OT: Poor state of affairs - Garage chimps...

[e34.535i.sport]

So I finally got round to taking the car in to get the front wheels aligned (tracking) today... Took it to a couple of places who refused to do it because it needs 'special weighting' or some rubbish - I said I couldn't care less just get it as close as poss as I've changed out all the front end parts (arms/shocks etc)... They said it wasn't happening.

So I take it to a big place nearby that specialises in tires/alignment/balancing etc and they throw it straight on the ramps (well I did)... and put the laser guides on. It's out a fair whack.

The guy lifts it up and stands underneath for a while looking around. I'm watching him as he fumbles around looking bewildered... I tell him it should be pretty simple with the new track rod ends and such... He hasn't got a clue what I'm talking about. A couple of minutes later he goes to get someone else to help him... After a while they start trying to undo the self locking nuts with one spanner. By this point I'm getting worried and pissed off so I try to explain to the less than average intelligence fellow how to do it. He still hasn't got an igloo so has to get the manager to come and show him how it's done. I stood back and watched as it took three guys to sort out the alignment when a chimp could do it and I thought to myself - what a world it is we live in.

The simple job ended up taking about 20-25 minutes out of my day while she's guzzling away up there and I ended up paying £23.50 for the privilege!

[BigKriss]

hmmmm, i can't understand what's to hard about adjusting tie rods either.

[Ferret]

hmmmm, i can't understand what's to hard about adjusting tie rods either.

Last time I took mine in after replacing the whole steering set, the poor guy doing the alignment was throwing spanners across the garage cos he couldnt get it to line up.

It was so far out when I took it in that it took three attempts on the ramps to get it tracking straight and in alignment. Really got my 25 quids worth of value out of them on that job.

They did try and charge me £35 for having to do a 'prestige' rack and pinion car... but they were kinda stumped when I pointed out it doesnt have rack and pinion steering.

Mucking Fuppets

The steering was fun:


Some of these places really need to get their guys trained up, I usually wont leave my car while they're working on it - I've had some bad run ins with partially trained chimps in kwik fit and the like!

[Ross]

Tire stores must be the same there as here, only yank mucking fuppets.
Special weighting consists of weighting the car to simulate a driver and passenger on board. Last time I read the newspaper in the driver's seat while the muppets toyed. To no avail as the job was botched anyway.
"while she was guzzling away"? You left it running? Is this their interpretation of "special weighting"?
All that can be adjusted is toe anyway. Look up your countryman BarneyPaulEdwards. I suspect he can do it with a measured length of rope and some rocks.

[BigKriss]

wow, Australia must actually be ahead the rest of the world because I've never had problems before.

yeah there was a link a few months to doing the wheel alignment DIY. I wonder where it is now?

[shogun]

http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showt...light=trakrite

[Ken35i]

I used 3 string lines and a measuring tape to do mine. TURNed out great.

[E34-520iSE]

I did mine with a length of timber nearly a year ago - I still can't see any shoulder wear on the front tyres!

Cheers,

Shaun M

[e34.535i.sport]

Tire stores must be the same there as here, only yank mucking fuppets.
Special weighting consists of weighting the car to simulate a driver and passenger on board. Last time I read the newspaper in the driver's seat while the muppets toyed. To no avail as the job was botched anyway.
"while she was guzzling away"? You left it running? Is this their interpretation of "special weighting"?
All that can be adjusted is toe anyway. Look up your countryman BarneyPaulEdwards. I suspect he can do it with a measured length of rope and some rocks.

Yeah they always say to leave them running... Not too sure why?

[whiskychaser]

'Dad, do you know the E34's on my foot?' 'You hum it son and I'll play it!'

I've got some string. Must ask BPE what the rocks are for...