Brakes and Alignment question
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6
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From: NJ
2005 Audi S4
Brakes and Alignment question
I might be buying a used '06 E55 and I was wondering how much people have paid to get the pads replaced and or rotors, also how much people have paid to do an alignment. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
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From: San Diego
2015 S212
Alignment: $200 at the dealer, but not much they can do. 2000 at a custom shop, buy the will redo all the arms.
Rotors: EVOSport slotted and cross drilled - $1500
Pads: Porterfield RS4 (Street) - $500
Rotors: EVOSport slotted and cross drilled - $1500
Pads: Porterfield RS4 (Street) - $500
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
I've been doing it under warranty for the last 6 months that I didn't realize how much it cost?
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From: Denver, CO
Formula Mazda, Beast Junior...400HP 135i
My dealer charges $135 for an "alignment" and then whatever they feel like charging on top of that if they have to do any work. Such as $116 to put in a bolt kit and then anther $100 on top of that for a bolt kit. When I was in last, they tried to charge me to put in a bolt kit that was already on the car! You have to be VERY careful with a lot of these dealer techs as all they are taught is to bring it into MB specs and they don't seem to care about trivial things like evening out the camber left to right.
One interesting thing though, the 2 dealer techs that I have talked to swear that the car does not get hooked to STAR for an alignment anymore as "most of the newer cars and all of the W211 E55s will maintain ride height on the alignment rack with the key on". If this is actually the case, I will be talking it to my alignment guy that knows what he is doing the next time that it is due for one.
OEM front pads are right around $350/set
OEM Front rotors are about $135ea
Brake fluid flush is about $120 and requires STAR so no choice but the dealer for this.
Not sure about labor to do the brakes but I'm sure that most dealers are out of hand.
One interesting thing though, the 2 dealer techs that I have talked to swear that the car does not get hooked to STAR for an alignment anymore as "most of the newer cars and all of the W211 E55s will maintain ride height on the alignment rack with the key on". If this is actually the case, I will be talking it to my alignment guy that knows what he is doing the next time that it is due for one.
OEM front pads are right around $350/set
OEM Front rotors are about $135ea
Brake fluid flush is about $120 and requires STAR so no choice but the dealer for this.
Not sure about labor to do the brakes but I'm sure that most dealers are out of hand.
Last edited by Blacksport350; Jan 7, 2008 at 05:02 PM.
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From: Denver, CO
Formula Mazda, Beast Junior...400HP 135i
They did this to two of my AMGs on their first warranty alignments and getting new wheels was like pulling teeth. Now when I go info alignments, I have them mark on the invoice that the wheels are perfect and look at them before I leave the dealer.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: NJ
2005 Audi S4
thanks so far
Just trying to gauge the additional expenses i may incur after purchasing the car. Are the brakes pretty stiff to begin with? For some reason they felt like they needed an extra push to really get the car to stop, at least compared to my S4 which doesn't require much effort.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Denver, CO
Formula Mazda, Beast Junior...400HP 135i
Just trying to gauge the additional expenses i may incur after purchasing the car. Are the brakes pretty stiff to begin with? For some reason they felt like they needed an extra push to really get the car to stop, at least compared to my S4 which doesn't require much effort.
However, it is not uncommon to nuke the front brakes in 20-25K intervals.
And you can pay $135-400 for an alignment depending on what the dealer claims they have to do or feels like charging.
How many miles are on the car?
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6
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From: NJ
2005 Audi S4
agreed, the braking system is very different which is why I wasn't sure. The car has 30k miles on it right now. When you say nuke the front brakes, do you mean putting in new front brake pads?
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
2003 Cl 500
are the dealer's the only people who can do one? their was a thread about manual alignments being done in Cali, and i wish they were here in Ohio. but someone told me that Conrad's has the newest of the systems for all cars and it would be fine to go their? does that work or should i steer clear of Conrad's?
ALi
ALi
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,310
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From: Denver, CO
Formula Mazda, Beast Junior...400HP 135i
are the dealer's the only people who can do one? their was a thread about manual alignments being done in Cali, and i wish they were here in Ohio. but someone told me that Conrad's has the newest of the systems for all cars and it would be fine to go their? does that work or should i steer clear of Conrad's?
ALi
ALi
The issue with needing the dealer was due to the car needing to be hooked to STAR diagnostics to maintain proper ride height on the alignment rack. I have had to separate MB techs tell me that the suspension control modules are now programmed to maintain ride height with the key on so STAR is no longer used for alignments.
I will use a good indy shop for my next one. If you don't go to the dealer, be prepared to run over to one to get an appropriate bolt kit if you need an adjustment.
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From: Denver, CO
Formula Mazda, Beast Junior...400HP 135i
Wearing both pads & rotors to their wear limit and sometimes cracking in the rotors around the vent holes. If you needed pads, it is worth replacing the rotors as the $270 is not bad for the pair and they do get pretty hammered.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
2003 Cl 500
The issue with needing the dealer was due to the car needing to be hooked to STAR diagnostics to maintain proper ride height on the alignment rack. I have had to separate MB techs tell me that the suspension control modules are now programmed to maintain ride height with the key on so STAR is no longer used for alignments.
I will use a good indy shop for my next one. If you don't go to the dealer, be prepared to run over to one to get an appropriate bolt kit if you need an adjustment.
I will use a good indy shop for my next one. If you don't go to the dealer, be prepared to run over to one to get an appropriate bolt kit if you need an adjustment.
how do i find a Indy shop, how would i go about looking for one of them around my area? or should i just give up lol
ALi
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From: Denver, CO
Formula Mazda, Beast Junior...400HP 135i
The best way to find a good independent shop is by word of mouth.
The bolt kits allow for a wider range of alignment correction to correct for problems.
Member
Joined: Nov 2007
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2004 E55
Are replacing the pads/rotors doable for most DIYers? I saw a thread a while ago on replacing the rear pads but have not seen one for the fronts. Does it require hooking up to the STAR machine (whatever the hell that is?!)?
BTW, I have done all of the brake work on my previous vehicles, so I am ok as a DIYer, but this is my first MB.
BTW, I have done all of the brake work on my previous vehicles, so I am ok as a DIYer, but this is my first MB.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 8
From: Denver, CO
Formula Mazda, Beast Junior...400HP 135i
Are replacing the pads/rotors doable for most DIYers? I saw a thread a while ago on replacing the rear pads but have not seen one for the fronts. Does it require hooking up to the STAR machine (whatever the hell that is?!)?
BTW, I have done all of the brake work on my previous vehicles, so I am ok as a DIYer, but this is my first MB.
BTW, I have done all of the brake work on my previous vehicles, so I am ok as a DIYer, but this is my first MB.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 256
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From: Maryland
2004 E55 AMG
Are replacing the pads/rotors doable for most DIYers? I saw a thread a while ago on replacing the rear pads but have not seen one for the fronts. Does it require hooking up to the STAR machine (whatever the hell that is?!)?
BTW, I have done all of the brake work on my previous vehicles, so I am ok as a DIYer, but this is my first MB.
BTW, I have done all of the brake work on my previous vehicles, so I am ok as a DIYer, but this is my first MB.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/199010-diy-rear-brake-change.html
