Tracking - Dealer Only?

[monkey1983]

So it started on wednesday when the inner side on Front driver tyre caused a blowout. Breakdown man changed my tyre and suspected my tracking needs doing due to uneven wear (REALLY BAD). Rung Kwik fit this am and they said cant do tracking as its merc only, except one place in Dewsbury. Anyone else heard the same?

Any people in the know think its suspension as well as tracking?

 

[turbopete]

camber is adjustable on mercs. not many places have the knowledge skill or equipment to do any checks other than simple tracking. the job needs to be done by someone competent, not a young guy at a fast fit centre that doesnt care about anything as long as he gets his wages, and has no technical knowledge about cars and suspension. ask around. dealers or MB specialists may sub-contract this work out (i believe some do) and they may be able to reccommend someone local to you

 

[television]

If the tyres are wearing on the inside or out side edges badly, this will be down to the camber setting, and an MB only set up, if the tyres are feathering, then this will be only the tracking

 

[SQ_W211]

I am getting some work carried on my car this Monday( fitting lowering springs).... Should I get the camber reset now or wait for when i change tyres. I think i will need to change the front tyres soon.

The reall question is, Does changing the tyres cause the camber to go out again?

 

[turbopete]

no the camber will be altered by the lowering. changing the tyres will affect nothing.

 

[SQ_W211]

no the camber will be altered by the lowering. changing the tyres will affect nothing.

So I dont need camber reset after lowering it?

 

[turbopete]

yes you will need it reset after lowering, especially if you go more than about 20mm lower. changing the tyres will not affect camber. lowering the car will.

 

[SQ_W211]

Thank you for that, would you know how much it would cost for Camber Reset?

 

[turbopete]

ive read on other posts here that a full geometry set up ie camber, alignment etc and the bolts for adjusting the camber usually comes in at around the £160 ish region. however id make doubly sure all joints, bushes etc are in good condition before carrying out the alignment/camber checks as faults could lead to inaccurate settings and needing to be re done after faults are remedied!

if you look up wheels in motion website, they should be able to give you a more in depth idea of whats involved, possibly costs etc

 

[Blobcat]

Thank you for that, would you know how much it would cost for Camber Reset?

After the grooved & flat incident it cost £115.35 for a 4 wheel align and camber reset at MB, this included the cost for the new bolts which have to be fitted as part of the reset. It was originally ~£145 before my discount was applied.
Since the camber reset the front tyres have covered 11,500 miles and have 3mm left. In total they have covered 33,055 as they were on the rear previously for 21,555 miles so I'm quite happy with them (Goodyear NCT 5's 95W MO Spec)

 

[turbopete]

After the grooved & flat incident it cost £115.35 for a 4 wheel align and camber reset at MB, this included the cost for the new bolts which have to be fitted as part of the reset. It was originally ~£145 before my discount was applied.
Since the camber reset the front tyres have covered 11,500 miles and have 3mm left. In total they have covered 33,055 as they were on the rear previously for 21,555 miles so I'm quite happy with them (Goodyear NCT 5's 95W MO Spec)

may be a little more expensie for Amo though given that he's in London would you think?

 

[Blobcat]

may be a little more expensie for Amo though given that he's in London would you think?

Agreed, I hate to think what Chelsea Mercedes hourly rate is these days. My dealer was £100 per hour IIRC.

 

[turbopete]

i dont even want to guess! that was reasonable hourly rate if it was on your 211! my local stealer wanted £68 for a half hour IIRC to check into my bas light coming on after changing switch. i left it alone though and i stopped annoying me after a few weeks!

 

[Blobcat]

i dont even want to guess! that was reasonable hourly rate if it was on your 211! my local stealer wanted £68 for a half hour IIRC to check into my bas light coming on after changing switch. i left it alone though and I stopped annoying me after a few weeks!

I used to know your dealer especially when they used to be Patons. I see Stuart is still there although I haven't been in since 2001.

 

[Rory]

Perhaps you could find somewhere here: http://www.alignmycar.co.uk

 

[turbopete]

yes Stuart is still there. its gone right down the pan since Patons sold it though. you only need look at the posts from Alfibeard regarding his sbc pump to see that! i worked down the road at benfield nissan in 2001! they just had a re-fit of the building. decided theyd hide the stores counter away from the public. thing is, 1st time i went after it was finished, they told me to go to the stores counter and told me how to get there! maybe coz im known there, but it kinda begs the question why hide it? except to add an extra table for you to sit and drink coffee at!

i take it you lived near here at some point then? maybe we met and didnt know it? it wouldnt surprise me! i used to spend hours there when i was tinkering with dads or my own car!

 

[SQ_W211]

After the grooved & flat incident it cost £115.35 for a 4 wheel align and camber reset at MB, this included the cost for the new bolts which have to be fitted as part of the reset. It was originally ~£145 before my discount was applied.
Since the camber reset the front tyres have covered 11,500 miles and have 3mm left. In total they have covered 33,055 as they were on the rear previously for 21,555 miles so I'm quite happy with them (Goodyear NCT 5's 95W MO Spec)

Those are quiet impressive figures. I have elegence model right now and changed the wheels from 16" to 18" with lower profile (overall diameter is aroox the same) but since then I have seem to have lost grip and the alloys leave too much gap in the arches which doesnt suit the tyre profile.

so i am going for lower springs to lower it by 30mm. I have already been advised by Colin @ MBS that I will loose comfort but I am more after reducing the body roll at the corners so hopefully this should sort it.

thanks you all for your input, i shall keep you posted of the outcome

 

[SQ_W211]

Agreed, I hate to think what Chelsea Mercedes hourly rate is these days. My dealer was £100 per hour IIRC.

Brentford is local to me so I may ring to get quote from them. But I guess £160 would be resonable figure. I may also try to get it done from southampton dealers as i will be there on monday getting my springs fitted by MBS

 

[Rory]

Brentford is local to me so I may ring to get quote from them. But I guess £160 would be resonable figure. I may also try to get it done from southampton dealers as i will be there on monday getting my springs fitted by MBS

If you lower it, will that affect the settings? An MB dealer might not be able to cope with that.

There's a forum member (although he posts more on the other forum) wheels-inmotion who has a place in Chesham and sounds (to me, anyway) like he knows what he's talking about. http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk

 

[Blobcat]

If you lower it, will that affect the settings? An MB dealer might not be able to cope with that.

There's a forum member (although he posts more on the other forum) wheels-inmotion who has a place in Chesham and sounds (to me, anyway) like he knows what he's talking about. http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk

Agreed that might be an issue and the adjustment in the camber might not be enough to accommodate. Having said that if you fit avantgarde springs they are 25mm lower than elegance.