Does anyone else think this sucks?

[mblaber]

I purchased a 135i in May (took delivery at the BMW performance center). In June I took it in for the seatbelt recall (to apparently cut some insulation around the seatbelt attachment). The car had 2,500 miles. The dealer said the alignment was off and they wanted $150 to inspect (not repair, just inspect). They said if I had brought it in with less than 2,000 miles any alignment would be free, but that now I had to pay for it (assuming it needed it). I told them:
1. Its a brand new car, I have not hit anything, if the alignment is off then it came that way
2. No one at BMW performance center said anything about a 2,000 mile grace period on any necessary adjustments such as alignment

They told me, too bad!
This is my first BMW. If I wanted this type of experience I would buy a GM car.

[jhuber]

wow that does suck, I thought that type of service was covered under our warranty...

[KingOfJericho]

Why don't you just take it to an actual alignment shop and get it done for less than their diagnostic cost?

[Trowa]

posting twice is not cool

[1seriesfan]

Originally Posted by jhuber

wow that does suck, I thought that type of service was covered under our warranty...

Nope, alignments are not covered under warranty. I found that out some time ago. My 3-Series ate the first set of tires before I knew it and they wouldn't help me out a bit. They told me the same thing, "maybe I hit something" (which I didn't).

By the way, I bought a set of tires from Tire Rack and took them to a local shop just so they wouldn't get the sale! I did want them to do the alignment though because I thought since they do them all day long, I'd get a quality job. Just gritted my teeth and shelled out the alignment cash. Next time though...!

I've also seen some other similar posts here in the past, I'm not so sure BMW does a good job of aligning cars out of the factory. Perhaps I'm wrong but I'd like to hear something to change my theory.

[Dackelone]

OP, some thing like this are standard auto industry practices. Most every car manufacture does NOT cover adjustments under their factory warranty. After a few thousand miles you are on your own dime.

Now... maybe a dealer who you bouht your car from might "eat" that aligment costs (under a good will) and make a customer for life. But now adays... most will just say pay up or have a nice day with your out of wack toe/alignment. Very few dealers will do the right thing these days.

IF I were you.... I would try another dealer and see what they say. Don't say anything about the first dealer. Just say your car's steering/alinment feels strange.

Good Luck.

[mleskovar]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

OP, some thing like this are standard auto industry practices. ....

My C320 Mercedes came with 1 year/12K miles alignment. I'm surprised no one has asked the question.....how was the car handling and how was the tire wear after 2500 miles that they knew it needed alignment? I call on the dealer claiming alignment is off. What made them check it other than wanting to screw you for the $$$??... Stealerships.

[KJG15]

Just picked my 135i Vert from the dealer after an alignment, at about 8K miles.... $192 later. With the RE050 rft's pretty much shot, and not wearing evenly, it was clear that alignment was a likely issue. The dealer maintained that the front wasn't too bad, but the rear was more out of spec.

Although it's been tough in my part of the planet to avoid rough roads altogether, I haven't been crashing into potholes, and in fact, have been pretty cautious about driving on really horrid roads. My suspicion is like others - that BMW doesn't do a great job of setting the alignment from the factory.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by mblaber

They told me, too bad!
This is my first BMW. If I wanted this type of experience I would buy a GM car.

You wouldn't get this with a GM car. They cover alignment for 12k miles, and the rest of the powertrain for 100k.

[Ash83]

this is a massive BS... I know this happened to a lot of people with new cars but for god sake your car has only 2,500 miles on it and you drove it from PC..

I would contact BMWNA and bitch about it and say that Audi/Mercedes dealers in your area will cover this for the first 6K miles because if you had a bad alignment from the beginning you will never find it till it eats your tire..unless you cary a laser test tool in your pocket and you checked the car before you took delivery..

[Freakazoid]

try another dealership.... i'm hoping there's at least one decent one in the area

[SupremePower3335]

I have the same issue with mine..while it's too early to tell if it's wearing my tires I can definitley feel the car pull to one side if I let the steering wheel go...good thing I read this post...what did people do without forums??

[BrokenVert]

Never go tothe dealer for an alignment. I got one once and not ony was the steering wheels off center, but the car pulled to the left something fierce.

I now go to an alignment shop that my uncle uses for his 8 1/2 second chevy. They do much better work