Is an alignment required if lowering the suspensions?

Day Laborer · 03-12-2018, 04:50 PM

I couldn't find the topic on here, just wondering if a dealership alignment is required once I adjust the suspensions to the track setting.

Also, I lowered it and am not seeing exact measurements between sides, off by a few millimeters.

Thanks!

BarryB · 03-12-2018, 07:14 PM

I've never seen this before but bmw says do alignment then lower. Should be good to go. That's what I did.....

Day Laborer · 03-13-2018, 10:05 AM

After I lowering, I was able to get the ride height on the front rear at or near an exact match.
Everything feels like it drives straight.

P.S. VCP Thanks again for your help!
After driving around a bit more, ground clearance measurements became almost dead even. Thanks so much for your help!!

robbys3m3 · 03-13-2018, 10:38 AM

my tech said the bmw materials said not to align after lowering to track setting. I have no idea why, but we didn't for now. I'm just going to watch wear closely for a while

Day Laborer · 03-13-2018, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbys3m3

my tech said the bmw materials said not to align after lowering to track setting. I have no idea why, but we didn't for now. I'm just going to watch wear closely for a while

Thank you!

Measuring both sides of the rear and fronts from the jack points, it appears to be pretty even at 5 1/4" (rears) and 4 1/2" (fronts)

I'm hoping we are good.

Thanks!

MicaCeli · 03-13-2018, 01:23 PM

The answer is yes.

I honestly don't know the way that the f8x suspension geometry responds to compression, meaning if you compress the front suspension does it toe in/out and/or camber in/out? Same for rear. Usually toe and or camber changes depending on suspension travel and geometry.

Usually when changing the ride height Toe settings will be change, which will exaggerate inner tire wear. If the front toe settings change the same, your car will still drive straight. Rear toe settings you most likely will not feel, they would have to be off but a good amount for you to feel the difference.

I would let it settle for 2 weeks or so and get a good alignment from a shop that can dial it the suspension exactly and not "within range"

Jaymax85 · 03-13-2018, 01:52 PM

always align, always

VCP · 03-13-2018, 04:19 PM

Very welcome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

After I lowering, I was able to get the ride height on the front rear at or near an exact match.
Everything feels like it drives straight.

P.S. VCP Thanks again for your help!
After driving around a bit more, ground clearance measurements became almost dead even. Thanks so much for your help!!

VCP · 03-13-2018, 04:23 PM

The GTS was aligned and corner balanced at the lower collar setting on your struts. As long as you are set against those collars you are good to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbys3m3

my tech said the bmw materials said not to align after lowering to track setting. I have no idea why, but we didn't for now. I'm just going to watch wear closely for a while

Quote:

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

Thank you!

Measuring both sides of the rear and fronts from the jack points, it appears to be pretty even at 5 1/4" (rears) and 4 1/2" (fronts)

I'm hoping we are good.

Thanks!

Day Laborer · 03-13-2018, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCP

The GTS was aligned and corner balanced at the lower collar setting on your struts. As long as you are set against those collars you are good to go.

Its funny that once I drove it around enough that the gas was at half full and allowed the suspension to settle (40 miles); it went from one side being 1/8th of an inch off, to being perfect !

I'm about 170 lbs as well, and I am guessing BMW corner balanced this with a half a tank of gas with a driver similar to my weight

schnell325 · 03-13-2018, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

I'm about 170 lbs as well, and I am guessing BMW corner balanced this with a half a tank of gas with a driver similar to my weight

Damn. Either I go on a massive diet or VCP has to adjust my coils

VCP · 03-13-2018, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schnell325

Quote:

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

I'm about 170 lbs as well, and I am guessing BMW corner balanced this with a half a tank of gas with a driver similar to my weight

Damn. Either I go on a massive diet or VCP has to adjust my coils

Haha the truth will surface when you stand on my scale before the GTS goes on the scales

schnell325 · 03-13-2018, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCP

Haha the truth will surface when you stand on my scale before the GTS goes on the scales

Ah shit

M4_GTS · 03-14-2018, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schnell325

Damn. Either I go on a massive diet or VCP has to adjust my coils

Looks like my diet is not "massive" enough.

Back to the gym I go...

1bmwaddict · 03-15-2018, 12:24 AM

Remove the "collar" and drop it. btw how low is your GTS?

BMW9 · 04-01-2018, 12:05 AM

This is out of the GTS supplementary manual. Are they saying alignment changes are harmonious with lowering the car but check it anyway to be sure? It's somewhat contradictory.

RandyC54 · 04-01-2018, 08:02 AM

If you leave the car in the lower track mode setting, the next time it's aligned it will be at the lowered setting. It's fine to align it any time.

Captain Unknown GT4 · 04-01-2018, 08:22 AM

If you are only using them 2 factory setting BMW set up, street or track you never need to align.

But that do not mean you should skip to check your cars alignment now and then so its not out of place due to hard curbing or what not. In the same way one need to always make sure bolts it locked tight, need to check that as well in between trackdays. I never ever aligned my car going up and down in the 2 factorysettings. Sure, I check for safety and alignment have not moved out of place.

Dyl360 · 04-02-2018, 02:02 AM

It looks like the alignments change by a known value when lowered by the stated amount. Therefore, if the street alignment was correct at street height, it will now be correct at track height albeit different.

Whether the alignment settings are right for your driving preferences and the track you’re on is another question but they should be at the bmw recommended settings.

A coil sprung suspension system will always take a few miles to settle in height after adjustment.

03-12-2018, 04:50 PM	#1
Day Laborer Lieutenant Colonel 1746 Rep 1,889 Posts Drives: M5 CS / iX 50i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY, NY, CT, PA, MD, VA, DE, FL iTrader: (11) Garage List [0.00]	Is an alignment required if lowering the suspensions? I couldn't find the topic on here, just wondering if a dealership alignment is required once I adjust the suspensions to the track setting. Also, I lowered it and am not seeing exact measurements between sides, off by a few millimeters. Thanks! __________________ https://www.instagram.com/day_laborer/ *(DM me from this account)* Email: nextlevelautobrokersdc@gmail.com Part-time with Next Level Auto Brokers, LLC https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelautobrokers/ Last edited by Day Laborer; 03-12-2018 at 06:06 PM..
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03-12-2018, 07:14 PM	#2
BarryB Lieutenant Colonel 868 Rep 1,758 Posts Drives: 30Jahre M5 plus a few more M's Join Date: May 2012 Location: Palo Alto CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW M5 CS [0.00] 2020 BMW M340i Xdrive [0.00] 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00] 2003 BMW DINAN S3 M5 [0.00] 2017 BMW 30 Jahre M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 GTS [0.00] 2015 BMW 30 Jahre M5 [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00]	I've never seen this before but bmw says do alignment then lower. Should be good to go. That's what I did..... __________________ Current non-BMW's 20 Jeep Grand Cherokee 03 Cooper S (Maxi Tuned 50bhp) 60 Impala (43k orig mi) 15 Turbo S (Kobb tune and Kline exhaust)
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03-13-2018, 10:05 AM	#3
Day Laborer Lieutenant Colonel 1746 Rep 1,889 Posts Drives: M5 CS / iX 50i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY, NY, CT, PA, MD, VA, DE, FL iTrader: (11) Garage List [0.00]	After I lowering, I was able to get the ride height on the front rear at or near an exact match. Everything feels like it drives straight. P.S. VCP Thanks again for your help! After driving around a bit more, ground clearance measurements became almost dead even. Thanks so much for your help!! __________________ https://www.instagram.com/day_laborer/ *(DM me from this account)* Email: nextlevelautobrokersdc@gmail.com Part-time with Next Level Auto Brokers, LLC https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelautobrokers/ Last edited by Day Laborer; 03-13-2018 at 12:36 PM..
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03-13-2018, 10:38 AM	#4
robbys3m3 Lieutenant Colonel 1941 Rep 1,552 Posts Drives: M3's Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tulsa, OK iTrader: (1)	my tech said the bmw materials said not to align after lowering to track setting. I have no idea why, but we didn't for now. I'm just going to watch wear closely for a while __________________ 2020 M2 CS, 2018 M3 CS, 2016 M4 GTS, 2013 M3 LRP, 2011 1M, 2011 M3 GTRS3, 2004 M3, 2002 M3, 2000 M Coupe, 2002 M5, 1997 M3, 1988 M3, 2022 STO, 2020 Urus, 2022 TRX, 2022 392, 2021 SVJ, 2018 Performante, 2013 Gallardo 550-2, 2012 Gallardo STS, 2018 R8 RWS, 2012 R8, 2017 G550 4X4^2, 2015 GT3, 2015 Continental GT3R, 1971 Bronco
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03-13-2018, 01:23 PM	#6
MicaCeli First Lieutenant 186 Rep 339 Posts Drives: 07 e90 335i Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ellicott City, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2000 996 C4 [0.00] 2007 335i [0.00] 2001 B5 S4 Avant [0.00]	The answer is yes. I honestly don't know the way that the f8x suspension geometry responds to compression, meaning if you compress the front suspension does it toe in/out and/or camber in/out? Same for rear. Usually toe and or camber changes depending on suspension travel and geometry. Usually when changing the ride height Toe settings will be change, which will exaggerate inner tire wear. If the front toe settings change the same, your car will still drive straight. Rear toe settings you most likely will not feel, they would have to be off but a good amount for you to feel the difference. I would let it settle for 2 weeks or so and get a good alignment from a shop that can dial it the suspension exactly and not "within range"
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03-13-2018, 01:52 PM	#7
Jaymax85 Addicted to Speed. 711 Rep 2,375 Posts Drives: m3 zcp, macan GTS, f15 x5 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: 'Murica iTrader: (5)	always align, always __________________ 2017 991.2s 2015 F15 35i 2017 Macan gts
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03-15-2018, 12:24 AM	#15
1bmwaddict No music no life.... 786 Rep 711 Posts Drives: 22" F95 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: West Palm Beach iTrader: (3)	Remove the "collar" and drop it. btw how low is your GTS? Attached Images __________________ RETIRED: '18 SMB M3CS RETIRED: '16 MB M4GTS RETIRED: '16 BLK M2
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04-01-2018, 12:05 AM	#16
BMW9 Second Lieutenant 53 Rep 234 Posts Drives: BMW M4 / Nissan GTR Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	This is out of the GTS supplementary manual. Are they saying alignment changes are harmonious with lowering the car but check it anyway to be sure? It's somewhat contradictory. Attached Images
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04-01-2018, 08:02 AM	#17
RandyC54 Salty Middle Aged Dog 142 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 GTS Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (0)	If you leave the car in the lower track mode setting, the next time it's aligned it will be at the lowered setting. It's fine to align it any time. __________________ 2018 Porsche GT2 RS, Black 2018 Mercedes GLS63 AMG, Black, DD and TV 1997 BMW E31 840i, Black (fully restored!!)
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04-01-2018, 08:22 AM	#18
Captain Unknown GT4 Captain 557 Rep 762 Posts Drives: GT4 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	If you are only using them 2 factory setting BMW set up, street or track you never need to align. But that do not mean you should skip to check your cars alignment now and then so its not out of place due to hard curbing or what not. In the same way one need to always make sure bolts it locked tight, need to check that as well in between trackdays. I never ever aligned my car going up and down in the 2 factorysettings. Sure, I check for safety and alignment have not moved out of place. Last edited by Captain Unknown GT4; 04-02-2018 at 11:40 AM..
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04-02-2018, 02:02 AM	#19
Dyl360 New Member 6 Rep 29 Posts Drives: M4, 540ci camaro. Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	It looks like the alignments change by a known value when lowered by the stated amount. Therefore, if the street alignment was correct at street height, it will now be correct at track height albeit different. Whether the alignment settings are right for your driving preferences and the track you’re on is another question but they should be at the bmw recommended settings. A coil sprung suspension system will always take a few miles to settle in height after adjustment.
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