Anyone elses car having alignment problems? I bought my 02 mcs used and it had 2 new tires up front. Ever since I picked it up it has had a very annoying alignment issue.Let go of the wheel, and it will rather quickly go left.The steering wheel isn't quite straight either.I know this can probably be resolved completely with a trip to my alignment shop, but I was just wondering if anyone else has had similiar problems with theirs.

 

I just had mine realigned on Tuesday. The toe was off which caused the steering wheel to sit crooked when driving straight. The car would go straight down the road if I let go of the wheel but the steering wheel itself sat crooked. Now that I've had a realignment, all is very happy again! :smile:

 

Yopu bought it used?? Is it still under warranty?
If it is bring it in.

 

>> Anyone elses car having alignment problems? I bought my 02 mcs used and it had 2 new tires up front. Ever since I picked it up it has had a very annoying alignment issue.Let go of the wheel, and it will rather quickly go left.The steering wheel isn't quite straight either.I know this can probably be resolved completely with a trip to my alignment shop, but I was just wondering if anyone else has had similiar problems with theirs.

Yup, my dealer said it was caused by the runflat tire design and the crown in the roads we drive on. He told me to get out of the passing lane and see if it pulled left when I was on the right hand side of the road -- he was right, at least in my case.

 

He told me to get out of the passing lane

but MINIs were made to ride the passing lane :???:

 

>> Anyone elses car having alignment problems? I bought my 02 mcs used and it had 2 new tires up front. Ever since I picked it up it has had a very annoying alignment issue.Let go of the wheel, and it will rather quickly go left.The steering wheel isn't quite straight either.I know this can probably be resolved completely with a trip to my alignment shop, but I was just wondering if anyone else has had similiar problems with theirs.


First of all check the build date on the manufacturer
s sticker located in the driver's side door jamb. If the car is older than 6/02 you most likely need to bring it back to the dealership to get new suspension parts that "cure" the left pull problem. Very early build MINIs had problems with pulling to the left and not until some of the suspension parts are replaced with revised ones, the problem is not going to go away, no matter how many tire rotations and 4 wheel aligments are done.

Call MINIUSA and then the dealer. It should be covered under warranty.

 

>>>> Anyone elses car having alignment problems? I bought my 02 mcs used and it had 2 new tires up front. Ever since I picked it up it has had a very annoying alignment issue.Let go of the wheel, and it will rather quickly go left.The steering wheel isn't quite straight either.I know this can probably be resolved completely with a trip to my alignment shop, but I was just wondering if anyone else has had similiar problems with theirs.
>>
>>Yup, my dealer said it was caused by the runflat tire design and the crown in the roads we drive on. He told me to get out of the passing lane and see if it pulled left when I was on the right hand side of the road -- he was right, at least in my case.
>>
>>
>>


I was told the same thing.

 

>>>>>> Anyone elses car having alignment problems? I bought my 02 mcs used and it had 2 new tires up front. Ever since I picked it up it has had a very annoying alignment issue.Let go of the wheel, and it will rather quickly go left.The steering wheel isn't quite straight either.I know this can probably be resolved completely with a trip to my alignment shop, but I was just wondering if anyone else has had similiar problems with theirs.
>>>>
>>>>Yup, my dealer said it was caused by the runflat tire design and the crown in the roads we drive on. He told me to get out of the passing lane and see if it pulled left when I was on the right hand side of the road -- he was right, at least in my case.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>>I was told the same thing.


BS

Go to http://www.mini2.com and do a search for "Left Pull" on the "Faults and Fixes" forum. Tons of info there.

 

Nope, mine pulls left even in the right lane.I'm actually thinking something is up in the rear suspension considering the front has nothing to adjust except the toe. If the rear is like my old 3 series it will have both a camber and toe adjustment.And even if the toe was off up front, it would still go straight.My car has 17k on it but warranty only covers alignments until like 2500 miles I believe.

 

>>Nope, mine pulls left even in the right lane.I'm actually thinking something is up in the rear suspension considering the front has nothing to adjust except the toe. If the rear is like my old 3 series it will have both a camber and toe adjustment.And even if the toe was off up front, it would still go straight.My car has 17k on it but warranty only covers alignments until like 2500 miles I believe.


Yes but the "Left Pull" problem is a known fault in early production MINIs and it does involve replacing some parts in the front suspension. The rear suspension has nothing to do with it. Trust me.

The repair is covered under warranty and since they have to take down the front suspension you will get a free aligment.

_________________
'02 Cooper CVT
On order: '04 Cooper S (Est production date: 9/5/03)

 

The rear dosent have the camber and toe adjustments with the stock setup i believe.

_________________
LqY MCS - Madness CAI, Magnaflow, Swaybar, Alta Pulley, 17" BBS RK, Yoko ES 100's. <img src = "https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....jpg">

 

Hope this helps....


http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...ight=left+pull

 

Okay mines a 2/02 production. I called mini of peabody and they said it might be covered, otherwise an alignment would be $120.And it figures I have my fiance's 4 runner today so I don't have the vin so they can check it.I figure i'll give them the vin see if the work was done, if it has I'll have it aligned locally for way less than $120. But it would be nice if it was free.

 

>> Okay mines a 2/02 production. I called mini of peabody and they said it might be covered, otherwise an alignment would be $120.And it figures I have my fiance's 4 runner today so I don't have the vin so they can check it.I figure i'll give them the vin see if the work was done, if it has I'll have it aligned locally for way less than $120. But it would be nice if it was free.


Another helpful thread on the left pull

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...ight=left+pull


Your car is a very early production build date and perhaps still has the old front suspension parts. Don't let them bully you, this is something covered under warranty. Once the repair is done, a 4 wheel aligment must be performed to complete the repair, then again, at no cost to you.

I doubt the previous owner had the front suspension fixed, hence he or she getting rid of the car.

 

>> Okay mines a 2/02 production. I called mini of peabody and they said it might be covered, otherwise an alignment would be $120.And it figures I have my fiance's 4 runner today so I don't have the vin so they can check it.I figure i'll give them the vin see if the work was done, if it has I'll have it aligned locally for way less than $120. But it would be nice if it was free.


Don't you have the VIN number in the insurance card or the bill of sale papers?

 

Ok now i'm getting a little miffed. I read the mini2 thread and that's definately what my car does.Let go of the wheel, even in the right lane, and before you know it, you are off in the ditch on the left. I had called the dealer, without my vin, and they just called me back and said that the recall was only on suspension bolts, which didn't affect the alignment so it would be $120 for an alignment. Looks like I may need to call mini directly to see if I can get some satisfaction.

 

>> Ok now i'm getting a little miffed. I read the mini2 thread and that's definately what my car does.Let go of the wheel, even in the right lane, and before you know it, you are off in the ditch on the left. I had called the dealer, without my vin, and they just called me back and said that the recall was only on suspension bolts, which didn't affect the alignment so it would be $120 for an alignment. Looks like I may need to call mini directly to see if I can get some satisfaction.


Call MINI directly but be sure to get your VIN number first to verify your car's service history. The repair does involve an aligment which should be free of charge. Stick to your guns.

 

Yes, it's on all of that stuff.But that's all either at home or in the car.No big deal, i'll be there later.Sure enough, I looked it up on my etk and the spindles/strut bearings/and front struts are different on all 3/02 and newer cars. I will not be bullied by the dealer, I deal with these type of people all the time, once I have my info i'll go right to the top if need be.It's pretty amazing that the service writer at peabody didn't even admit to a problem with the early cars, even after informing him it was all over the web.

 

Good deal. Make a print out of all those posts in the MINI2 thread. This is a very old and well documented problem and they should be able to pull out a technical service bulletin from MINI describing the fixes your car needs in detail.

Glad to help.

 

The MINI dealer just did my alignment this week. I have the problem after 600 miles. The dealer told me they will cover it under 2,000 miles. It tooks 2 times to finally correct my alignment problem. Now the car is going straight. Take your car to the deal before reach 2,000 miles.

UltraMINI

 

>>The MINI dealer just did my alignment this week. I have the problem after 600 miles. The dealer told me they will cover it under 2,000 miles. It tooks 2 times to finally correct my alignment problem. Now the car is going straight. Take your car to the deal before reach 2,000 miles.
>>
>>UltraMINI
He bought his '02 MCS used, so no dice.