Alignment specs for ZHP unique or not?

[Washburn]

This was discussed somewhere else and now I can't find it - I will be getting new tires (Conti DWS - staggered OEM sizes) soon, and an alignment - hopefully it will cure the steering wheel vibration that occurs at around 80 mph - probably a mixture of out of balance and worn out OEM tires and out of alignment (25k miles on the car right now). i am gonna have the shop check the CABs at the same time, too.

However I need to make sure that I get the correct alignment - are the ZHP alignment specs different than sport pkg or regular 330Ci? I need to make sure the shop is aware of this, and also possibly need to find a source to get the spces IF they're indeed unique to the ZHP.

Thanks in advance for any feedback/info on this matter

[mimalmo]

Not special. Use the Sport Package settings.

[Washburn]

Ah, Thanks! - glad to be 'not special' in this case, as it simplifies things...
...so i guess the 'more negative camber' thing with ZHPs is a myth, huh?

[Stu]

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r170/nextgear1/p7.jpg

All ZHP owners should strive to have this much negative camber.

[billschusteriv]

^ Wow. :blink

BlackBerry. Tapatalk.

[Hornung418]

Good for your tires...

[danewilson77]

Not special. Use the Sport Package settings.

+1

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[az3579]

For those of you with lowered cars, the stock alignment may need to be tweaked. Lowering changes suspension geometry.

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[mimalmo]

That's why you should get an alignment after a drop.

[Washburn]

Thanks for all the clarifications - my car is all stock so now I know which specs to use, which i am pretty confident the shop also does - just wanted to be sure that they didn't have to do anything, um, special with the ZHP when they do the alignment.

[danewilson77]

That's why you should get an alignment after a drop.

Hehe. The alignment people will know.

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[T.Bird]

For those of you with lowered cars, the stock alignment may need to be tweaked. Lowering changes suspension geometry.

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Do you happen to know of any good alignment shops Botond?

[danewilson77]

Do you happen to know of any good alignment shops Botond?

BP's alignment is always off...per a previous post. He probably does not know.

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[az3579]

BP's alignment is always off...per a previous post. He probably does not know.

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My alignment better not be off... I just had an alignment bout 2 weeks ago!

I would recommend Kaizen Tuning for a performance alignment. They are in Acton, MA...

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[telijah]

AllData confirms. There are 3 alignment specs for the E46:

Stock
Sports Package
"Rough Road Package" <-- ??? xI models I suppose...

Here are the specs for the Sports Pakage

Front axle:

Total toe - 0°14' ±8'

Camber (Difference between left/right max. 30) - -43' ±20'

Track differential angle with 20°lock on inside wheel - -1°34' ±30'
Caster (Difference between left/right max. 30')

With +/- 10 degrees wheel lock - 5°36' ±30'

With +/- 20 degrees wheel lock - 5°47' ±30'

Front wheel displacement - 0°±15'
Maximum wheel lock

Inside wheel (approx.°) - 43.6

Outside wheel (approx.°) - 35.6

Rear axle:

Total toe - 0°16' ±6'

Camber (Difference between left/right max. 15') - -2°04' ±15'

Geometrical axis deviation - 0°±6'

[VA//M3]

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/7396/3205wheelalignment.png

[johnrando]

To be clear, these are not the specs for "sport", which is the ZHP equivalent for alignment specs, right?

[VA//M3]

To be clear, these are the specs for "sport", which is the ZHP equivalent for alignment specs, right?

Didn't you mean to say? ^^

[johnrando]

Didn't you mean to say? ^^

Yup, thanks.

[VA//M3]

That is correct sport specs applies to the ZHP.

[danewilson77]

Sport = ZHP

[telijah]

VA's info shows all wheel drive and rough road, which on AllData didn't list the all wheel drive, so I assumed Rough Road was the all wheel drive... What the heck is Rough Road?

[VA//M3]

VA's info shows all wheel drive and rough road, which on AllData didn't list the all wheel drive, so I assumed Rough Road was the all wheel drive... What the heck is Rough Road?

I think it's a package.

It consists of Upper re-enforcement plates and 15 mm rear upper spring pads.

Which apply to all US bound XI's. Not sure if those pieces were optional in other markets.

[aurelius]

FWIW, the alignment computer I saw had fields for specifying coupe vs sedan, sport suspension, and 18" wheels, which altho standard on the ZHP were optional on non-ZHP 330 models.

To clarify, the computer distinguishes between 330i vs 330ci, the alignment specs for which may or may not be the same.

[danewilson77]

FWIW, the alignment computer I saw had fields for specifying coupe vs sedan, sport suspension, and 18" wheels, which altho standard on the ZHP were optional on non-ZHP 330 models.

To clarify, the computer distinguishes between 330i vs 330ci, the alignment specs for which may or may not be the same.

Not the same. Coupe is lower by design I believe.

[aurelius]

Correction to my post above.

The alignment computer does distinguish coupe vs sedan, not merely model badging ("i" vs "ci"). Mine is a sedan but here's a screen shot that would apply to a ZHP coupe or a 330 ZSP (sport pkg) with the optional 18" wheels:

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l584/aurelius3/Random%20BMW%20Pics/alignment1.jpg

[VA//M3]

Guys what the computers say about aligning a car is irrelevant. You can set the alignment to anything you would like to to suit your needs. For example, increased turn in, more stability, grip, wear etc. It's not really set in stone.

[danewilson77]

Guys what the computers say about aligning a car is irrelevant. You can set the alignment to anything you would like to to suit your needs. For example, increased turn in, more stability, grip, wear etc. It's not really set in stone.

Agree. There are "stock" settings though.

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[MsRN]

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r170/nextgear1/p7.jpg

All ZHP owners should strive to have this much negative camber.

Mine had that much after I went off-roading with it (sigh)...

[MsRN]

I read somewhere recently, that BMWs stock toe/camber/caster settings on E36es are designed to increase understeer and steering 'sensitivity', while decreasing the propensity of the car to break loose at the back end. The downside being that the front wheels aren't as square in turns as they ought to be, which increases the risk of 'plowing' the turn. Vorschlag camber plates (or equivalent) are thus recommended in E36es, along with maximal toe/camber/caster to improve the front contact patch in turns, while also improving tire wear evenness.

First--did I make ANY sense there, or do I sound as dumb as I feel? Second--anyone think this might apply to E46es, like my properly-aligned one that unexpectedly plowed a turn last month, leading to a catastrophic crash? (I'm still pretty positive oil on the wet road must have played a role, 'cause that crash was entirely unanticipated, and breakaway was without warning; I felt like I was on ice).

[VA//M3]

I read somewhere recently, that BMWs stock toe/camber/caster settings on E36es are designed to increase understeer and steering 'sensitivity', while decreasing the propensity of the car to break loose at the back end. The downside being that the front wheels aren't as square in turns as they ought to be, which increases the risk of 'plowing' the turn. Vorschlag camber plates (or equivalent) are thus recommended in E36es, along with maximal toe/camber/caster to improve the front contact patch in turns, while also improving tire wear evenness.

First--did I make ANY sense there, or do I sound as dumb as I feel? Second--anyone think this might apply to E46es, like my properly-aligned one that unexpectedly plowed a turn last month, leading to a catastrophic crash? (I'm still pretty positive oil on the wet road must have played a role, 'cause that crash was entirely unanticipated, and breakaway was without warning; I felt like I was on ice).


I've found that running 0 total toe up front, and -1.5 front camber along with 0 or -.04 rear total toe in and -2.2 rear camber give you a very responsive and stable car when pushed to it's limit.

[jjbsilvia]

I have a stock zhp coupe running 255mm tires square. I used front specs at -1.2 camber, toe at minimal 0.04 in total. Rear is -2.1 toe total 0.22 degree in. Result is responsive if not active on the road due to wide front tires and almost no toe. I auto-x once in a blue moon, but drive it.... how do you say... spirited.. this setup seems like a great base setup for my dd that I am willing to have an active front end on. My $.02...

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