E63 alignment....dealer says it takes special tool only they have. True or not?
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From: Indiana
'94 NSX,'99 NSX Z,'12 C63 Black Series (Prior: '07 E63, '08 CLK63 Black Series,'14 E63-S & 16 C63-S)
E63 alignment....dealer says it takes special tool only they have. True or not?
So I picked up my E63 today and when I asked about getting it aligned they said it was $160 - $170. Compare this to the $89 the Acura dealer charged to align my NSX (which I have watched them do, and it is not easy), and I was left to wonder why it was almost DOUBLE the cost. The Mercedes dealer claims that only they can align the car correctly because I have air suspension, and that they have some sort of rhombus tool that is required. Does this sound right? Am I stuck with going to them to get this done correctly?
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
So I picked up my E63 today and when I asked about getting it aligned they said it was $160 - $170. Compare this to the $89 the Acura dealer charged to align my NSX (which I have watched them do, and it is not easy), and I was left to wonder why it was almost DOUBLE the cost. The Mercedes dealer claims that only they can align the car correctly because I have air suspension, and that they have some sort of rhombus tool that is required. Does this sound right? Am I stuck with going to them to get this done correctly?
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Because of the airmatic you need a Romess inclinometer and SDS to set height.
As Mo says, find a good MB Indy or Euro shop that knows what they're doing. Or bite the bullet and do it at the dealer.
Do you really need an alignment? Is the car pulling or bad tire wear? Hit a huge pothole? These cars should stay in alignment unless something's happened.
As Mo says, find a good MB Indy or Euro shop that knows what they're doing. Or bite the bullet and do it at the dealer.
Do you really need an alignment? Is the car pulling or bad tire wear? Hit a huge pothole? These cars should stay in alignment unless something's happened.
Thread Starter
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From: Indiana
'94 NSX,'99 NSX Z,'12 C63 Black Series (Prior: '07 E63, '08 CLK63 Black Series,'14 E63-S & 16 C63-S)
Because of the airmatic you need a Romess inclinometer and SDS to set height.
As Mo says, find a good MB Indy or Euro shop that knows what they're doing. Or bite the bullet and do it at the dealer.
Do you really need an alignment? Is the car pulling or bad tire wear? Hit a huge pothole? These cars should stay in alignment unless something's happened.
As Mo says, find a good MB Indy or Euro shop that knows what they're doing. Or bite the bullet and do it at the dealer.
Do you really need an alignment? Is the car pulling or bad tire wear? Hit a huge pothole? These cars should stay in alignment unless something's happened.
Thread Starter
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From: Indiana
'94 NSX,'99 NSX Z,'12 C63 Black Series (Prior: '07 E63, '08 CLK63 Black Series,'14 E63-S & 16 C63-S)
So what the dealer is saying sounds legit then. Is this special tool something that an independent shop can obtain? Also, if the car is aligned without one, is it then not done correctly, and a waste of time and money?
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From: Maryland
a Rivera...via a Custom 24, Strat and Les Paul
I was told by my indy shop to take it only to a MB dealership for alignment because of the reason you stated - my dealership only charged 99.00 so you may want shop around dealerships as well, but honestly, I know it's the principle and all but 70.00 for piece of mind at the speeds you're describing. . .; also, I've known a couple of people who have had NSX's and have let me driven them hard; at 70mph you can feel the increase in down force and they're just PLANTED from then on - I don't know if you're going to replicate that in the 63 but a suggestion may be to get an ELM to lower it to help with front end lift 
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Raleigh NC
2007 E63, 2006 C55
RE: Alignment
While my independent does excellent out of pocket maintenance and repair work for less than the dealer, and has a flashy Bosch alignment machine, my experience has been that only the dealer is able to get alignment 100% on the W211 with airmatic. For reference, my dealer only charges $99.95 for alignment.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: California, USA
E63 P30, CL500 Sport
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Indiana
'94 NSX,'99 NSX Z,'12 C63 Black Series (Prior: '07 E63, '08 CLK63 Black Series,'14 E63-S & 16 C63-S)
I was told by my indy shop to take it only to a MB dealership for alignment because of the reason you stated - my dealership only charged 99.00 so you may want shop around dealerships as well, but honestly, I know it's the principle and all but 70.00 for piece of mind at the speeds you're describing. . .; also, I've known a couple of people who have had NSX's and have let me driven them hard; at 70mph you can feel the increase in down force and they're just PLANTED from then on - I don't know if you're going to replicate that in the 63 but a suggestion may be to get an ELM to lower it to help with front end lift
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 180
From: Indiana
'94 NSX,'99 NSX Z,'12 C63 Black Series (Prior: '07 E63, '08 CLK63 Black Series,'14 E63-S & 16 C63-S)
The consensus seems to be that to get it 100% right, which to me is the only real option, the dealer needs to do it. That is cool with me as long as I know the extra money is being paid for a legitimate reason. It is in there again getting some work done, and I will make sure the car is aligned while it is there. Especially at speed I want to make sure the car is stable, and that the suspension is 100% correct. Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help.
