Kwik Fit Klowns

[TitanTim]

My only experience of KwikFit is having them jack up my MR2 and bending a suspension strut, suffice to say I took it to Toyota after that. I wouldn't use Halfords either as a friend took her Z3 to have a blutooth kit fitted. Result was they forced the electric hood down manually snapping the hood brace. They fixed it using cable ties and string and didn't say a word.

Moral is an indy or BMW are expensive for a reason.

Tim.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Just for the record I checked TIS and all models with standard or M sport suspension are quoted as requiring the following weighting. (Does not include 2.0's as my TIS info did not cover them)

68kg weight in each front seat. Seats set to centre position
14kg weight in boot
Full tank of fuel

Ride height checked and set to spec +/-2mm
Tyre pressures correct


The guys who did mine are so used to this weighting on BMW and other cars they have several water containers ready and just stand them in the correct combination on seats and in the boot.

 

[Geezah]

Thanks for all the info cj, I now feel informed to specify how I want the car alignment to be carried out, Weighted! Although as mine is a 2.0,SE I can't use your weights exactly I presume?

Can't seem to find specific info for the 2.0 SE model anywhere, any ideas? I imagine that the weighting will be markedly different as indeed the tyre pressures are, much lower for the 2.0 SE (F 29 psi, rear 32 psi) than for the meatier Z4s.

Problem is actually finding a 'pro' round these parts. East coast Scotland. Guys that were recommended to me say weights not required.

 

[andysat]

I am surprised Kwik Fit did not damage/mark the alloys faffing!

 

[swanicyouth]

Um. I used to do alignments on a Hunter rack. I can tell you 95% of alignment guys are "set the toe & let it go" clowns. I'm not familiar with that place in the UK, but if they don't have a tool for the rear adjustments of a BMW 3 series they are likely hacks.

There are a lot of "special tools" for BMWs. Many of these special tools may make your life easier, but aren't essential. It may have changed, but I can't thing of any "special tools" and pro couldn't work around.

I never sent anyone packing due to a "special tool". Go to the BMW dealer and PRAY they know what they are doing. At least there you are likely to have some recourse if they screw it up.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Thanks for all the info cj, I now feel informed to specify how I want the car alignment to be carried out, Weighted! Although as mine is a 2.0,SE I can't use your weights exactly I presume?

Can't seem to find specific info for the 2.0 SE model anywhere, any ideas? I imagine that the weighting will be markedly different as indeed the tyre pressures are, much lower for the 2.0 SE (F 29 psi, rear 32 psi) than for the meatier Z4s.

Problem is actually finding a 'pro' round these parts. East coast Scotland. Guys that were recommended to me say weights not required.

I'm sure the 2.0 will be the same as it uses the same springs and suspension components of wishbones, bushes, etc. I'm just being ultra careful not to give you wrong data.

As an aside each time I've taken my car to one of 2 different places they always start with a printout of how the current set up is and advise what they would do to correct it. Lots of us have posted this stuff on the forum for viewing.

 

[Dazz84z]

Did Cheshams weight it and did they use the Hunter system?

They have a hunter hawkeye system and the ability to ballast the car. Also bounced the car with the equipment fitted to find toe tendency and took the car for a road test before handing back the keys.