I'll tell you one thing. Watching the mechanic waving a welding torch underneath to loosen bolts and listening to various tortured nuts moving for the first time in years is giving me a bad case of nervous indigestion 
Some Pics... Pre- and Post-Eibachs :-)
- Thread starter Bing
- Start date
Well the Alpina "lack of knowledge" bug bites again. Despite asking if they knew the geometry settings, they've set it up as an M. The toe-in is now neutral compared to the toe-in set-up it had before. The steering is a lot more sensitive than before so I think I'll see how I get on with it. I did have the offside back wheel with over a degree more negative camber than the nearside, which probably wasn't helping things.
Best of all though, the steering wheel is now straight!
Best of all though, the steering wheel is now straight!
Good news Stu 
Got mine back. Happy, feels great, looks the nuts... And I know
:worthless:
...but it is now pi$$ing down outside, so I'll wait until later to see if it eases off. If it doesn't then I'll take some anyway, of course. I also learned two things :
1. There is still some rubbing with the 15mm spacers at the front, though only on full lock - they actually had to put them back on as it was worse without the spacers. Weird. The chap suggested lower profile tyres for the front, otherwise live with it.
2. The MacGuard locking wheel nuts that were "specially machined" for my spacers are actually too short. They're only screwed in by 2 or 3 threads. So I need to change them :x
In for alignment tomorrow morning, after which I too should have a straight steering wheel
Got mine back. Happy, feels great, looks the nuts... And I know
:worthless:
...but it is now pi$$ing down outside, so I'll wait until later to see if it eases off. If it doesn't then I'll take some anyway, of course. I also learned two things :
1. There is still some rubbing with the 15mm spacers at the front, though only on full lock - they actually had to put them back on as it was worse without the spacers. Weird. The chap suggested lower profile tyres for the front, otherwise live with it.
2. The MacGuard locking wheel nuts that were "specially machined" for my spacers are actually too short. They're only screwed in by 2 or 3 threads. So I need to change them :x
In for alignment tomorrow morning, after which I too should have a straight steering wheel
Bing said:
Mate, that's dangerous!
Hope you're not planning on the Scotland run with those installed...
Stuart Truman said:Bing said:
Mate, that's dangerous!
I've got some longer bolts for the back already, chap is going to sort out some the right size for the front tomorrow
I will just be without locking wheel bolts for a while, which should be fine in the short term as it is garaged. Funny though, over 80mph I was getting a very slight judder that wasn't coming through the steering wheel, so the threaded one on the back was definitely causing some issues by not being tight. Gone now tested it earlier :evil:
Should also add, had the brake fluid changed too - can't say it has transformed the braking, but it definitely feels like they've got a bit more feeling - is this normal, or am I imagining it ?
Bing said:Good news Stu
1. There is still some rubbing with the 15mm spacers at the front, though only on full lock - they actually had to put them back on as it was worse without the spacers. Weird. The chap suggested lower profile tyres for the front, otherwise live with it.
Rubbing on stock tyres with 108's
My profile tyre up front is actually taller 235/35/19 (should really have 225/35/19) and i have no rubbing!
How much is your alignment setting you back?
Mine settle quite a lot after first being fitted... the rear tyres are almost inside the arches! Wasnt like that when i first got it back!
aquazi said:Rubbing on stock tyres with 108's
My profile tyre up front is actually taller 235/35/19 (should really have 225/35/19) and i have no rubbing!
How much is your alignment setting you back?
Mine settle quite a lot after first being fitted... the rear tyres are almost inside the arches! Wasnt like that when i first got it back!
Tyres on the front of mine are 225/40/18, so completely stock. I was getting rubbing before, worse on the driver's side, and as that is the side that appears to have had an impact in the past then I suspect the alignment has something to do with it. I'll find out tomorrow.
Mine has settled at the back already until the tyres are pretty much in the arches - they were bought from a forum member so are used, which may have something to do with it. Looks sweet
Bing........ :worthless:
Right, before and after pics below... . I am crap with taking photos at the same angle, but the difference is pretty obvious anyway :
Before :
After :
Before :
After :
Close ups after :
Unfortunately the supermarket was still open tonight, so the CCTV idea is out - angles would be even more wrong
Have to say looks-wise it is just about perfect... Certainly wouldn't want it any lower. Not sure what my winter 17s will look like, though they have a lot more rubber on them being 225/40/17 all round (I think).
So, opinions ?
Before :
After :
Before :
After :
Close ups after :
Unfortunately the supermarket was still open tonight, so the CCTV idea is out - angles would be even more wrong
Have to say looks-wise it is just about perfect... Certainly wouldn't want it any lower. Not sure what my winter 17s will look like, though they have a lot more rubber on them being 225/40/17 all round (I think).
So, opinions ?
It's subtle, I like it
Well, it's only a 15mm drop compared to the Sport springs, but you can't see over the tyre at all at the rear now, from any angle (unlike the first pic) and the front looks awesome IMO. The front of the rear arch is close to looking our of shape now, but I am thinking that aero skirts may sort that by providing a distraction :wink:
A
Anonymous
Guest
Looks the Mutts Nuts Bing, looking forward too seeing it in the metal.
Btw hope you noticed How Mr Truman managed to get into your thread that he owns an Alpina
looking forward too seeing it in the metal.Btw hope you noticed How Mr Truman managed to get into your thread that he owns an Alpina
tomscott said:Looks awesome bing! Very aggressive! I vote keep the 108s
Thanks Tom - looks proper, right ? sars' comments got me thinking about 19s (thanks sars :roll: ), but the ride quality reduction would be too much for a car I use every day. The 17s are just for winter, not a permanent change. I do love my 108s, so they are staying
@ Nosa - yup likewise, and yes I did. He even posted a photo of it
However it was an ass shot, so he's forgiven