Alignment fail

Curry Addict

My car failed very marginally for alignment in the NCT, its an 02 E39. Front axel @ -15 (spec +/-14)
and rear axel at -21 (spec +/- 18)
I brought her in to get the alignment tweaked. They checked the suspension and told me both front stabiliser links and the offside rear needed replacement along with both rear wishbone bushes.

I replaced the front stabiliser links only a year ago with good quality ones. I had a look and they look sound. it makes me doubt what i was told in the garage. Note, none of this was picked up in the NCT other than failing alignment. I would appreciate another opinion on weather this sounds dodgy...

i thinking of refitting the front links and replacing the offside rear link and then getting alignment setup and think this should get me through the NCT....
Ill likely check the wishbone bushes and probably replace them in the summer...

listermint

Curry Addict wrote: »

My car failed very marginally for alignment in the NCT, its an 02 E39. Front axel @ -15 (spec +/-14)
and rear axel at -21 (spec +/- 18)
I brought her in to get the alignment tweaked. They checked the suspension and told me both front stabiliser links and the offside rear needed replacement along with both rear wishbone bushes.

I replaced the front stabiliser links only a year ago with good quality ones. I had a look and they look sound. it makes me doubt what i was told in the garage. Note, none of this was picked up in the NCT other than failing alignment. I would appreciate another opinion on weather this sounds dodgy...

i thinking of refitting the front links and replacing the offside rear link and then getting alignment setup and think this should get me through the NCT....
Ill likely check the wishbone bushes and probably replace them in the summer...

What 'garage' did the allignment check. ive had some completely dubious so called advise from some of the big name places that change tyres in the past.

Curry Addict

listermint wrote: »

What 'garage' did the allignment check. ive had some completely dubious so called advise from some of the big name places that change tyres in the past.

a local independent garage

Nissan doctor

Did they do a full 4 wheel alignment check? If they only check front wheel toe or even 4 wheel toe then it was likely a waste of time and money.

listermint

As above.

BMWs need a full 4 allignment check done. Id bring it to someone who knows what they are doing.

Chelmsfort motors ranelagh there is also another BMW specialist at JFK park off the naas road.

Andrew_Doran

Curry Addict wrote: »

i thinking of refitting the front links and replacing the offside rear link and then getting alignment setup and think this should get me through the NCT....

Anti-roll bar drop links don't affect wheel alignment (in general anyway).

How many miles on the car? Has part #2 on this diagram ever been replaced (hope you can see it)? You may or may not have other worn parts but on BMWs with this suspension setup this part wears fast and if not renewed the rear cannot be aligned reliably. A telltale sign is a squeak from the rear as you sit into the driver's seat.

Curry Addict

listermint wrote: »

As above.

BMWs need a full 4 allignment check done. Id bring it to someone who knows what they are doing.

Chelmsfort motors ranelagh there is also another BMW specialist at JFK park off the naas road.

no alignment check was done by the garage. they checked the suspension first and gave me the list that needs doing before they could set up alignment properly.

ok so it looks like i need to bring it to a specialist for sure.

Curry Addict

Andrew_Doran wrote: »

Anti-roll bar drop links don't affect wheel alignment (in general anyway).

How many miles on the car? Has part #2 on this diagram ever been replaced (hope you can see it)? You may or may not have other worn parts but on BMWs with this suspension setup this part wears fast and if not renewed the rear cannot be aligned reliably. A telltale sign is a squeak from the rear as you sit into the driver's seat.

there is 102,000 miles on the car. Item no. 2 there was never replaced. she does squeak like an old pram sometimes when i sit in. I guess part no. 2 is a wishbone bushing? and i likely need it replaced...