Does putting on new tires require an alignment?

'03 M3 has about 12000 miles on it. Will change to new tires early next week. Do ya'll think an alignment is required? Will cost >$100 at dealership for the alignment work.

Also, does alignment include adjusting camber/caster?

I was thinking about adjusting -.5 camber myself to get better turn in response for track event next weekend. So is it a waste to spend more than $100 for alignment work only to mess up that setting by adjusting camber myself?

Thanks,
Jimmy

No alignment. But make sure you do a road force balance instead of just regular balance...Look for a shop with a Hunter GPS 9700 machine.

I had an annoying "vibration" ever since I put on the PZero NEROs on a few months ago, finally had the tires road force balanced and the vibration has been gone.

Originally Posted by The HACK

No alignment. But make sure you do a road force balance instead of just regular balance...Look for a shop with a Hunter GPS 9700 machine.

I had an annoying "vibration" ever since I put on the PZero NEROs on a few months ago, finally had the tires road force balanced and the vibration has been gone.

BMW says they have special machine to properly mount 19"s on my wheels. Do yo think BMW dealerships all have this special Hunter GPS 9700 machine or equivalent?

Originally Posted by Jimmy325

BMW says they have special machine to properly mount 19"s on my wheels. Do yo think BMW dealerships all have this special Hunter GPS 9700 machine or equivalent?

Nope...Most of the local dealerships that I visit do not have the Hunter machine. The one that I go to just farm it out to the tire shop next door.

Originally Posted by The HACK

Nope...Most of the local dealerships that I visit do not have the Hunter machine. The one that I go to just farm it out to the tire shop next door.

So if I don't go to BMW, where can I go? I dun wanna go to a shop that does bad job and scratch up rims and don't give me a replacement wheel.

The reason why I am still sticking with BMW to change my tires is because they guarantee that if they scratch up a wheel, they will replace it free of charge.

How about having BMW mount the tires and if you have a vibration or want to be sure they are balanced correctly take the car to a shop with a Hunter GSP 9700 machine.


http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm

Originally Posted by Artslinger

How about having BMW mount the tires and if you have a vibration or want to be sure they are balanced correctly take the car to a shop with a Hunter GSP 9700 machine.


http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm

Very very very cool.

I put in my city, state, and zip and BMW of Austin was the first on the list. They do have one of the GSP 9700s. I'm all set.

Thanks guys! Appreciate mucho!

told ya this is a really good forum for info bout tires and suspension...

Originally Posted by Artslinger

How about having BMW mount the tires and if you have a vibration or want to be sure they are balanced correctly take the car to a shop with a Hunter GSP 9700 machine.


http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm

Super -- Tire Rack place I bring mine to has it.

Interesting, the FBI has three of them. And Hunter lists them on their web site. :P

Originally Posted by Jimmy325

Also, does alignment include adjusting camber/caster?

I was thinking about adjusting -.5 camber myself to get better turn in response for track event next weekend. So is it a waste to spend more than $100 for alignment work only to mess up that setting by adjusting camber myself?

yes and yes.
No need to do it yourself. When you pay that $100 alignment, just specify what camber, caster you want. If you want to go outside the BMW specified range, you may want to go to a place like NTB, where you can watch them do it. They'll take whatever specs you give them.

Originally Posted by JetBlack330i

yes and yes.
No need to do it yourself. When you pay that $100 alignment, just specify what camber, caster you want. If you want to go outside the BMW specified range, you may want to go to a place like NTB, where you can watch them do it. They'll take whatever specs you give them.

I don't think I would trust NTB to adjust those... the torque spec for those nuts is 18ftlb, would be bad if the guy at NTB use an impact wrench on those things...

we just max'ed out his camber this afternoon, he'll see how it works next weekend...

--Andrew

Originally Posted by ayn

I don't think I would trust NTB to adjust those... the torque spec for those nuts is 18ftlb, would be bad if the guy at NTB use an impact wrench on those things...

we just max'ed out his camber this afternoon, he'll see how it works next weekend...

--Andrew

They wouldn't. I saw them do my ML. It's all manual tools. The thing is, they use laser equipment to monitor the adjustment real time. You see the display changing as they turn the screws.
Hey can you show me how to max out the camber?
BTW, I just changed my oil and air filter this afternoon. I can swear the car's got an extra 5HP.

Originally Posted by JetBlack330i

They wouldn't. I saw them do my ML. It's all manual tools. The thing is, they use laser equipment to monitor the adjustment real time. You see the display changing as they turn the screws.
Hey can you show me how to max out the camber?
BTW, I just changed my oil and air filter this afternoon. I can swear the car's got an extra 5HP.

i dunno... they trust those laser machines too much... i remember LilE's dealer had one of those machines as well, and they messed up his car big time, he then went to an old school place, they had like the most primitive machines and tools, but they were badass and did his car right...

u want more -ve camber on yours? sure! just let me know when, should only take 30 minutes now after having done (well, i just watched) 2 cars... if you want a struct bar, might do it all in one shot coz u'll have to remove those bolts anyways...

--Andrew