Anything "special" about wheel alignment?

[From5toM]

Hi all. I am a 1st time owner and have a 2017 F80 comp beauty since this summer, and I noticed that it is drifting (versus "pulling"?) ever so slightly to the right on the highway/road.

I called my trusted shop around here to schedule an alignment and he stated that he couldn't do them because the BMW's had something "special" that had to be done to them for an alignment. Is there any truth to this? I can't imagine this alignment is any different from any other vehicle. I know a 4 wheel alignment is probably needed per spec, but...

Anyways I would appreciate any comments on this. Am trying to avoid having to go to a dealership for obvious reasons, but if I have to I have to.

Thanks

[CT_M3]

Lots of threads on this topic.

Here’s one.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1755263

[From5toM]

Originally Posted by CT_M3

Lots of threads on this topic.

Here's one.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1755263

Thank for this info. So there's a service bulletin for this issue? My question is, if it's a service bulletin, why is the dealership charging for flashing the software if it's a BMW issue?

[alex2364]

There is nothing special with F8x alignments. Your shop may have been thinking about BMWs with active steering that requires special procedures but ours cars don't have that.

[xxHRxx]

Probably just take it to the BMW service instead of indy shop. I have some shop telling me they do not have the spec to do wheel alignment on M as well.

Last time I do wheel alignment is after I hitting a curb. The car drives fine but I still contact the BMW service department to do the alignment just to make sure everything's ok. Ended up replacing the lower control arm and cost me 2k+. My car is in good shape but my wallet hurts.

[From5toM]

Update... I rotated the front tires left and right. I drove it on the highway (4 lane) just now. On the right lane, I eventually drift right. On the left lane, I eventually drift left. To me, that tells me it "was" a tire issue, if it was even an issue. Meaning, I think the alignment is fine and everything's good. I verified it with the tech advisor I called at the dealership. I think these vehicles are just so "tight" suspension-wise, and I'm not used to that. It's so sensitive to road shapes and undulations that any imperfection manifests itself on eventual drifting direction.

Originally Posted by alex2364

There is nothing special with F8x alignments. Your shop may have been thinking about BMWs with active steering that requires special procedures but ours cars don't have that.

Thank you... that's what I thought. I was able to talk to the local dealership and they're actually pretty nice and knowledgeable. They said that indeed, some BMW's have the active steering but ours don't... and that's the reason why the shop was worried.

Originally Posted by xxxHRxxx

Probably just take it to the BMW service instead of indy shop. I have some shop telling me they do not have the spec to do wheel alignment on M as well.

Last time I do wheel alignment is after I hitting a curb. The car drives fine but I still contact the BMW service department to do the alignment just to make sure everything's ok. Ended up replacing the lower control arm and cost me 2k+. My car is in good shape but my wallet hurts.

Luckily, I haven't had a curb encounter like that. Sorry to hear your situation.

[e90coast]

Pep boys

[From5toM]

Originally Posted by e90coast

Pep boys

?