I need a performance alignment on my '05 Mini JCW. Looking for somewhere in the San Francisco south bay to take her. The Dinan shop in Campbell is one option, but I'm choking a bit on the $200 price tag. Is that what it takes for a quality alignment on these little beasts, or should I look further afield?

Thx.

Alan

 

If you don't get a response here, try the autocrossers at http://www.baautox.com/forum/index.php

 

try giving brracing a call

 

is Custom Alignment in Mountain View. Exceptional work....

Matt

if you choose to go there, let me know. We can fill out a reference card and you get $25 labor, and I do to, next time I go! They've been doing my Mustang and Mini for as long as I've had the cars....

 

give baybridgemotors a call there in Oakland. ask for jaque and tell him ace sent ya.

 

for a "quickie" alignment, it will be much less. But you WILL get what you pay for. I had a $99 alignment done on my car once cause I'd just done camber plates and needed something to get me close so I didn't chew up my tires, and it was a horrible alignment. I could have done better by eye!

Anyway, a good alignment isn't something to skimp on. The reason I say this is because alignement can really change the driving dynamics of a car, and can help tires last or go away fast. Custom Alignment is $250 for a four wheel aligenment, and it's worth every penny. I'm sure there are other good shops out there as well.

What you're looking for is a place to form a long term relationship with. This will evolve over time, where your driving style, wear patterns and the like are learned and explained to you. How your contact patch and tire tread evolves and wears tells TONS about how you drive and how your car is set up for how you drive. A good shop will give you tips about what the tread wear pattern indicates about your driving style, your inflation habits and the like. It pays off over time in that you will get more out of your tires.

As far as choosing a shop, do it based on all your criteria (do you have multiple "sport" cars to have maintained, are they close etc). The upside of Custom Alignment is that they do pretty much every car out there, from Acuras to Zondas, their work is as close to perfect as I've ever seen, they have state of the art equipment and they are pretty close to me. That said, you have to make appointments and they aren't cheap! Another shop may be a better fit for you because of many considerations.

Just don't go cheap on alignment, you will pay for it in tire life and driving engagment.

Matt

 

^+1

Especially on a car whose rear is so difficult to align. I've had more alignments done by supposedly good shops where everything is off by small amounts (even though the paper says its correct). Seems like many shops don't service their alignment equipment correctly or often enough.

Anyone know where to go for replacement of a LCA bushing?

 

+1

 

Thank you all for your inputs. I've contacted BRacing and am awaiting a quote on tire installation and balancing, plus alignment. Curiously, Robb at BRacing wanted my home address before giving me a quote. They're much more convenient for me to get to than Custom Alignment, so I'll probably go with them if the price is reasonable.

Alan

 

What bushing are you going with? I dropped my subframe and took the bushing carriers to a local shop for them to do the press in press out... I dont have a hydrolic press at home...

Really, any decent shop should be able to do the job for you. One that is Mini centric might take a bit less time as they've undoubtedly done them before.

where exactly do you live?

Matt

 

I am in Mountain View near Whisman Station (101/85).

I'd like to go to a shop that has done it before. I don't feel like paying a mechanic to learn how to do it on my car.

I was poking around under the car this weekend changing the oil and the bushing didn't seem to have a lot of play. Then again, I'm no expert. I was thinking of going to BR racing in Los Gatos. They seem to have a nice alignment setup so it would save me a trip (and time w/o the car) to the alignment shop as well.

I usually go to Custom Alignment but the only thing that really needs to be aligned on the car is toe since the suspension is basically stock with the exception of Koni shocks.

 

but keep in mind the real trailing arm mounts are slotted, and toe for the rear is adjustable. Also with your year, I think there are eccentric cams in the rear arms so you have some camber adjustment there as well.

Matt

 

Yep. I am aware. I watched/helped an alignment tech once on a Hunter machine. What a pita to set toe on the rear.

Thanks for the info.

 

I took the Blu_Pug into BR Racing yesterday for installation of my new, non-run flat, tires and an alignment. They have a very well equipped shop, fixed the botched alignment I'd gotten earlier in the year at a less qualified shop, and the cost was VERY reasonable. I'll definitely be going back there in the future.

Alan

PS. Wow! The car rides like a limo now, with the non-run flats, despite the Z rating on the new tires.

 

I just got my car back from B&R also. They checked the control arm bushings (good), did a coolant flush and performed a new alignment w/ my new Bridgestone 760s.

They did great work. Pricing was very fair. Great customer service. The price of the alignment was a downright bargain at $100 using their new super fancy machine. The car drives much better now.