[top ramen]

My local BMW wants to charge a 1 time fee of $199 for a wheel alignment. And that's only for the fronts and not the back since the back are still in spec. If it cost me that much, NTB, Merchants, and tire kingdom have a deal for 3 year alignment for $179 for every 6 month or if needed and transferable to one car if the car is sold before 3 years. Tire rotation also included. They also have one for 5 years for $225.
What are your takes and experience with these auto mechanic franchise?

[lsturbointeg]

I just had mine done at GermanAutoPros a few weeks back for $129 and I'm on coilovers BTW. My dealer would not do it cause I was too low. That price was for both front/back

[top ramen]

I asked a guy at work about if he ever had his 09 335i alignment at one of those places and this is what he told me. He said he got declined because they told him that BMW require some kind of weight to have the car align properly and they don't carry the weights/tools there. Any body ever heard of this craziness.

[Stück]

"Some kind of weight"

Yeah, its called letting the driver sit in the seat while you do the alignment.

Every time I've ever taken anything to a NTB they have damaged the wheels/car in some way and led to a battle. Twice in a row was enough headache for me.

[top ramen]

Never ever going to use National Tire & Battery (NTB) for alignment at all. Went there today to get an alignment done and after waiting in the waiting room for close to 2 hours the tech came in and said they couldn't do the alignment because they couldn't get the back straighten and they haven't even touch the fronts yet. They gave me my keys and said sorry and that my car is off the machine and is waiting for me outside.

Well since they couldn't do it, I googled and found a European shop about 30 miles away and got it done there. After they got done doing the alignment the tech came and asked me if anybody had worked on the car. I said yea I took it to NTB and they said they couldn't do it so that why I brought it here. I asked why and his reply was "they had never tighten the bolts back". I was so heated, I called NTB back about the situation and all the manager said was he couldn't do anything and he was sorry and that he will tell the mechanics to better check their work after they're done. Never ever again. Stuck I should have taken your advice in the first place. Only reason I went there was because of the deal.

[lsturbointeg]

Wow! Good thing those guys found out about the loose bolts! That's just ridiculous what you had to deal with NBT! I had to drive a couple of hours to GermanPros but well worth it!

[kohsin]

Originally Posted by Stück

"Some kind of weight"

Yeah, its called letting the driver sit in the seat while you do the alignment.

Every time I've ever taken anything to a NTB they have damaged the wheels/car in some way and led to a battle. Twice in a row was enough headache for me.

NTB sucks.. I had my car serviced one time there for balancing and rotation. 2 days later, while exiting the highway ramp I heard "clunking" sound from left well so I pulled over and to check. 3 out of the 5 wheel nuts were loose which I can turn them manually. I was so pissed and called to complaint, guess what the guy told me? "why don't you come in so we can tighten them up"
What an idiot..

[top ramen]

Koshin, that's pretty bad. Good that you pulled over, if not your wheels could had come off while doing highway speed and cause some big accident. Did the loose bolts mess up your center bore on the rims. If it did, I will tell them to replace the damage rim. Seems like NTB managers never tries to resolve the problem or satisfied the customers. Maybe going to corporate will resolve the issue.

[top ramen]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

Wow! Good thing those guys found out about the loose bolts! That's just ridiculous what you had to deal with NBT! I had to drive a couple of hours to GermanPros but well worth it!

Yup, I totally understand what you mean when it's well worth it when going to a euro car specialist shop. Those guys just love working on European cars. I came in and they were as friendly as can be. Chill, relax and talked like they knew me for couple years. Very knowledgable, they even asked if I want a all squared up setup or bmw spec which has a little negative camber. But definitely going back to them.

[lsturbointeg]

Originally Posted by kohsin

NTB sucks.. I had my car serviced one time there for balancing and rotation. 2 days later, while exiting the highway ramp I heard "clunking" sound from left well so I pulled over and to check. 3 out of the 5 wheel nuts were loose which I can turn them manually. I was so pissed and called to complaint, guess what the guy told me? "why don't you come in so we can tighten them up"
What an idiot..

I get that all the time especially fast food and drive-thrus when they forget something and you've already driven 3 miles down the road and all they say is "Sorry! But if you would like you can come back for it! " I'm like "NO *UCKTARD! Acknowledge your employee screwed up and tell me for the inconvenience here's a nice cold sundae or something?"

[kohsin]

Originally Posted by tomyang

Koshin, that's pretty bad. Good that you pulled over, if not your wheels could had come off while doing highway speed and cause some big accident. Did the loose bolts mess up your center bore on the rims. If it did, I will tell them to replace the damage rim. Seems like NTB managers never tries to resolve the problem or satisfied the customers. Maybe going to corporate will resolve the issue.

I am sure it will come off for another couple minutes. Fortunately no damage was done. I had the car for another couple months then "lemoned" it due to other issues. The dealer wouldn't take it back until I had Legal rep. I ended up bought a 96 Nissan 300zx. I miss that car..

[Tasmanian]

My dealer wanted $269 for a 4-wheel alignment...after wanting to sell me 2 rear run flats at full retail.

I declined. What is the going dealerr price for a 4-wheel alignment. I am still under warranty, so don't want to screw it up by going to an outsider
.
Thanks

Tasmanian

[lsturbointeg]

Originally Posted by Tasmanian

My dealer wanted $269 for a 4-wheel alignment...after wanting to sell me 2 rear run flats at full retail.

I declined. What is the going dealerr price for a 4-wheel alignment. I am still under warranty, so don't want to screw it up by going to an outsider
.
Thanks

Tasmanian

I think I paid $129 for a 4 wheel

[top ramen]

Tasmanian- I believe $269 is over charging customers. But I think every dealer have different pricing on services and labor fee. Try to find a reputable shop that specialize in European vehicle; they should be cheaper and know what they're doing. Doing alignment elsewhere shouldn't void your warranty.