Coventry area 4 wheel geometry check

[dave.partridge]

Is there anywhere in Coventry area (apart from MB Coventry) who has the equipment and skills to do a PROPER 4 wheel geometry check/adjust of a W210 E320CDI?

Note: This vehicle has SPORT suspension fitted.

Why? Front tyre wear on inside edge, had toe-in/out checked at local tyre fitters and they said OK, take it to MB for a proper check especially camber angle. But don't trust MB Coventry to do a proper job or charge a fair price (long story involving £800 for what was in the end the battery).

FWIW mileage is about 80K, I guess wishbone bushes might be an issue too ...

Thanks, Dave

 

[BlackC55]

The only people in my experience that can do a PROPER wheel alignment are MB dealers. Take it to another dealer if you are not happy with your current one.

Their equipment is built for MB's

 

[Ian_C]

I have to agree. I took mine to a place where it cost £30 and I got a nice print out of all the wheel settings..BUT the cars are not that straight forward (as I understand it). The car needs a few settings dialing in so as when on the Motorway they don't pull one way or the other...

I too and thinking of biting the bullet and getting Merc to do it. If I do (at there costs) I will specify what I want the geo check and adjustment for and what I expect becuase of it.

I have to say apart from the cost, MB service has been a good experience (not as fun as ther W124 Works one though )

Cheers

Ian

 

[Rory]

Anything of interest here:
http://www.pro-align.co.uk/

Click on wheel alignment and then there's a link to find your nearest centre.

Don't know anything about any of these places, so feedback if you choose one would be welcome!

I believe the car has to be weighted to do it properly, so that might be a good test to see if they know what they're doing.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I think these guys do it - Perry Barr (Birmingham) shouldn't be too far away.

Never done an alignment for me - MB dealer over £200 IIRC - but I have bought two sets of tyres from them, and I was impressed overall with the service.

http://www.bmtr.co.uk/contact.htm

 

[ADY1983]

The only people in my experience that can do a PROPER wheel alignment are MB dealers. Take it to another dealer if you are not happy with your current one.

Their equipment is built for MB's

They couldn't do mine, I have got to take bits off the car for them to be able to do it...

 

[Pietre]

I had mine done by my local tyre dealer. they even do it for the local Audi garage who pay them the £40 and then charge the customer at their hourly rate, not a bad profit if you can do it. It took 40 mins for the check, and there are special bolts to buy if it needs adjusting. It gives you the Merc P/No's at £10 a bolt

 

[GrahamC230K]

I had mine done by my local tyre dealer. they even do it for the local Audi garage who pay them the £40 and then charge the customer at their hourly rate, not a bad profit if you can do it. It took 40 mins for the check, and there are special bolts to buy if it needs adjusting. It gives you the Merc P/No's at £10 a bolt

They must have a Beissbarth four wheel alignment machine as this is what VAG would use.

I know an independant with one and they charge FROM about £45+vat where a dealer would be about £180.

 

[Goldfish11]

Try TW Tyres, Paynes Lane in Rugby. I was in there a few weeks ago and they claim they can do this. They used to fit all the tyres for Mitsubushi Rally Art (the Rally Team) when they were based in Rugby a few years ago and they are honest chaps with excellent customer service.

 

[rajinder_1]

There is also a place in Warwick, silverstone or silverline wheels, they did check mine although im not sure if they have all the right stuff.

I know a guy from MB coventry if you want his tel number?

He will at least tell you what needs to be done and if anyone else around here can do it?

Raj

 

[carlsson 986]

W210 Estate geometry

I am currently in MB Birmingham having my E320 CDI Avantgarde estate geometry being done again!

This stems from the car shredding the front nearside tyre on the inside shoulder on what was otherwise a good tyre having covered 16000 miles since the end of January. The rear nearside too was found to be similarly on the way out and has had to be replaced. I apparently have potholed the car causing the problem, but this is unbeknown to me and I'm the driver! A second replacement tyre lasted 300 miles and it is now also scrap. All the wear on inside shoulder through to canvas.

The car runs on 18" MB rims 8 or 8.5" front (I can't remember) and 9" rears shod with Avon tyres. The car was bought second hand and came with factory AMG spec set up but for 16" rims according to the build sheet and I feel I am getting the proverbial run around because I am being told that my 18" rims will not suit the car and the tyres are not MB approved - I thought the whole point of having a geometry set up was to suit the rims on the car! This is therefore a load of tosh (polite) and I need some ammunition to get them to set the car up properly.

So what would cause such a dramatic change in the tyres after 16K uneventful motorway miles - the usual suspects, camber, castor, toe in/out etc come to mind but the adjustment schedule from MB shows all settings were originall within the tolerances set by MB, with only minor adjustment, and the left front had the same reading before and after??? So what did they do?

Yours - Perplexed

Ric

 

[carlsson 986]

W210 Estate Geometry

Sorry - can administrator please move to suspension section!!

Ric

 

[Hi-Ho Silver]

MB asked over £200 for a four wheel alignment.

 

[Deker]

I've got a similar problem on mine after a Mercedes approved repairer got hold of it, they've even given a 'guestimate' of around £1000 for to fix their problems so I'm off to Wheels-in-motion next week to have it sorted

 

[carlsson 986]

Deker Hi,

Thanks for your post.

Just to let you know this thread is continuing under the Wheels & Tyres section. Why is this such a problem - can't the cars be set up once properly?

Ric

 

[sirius9]

I had mine done by my local tyre dealer. they even do it for the local Audi garage who pay them the £40 and then charge the customer at their hourly rate, not a bad profit if you can do it. It took 40 mins for the check, and there are special bolts to buy if it needs adjusting. It gives you the Merc P/No's at £10 a bolt

Which local tyre dealer in Portsmouth did you use?

cheers.