Geesh, $319 for alignment
11-20-2007, 03:44 PM
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2015 GLK 250 BT
Geesh, $319 for alignment
Whoa, couldn't believe the bill for the alignment at the dealer today! $319 is the most expensive alignment I've ever paid. Admittedly they did install the crash-bolts since the car is lowered due to Bilstein PSS9 coilovers.
11-20-2007, 06:32 PM
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Silver 2004 E500 4Matic
When I had mine done they said the basic alignment would be 99.00. But sometimes the alignment is off so much the need to use a Camber bolt kit. Those are between 99 and 199 a piece. Atleast thats what the charged for mine. The front end was around 300.
11-20-2007, 06:36 PM
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03 E500 and Corvette
I bought the lifetime alignment from Firestone where they do out service on MB"s Total cost was $375 including installation and purchase of caster adjustment bolts. When the car had the ball joints replaced under warranty they did not set the alignment. Firestone did a no charge alignment to get it back to spec. But here this Dealer is Factory owned and local operated. Great service there.
11-20-2007, 10:16 PM
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2020 E450 Coupe, 2022 Porsche Macan, 2001 Porsche 911
Does the alignment have to be done by a dealer? how can I tell if I have already had an alignment? I bought certified pre-owned....
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11-20-2007, 11:02 PM
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2004 E500 4matic
11-20-2007, 11:07 PM
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Somone correct me if I'm wrong, but they are super expensive bolts that they can install that will give you more camber. Helps with even tire wear when your car is lowered. My dealer told me that they're worthless as they don't add enough camber to offset the amount of negative camber you get when you lower your car.
But I've heard from some E55 owners that say they help a little bit.
But I've heard from some E55 owners that say they help a little bit.
11-20-2007, 11:11 PM
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2004 E500 4matic
Somone correct me if I'm wrong, but they are super expensive bolts that they can install that will give you more camber. Helps with even tire wear when your car is lowered. My dealer told me that they're worthless as they don't add enough camber to offset the amount of negative camber you get when you lower your car.
But I've heard from some E55 owners that say they help a little bit.
But I've heard from some E55 owners that say they help a little bit.
Oh okay...
thanks Benz-O.
I guess I would not be needing that bolt.
11-21-2007, 01:15 PM
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2015 GLK 250 BT
Hang on, those crash bolts costs only $38 for the pair (left & right). And the way these work, the suspension has an eccentric hole for the camber and the bolts have slots running the length of the bolts, ~5". Thus the bolts can be position inward or outward by about 1/2".
So as for the cost, I figure it itemized as $100 for alignment, ~$100 labor for each side to install the left and right crash bolts (1-hour labor each).
So as for the cost, I figure it itemized as $100 for alignment, ~$100 labor for each side to install the left and right crash bolts (1-hour labor each).
11-21-2007, 01:16 PM
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Was this a rip off? No its just full retail.
I did this all to my E55 when I had it to make it grip better (more negative camber) and had I paid retail that would have been the price. I got lucky and was not charged for the bolt installation. I ended up with 2.5 degrees of negative camber up front and 2 in the rear!
You can also install a caster bolt as well.
11-21-2007, 01:43 PM
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Alignment is a mysterious wheel adjustment that most dealers don't do it right for some reason! My E was first aligned at Millenium, the dealer I bought from. They did not do it right. Later I took it to Ray Catena, another dealer in my area and the charge was 99.00. Since I don't put on that many miles on my E, I will have to wait and see. As for my G35X, my daily commute, the dealer did not do it right either and I took it to a local tire specialist and so far so good. My point is that alignment really should be done at a local independent tire specialist, not the Goodyear, Firestone type, or the car dealers. I always ask for the before and after print out so I can see whether the numbers are within range. But even then, if the alignment equipment is out of spec, which happens often, your car is still out of alignment!
11-21-2007, 02:01 PM
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Most incorrect tire wear is due to toes are out of spec. Toe-in (wheel turn in) will cause your tires to wear more on the outter edge and toe-out (wheel turn out) will wear more on the inside of your tires. It does'nt take much at all and you will have a wear problem. The best way to minimize tire wear is to ask them to "center it", that means if the spec call for -4 to +4, align at 0.
