changed tires.

Ohh I see, thanks for the help! His is a little different though since he changed the sizing.

Regardless, I went to my dealership this morning. They'll align it for free - after some negotiation, though. Will post back the results.

Funny thing is.. The loaner car they gave me.. The alignment is off as well haha