Wheel alignment

SQ_W211

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I know this has been mentioned 100s of times, Just wanted to get people's views on this. I recently lowered my car with Eibach springs and since then i need to realign the wheels and reset camber.

I have contacted MB Brentford and booked in for thursday.

They said this is quiet a big job and can take up to half day!!!!!! I will leave the car with them and they charge £125+VAT for all 4 wheel alignment and reseting camber. All this sounds OK apart from time I have been quoted.

The tricky part is.....They said there may be an additional cost if they require new bolts when reseting camber.... Is this true? If yes, Are are really taking the **** at quoting me £20 per bolt if required???

I welcome any opinions from anyone with any of above experience.

Thanks
 

Blobcat

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I had the alignment setup on my W211 due to a castor problem, I had to have 4 of the new bolts which IIRC were ~£8 ea. In total I paid £115.36 inc vat (Dec 08).
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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Thanks, you think it will make any difference if i refer above cost to MB brentford? or should i just try another dealer?
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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I had the alignment setup on my W211 due to a castor problem, I had to have 4 of the new bolts which IIRC were ~£8 ea. In total I paid £115.36 inc vat (Dec 08).
If i dnt need any bolts, I am still being charged £145+ and if required then maximum £80 for all 4......This sounds like a huge difference.
 

Blobcat

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Admittedly they wanted quite a bit more to start with ~£150 inc vat, I asked for MBOA and Blobcat discount and finally paid the £115,36 in May 09 as they kept sending me the original bill and kept forgetting to include the discount.
I would ask for MBOA discount (assuming your a member) and labour rate discount for cars over 3 yrs old as well.
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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Admittedly they wanted quite a bit more to start with ~£150 inc vat, I asked for MBOA and Blobcat discount and finally paid the £115,36 in May 09 as they kept sending me the original bill and kept forgetting to include the discount.
I would ask for MBOA discount (assuming your a member) and labour rate discount for cars over 3 yrs old as well.
MBOA?

How do i become a member?
 

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Rory

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I know this has been mentioned 100s of times, Just wanted to get people's views on this. I recently lowered my car with Eibach springs and since then i need to realign the wheels and reset camber.

I have contacted MB Brentford and booked in for thursday.

Is that an "official" MB modification? I would expect the dealer to throw thier hands up and say they can't do it, or they can only reset it to factory spec.

How about taking it to a proper aligmnment specialist like http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk (forum member http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/member.php?u=33665 )
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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I thought MB can only be done via MB dealers?

Specially the Camber Reset....
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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Just called a local computerised Wheel alignment company, they confirmed that they can do Mercs with no problem and they can reset/adjust the camber too.

Their price may vary from £60 - £115. They can also do this while i wait so it sounds like a fair offer.

question is, can we get this work carried out by a non MB company?
 

S.Speed

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I have personally used "Wheels in Motion" and I can confirm they have the special Bolts in stock..
The tracking on one of my rear wheels was out and after they corrected it the aligned the front to the rear..
They told me that mine wasnt a bad case as far as Mercs went..
But I could certainly feel quite a difference on the way home.
 

television

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It always was the norm for outsiders to not do the camber owing to the special jigs required,,, things move on and there is no reason that this could not be incorporated in the set up.

Have you asked them about this point
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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Malc, I only asked about reseting/adjusting camber and the answer was 'No problem Sir, We can do that no problem'

I shall ask them if they special bolts in stock if need be for camber reset.

I just noticed........................ 43000 posts
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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I have personally used "Wheels in Motion" and I can confirm they have the special Bolts in stock..
The tracking on one of my rear wheels was out and after they corrected it the aligned the front to the rear..
They told me that mine wasnt a bad case as far as Mercs went..
But I could certainly feel quite a difference on the way home.

Thanks Simon, only issue is wheels in motion are not near me otherwise i would have trusted your opinion and gone to them.
 

CL500Wizard

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if you can stretch a drive to Micheldever Tyres (M3, Junction 8 iirc), I personally and many many clubs would not recommend anyone else - guys here even setup cars for drifting, fast road, track etc. you'll need to book the car for a full 4w alignment. many places don't bother or don't know the rolling compensation checks and just adjust the car still, these guys will run all the tests to get it spot on.
 

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if you can stretch a drive to Micheldever Tyres (M3, Junction 8 iirc), I personally and many many clubs would not recommend anyone else - guys here even setup cars for drifting, fast road, track etc. you'll need to book the car for a full 4w alignment. many places don't bother or don't know the rolling compensation checks and just adjust the car still, these guys will run all the tests to get it spot on.

Have to agree,,they have a very good name
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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It always was the norm for outsiders to not do the camber owing to the special jigs required,,, things move on and there is no reason that this could not be incorporated in the set up.

Have you asked them about this point

I have queried this with the company I was looking to go to, They are now saying that there is no way for the camber to be reset/adjusted as it is fixed. They do not carry the bolts to adjust this so this place is pretty useless as i know I will definately have negative camber from car being lowered over 35mm.

I will give Wheels in Motion a ring and see if they can do this for me.
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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Further to above, Spoke to Tony at Wheels in motion who was very kind to give me a call after leaving him a message on website. What I have been told now is that camber bolts would need to be fitted which are at £30 per bolt including labour but their cost is only £60+VAT for the normal Symmetrical alignment. He also mentioned that these bolts do not give alot of adjustment and it only provides .5 degree per bolt so max of 2 degrees if all 4 fitted. Tony was very knowledgeable and helpful as he said its probably worth getting full symmetrical alignment done to see how much adjusting I require and best just to live with the wear as a consequence of lowering my car.
 
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SQ_W211

SQ_W211

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Thank you everyone for input and i will keep you all posted with the outcome so that we know for future as to what to expect when we lowered the car
 

television

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Thank you everyone for input and i will keep you all posted with the outcome so that we know for future as to what to expect when we lowered the car

And thank you for the feedback too Amo
 


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