Is it necessary to weigh down the trunk to do a proper alignment?

samsamwu · 03-24-2009, 01:44 PM

A couple SA tell me that to properly align a bimmer you need to puts weights in the trunk
I dont know if any shops do this or if its really necessary
Has anyone done this both ways and noticed anything? ie wear, performance

mike-y · 03-24-2009, 02:48 PM

unless you are always carrying passengers or have lots of junk in your car, I don't see a need to do this. As soon as you take the weight out of the trunk, your alignment will be off.

You want your car aligned in the condition that you will be driving most of the time. I'm the only one in my car 99% of the time, so for me it would be useless to weigh it down for an alignment.

info@VMRWheels · 03-24-2009, 05:36 PM

Yea, I don't understand why your SA would tell you you need to weigh down your trunk. If anything, I would have them weight down the driver's seat with something about the same weight as you when doing the alignment. Like mike-y said, you'd want the car to be aligned with whatever weight you normally drive the car with.

VMRWheels · 03-24-2009, 05:50 PM

Sounds like your friends could be speaking about corner balancing and aligning the car. If they are, then "ballasts" are used to offset the weight from corner to corner. But the majority of drivers I see go into such detail are the race cars.

-Charles@VMRWheels
www.vmrwheels.com

SoCalTech · 03-24-2009, 09:06 PM

You have to measure the ride height of the car. If it's out of spec, you weigh down the car til it's within spec. That's the procedure from BMW.

bierry · 03-24-2009, 09:30 PM

At most you should put a weight equal to your own weight on the driver's seat. but don't sit in it yourself as even little movements can affect the accuracy.

chopperh · 03-25-2009, 12:00 AM

to carry out a proper Geometry check on a BMW, a specific amount of weight needs to be put in the trunk and in the drivers seat. All the alignment specs are based on this specific amount of weight being present. If you don't add the weights then the alignment will be off. It's all in TIS

Steve

03-24-2009, 01:44 PM	#1
samsamwu Private First Class 11 Rep 134 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: socal iTrader: (0)	Is it necessary to weigh down the trunk to do a proper alignment? A couple SA tell me that to properly align a bimmer you need to puts weights in the trunk I dont know if any shops do this or if its really necessary Has anyone done this both ways and noticed anything? ie wear, performance
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03-24-2009, 02:48 PM	#2
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	unless you are always carrying passengers or have lots of junk in your car, I don't see a need to do this. As soon as you take the weight out of the trunk, your alignment will be off. You want your car aligned in the condition that you will be driving most of the time. I'm the only one in my car 99% of the time, so for me it would be useless to weigh it down for an alignment.
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03-24-2009, 05:36 PM	#3
info@VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 31 Rep 326 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Anaheim, CA iTrader: (0)	Yea, I don't understand why your SA would tell you you need to weigh down your trunk. If anything, I would have them weight down the driver's seat with something about the same weight as you when doing the alignment. Like mike-y said, you'd want the car to be aligned with whatever weight you normally drive the car with.
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03-24-2009, 05:50 PM	#4
VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2042 Rep 25,989 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [10.00] 2015 BMW M4 [0.00] 2013 BMW F30 [0.00] 2014 BMW F22 [0.00] 2013 BMW F06 [0.00]	Sounds like your friends could be speaking about corner balancing and aligning the car. If they are, then "ballasts" are used to offset the weight from corner to corner. But the majority of drivers I see go into such detail are the race cars. -Charles@VMRWheels www.vmrwheels.com __________________ VMR\|Wheels \| 714.442.7916 \| sales@velocitymotoring.com \| www.velocitymotoring.com \| facebook \| flickr \| Instagram
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03-24-2009, 09:06 PM	#5
SoCalTech Captain 24 Rep 648 Posts Drives: Not a BMW yet... Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Redondo Beach, Ca iTrader: (0)	You have to measure the ride height of the car. If it's out of spec, you weigh down the car til it's within spec. That's the procedure from BMW.
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03-24-2009, 09:30 PM	#6
bierry Private 0 Rep 54 Posts Drives: pondering which tune again Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: us iTrader: (0)	At most you should put a weight equal to your own weight on the driver's seat. but don't sit in it yourself as even little movements can affect the accuracy.
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03-25-2009, 12:00 AM	#7
chopperh Enlisted Member 2 Rep 40 Posts Drives: F33 335i Msport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: RG27 iTrader: (0)	to carry out a proper Geometry check on a BMW, a specific amount of weight needs to be put in the trunk and in the drivers seat. All the alignment specs are based on this specific amount of weight being present. If you don't add the weights then the alignment will be off. It's all in TIS Steve
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