daytona90t
11-16-2015, 11:07 AM
The last thing that I want to do is start another alignment thread, but I have a unique situation and want to see what others think.
My car is mostly stock and I did a complete OEM lemforder/sachs suspension rebuild a little over a year ago. The only things that I added during the rebuild were M3 RTABS, RTAB Limiters, Poly Sway Bar bushings, and an M3 strut brace. After the rebuild I had a local indy shop do the alignment.
Recently I noticed that the car was pulling a little to the left so I had my car aligned at a local BMW dealer last week, and I suspect that they used the non sport/ ZHP alignment specs. The thing is, I think that the car handles perfectly. It goes down the road straighter than it ever has, precisely darts through traffic at highway speeds, and feels great on curvy back roads.
The reason that I suspect that they did not use the sport/zhp alignment specs is that the alignment spec sheet from the dealership shows BMW 3-series E46 with 18" wheels. It does not specify (low slung sports sedan, or sport) as I have seen on previous alignment specs sheets. Also, my front camber seems to be set to around -.3 and the rear to -1.3. I do not have the actual sheet in front of me but will try to scan and upload it later. I can see that the dealership's alignment machines actually measure ride height at all 4 corners, something I have never seen a
tire shop or indy alignment spec sheet measure or take into account.
Has anyone else ever had their ZHP set to these much more conservative than normal camber settings? Obviously I should see good tire wear on the inside corners with these specs, but also assume that outer shoulder wear could be worse over time. I certainly enjoy driving my car hard when circumstances allow, but from what I can see, feel, and have experienced so far, there doesn't seem to be any negative handling characteristics with these camber specs.
Also, has anyone else ever had their alignment done at the dealership that could chime in as to how their car was set up based on the dealership specs? and how the addition of ride height measurements at all 4 corners might affect the recommended alignment specs that the computer is putting out?
Any ideas and input are appreciated.
Thanks, Steve
My car is mostly stock and I did a complete OEM lemforder/sachs suspension rebuild a little over a year ago. The only things that I added during the rebuild were M3 RTABS, RTAB Limiters, Poly Sway Bar bushings, and an M3 strut brace. After the rebuild I had a local indy shop do the alignment.
Recently I noticed that the car was pulling a little to the left so I had my car aligned at a local BMW dealer last week, and I suspect that they used the non sport/ ZHP alignment specs. The thing is, I think that the car handles perfectly. It goes down the road straighter than it ever has, precisely darts through traffic at highway speeds, and feels great on curvy back roads.
The reason that I suspect that they did not use the sport/zhp alignment specs is that the alignment spec sheet from the dealership shows BMW 3-series E46 with 18" wheels. It does not specify (low slung sports sedan, or sport) as I have seen on previous alignment specs sheets. Also, my front camber seems to be set to around -.3 and the rear to -1.3. I do not have the actual sheet in front of me but will try to scan and upload it later. I can see that the dealership's alignment machines actually measure ride height at all 4 corners, something I have never seen a
tire shop or indy alignment spec sheet measure or take into account.
Has anyone else ever had their ZHP set to these much more conservative than normal camber settings? Obviously I should see good tire wear on the inside corners with these specs, but also assume that outer shoulder wear could be worse over time. I certainly enjoy driving my car hard when circumstances allow, but from what I can see, feel, and have experienced so far, there doesn't seem to be any negative handling characteristics with these camber specs.
Also, has anyone else ever had their alignment done at the dealership that could chime in as to how their car was set up based on the dealership specs? and how the addition of ride height measurements at all 4 corners might affect the recommended alignment specs that the computer is putting out?
Any ideas and input are appreciated.
Thanks, Steve