I've had my R56 nearly 2 years now and roughly a year ago I noticed that when I was driving in a straight line my steering wheel appeared to be turning to the left slightly ( the arms where not exactly in a quarter to three position - but going to a twenty to four position ) The dealer fixed it under warranty and just last week I notice that it's happening again. Tyre tread is fairly evenly worn and it doesn't pull. I took it back to the dealer and they said that because it's already been correct once and that it now has 28000 miles on the clock that I would have to pay £150 for a KDR ? test to have it corrected again. It is only probably a degree or two off but you know what is like when you notice these things .... you can't help but looking for the error. Is this something I should worry about from a safety point of view or can I leave it for a while ( I'm sure I can live with it for a little longer as long as safety is not compromised. Thanks ..... Matt.

 

You can leave it. As you said, it's just 'annoying'. The fact that it's 'changing' over time could be due to a lot of things however - tire wear is the main one. As for fixing it, it's pretty simple - they just loosen up the tie rod adjuster sleeves and turn them equal amounts in the opposite directions until the wheel is straight - re-tighten and go home. It doesn't affect your alignment.

 

If you can indeed adjust them EXACTLY equally, then yes. Personally, I'd have a local alignment, or even a tire shop, do a quick toe adjustment. It shouldn't run more than 40 bucks. And that's way cheaper than a couple of tires! Especially run flats!

 

LOL - did you think I was implying that the OP attempt it themselves?

 

Getting the sterring wheel dead nut is the biggest comeback on am alignment.
I don't understand why it would be changing?

Hit a local for a toe adjustment. Should be money well spent.

 

...find a road that's curved "just enough" so that you can hold the steering wheel "straight".

More seriously, I should think this is a warranty issue. Have you tried another dealer? Perhaps the one you're going to is just giving you a hard time.

 

we do alignments in school, and it's actually really easy to make the steering wheel straight. just pop on a steering wheel lock, and then do the alignment. and follow some steps on the machine. I'd offer to do it for you, if you lived in/around charlotte NC, but since i see you're using pounds for a price, i very much doubt you are.

 

I would have the alignment checked by a local shop. Just make sure the rear is checked as well as the front. The rear suspension being out can also make the steering wheel crooked. My sure the suspension and steering is checked thoroughly including steering rack mounts before having the car's suspension adjusted. There is a special tool for the rear toe.

 

Yea, my tired old eyes misread that! It could be done by ones self, but......LOL

 

Thanks for all the advice .... I think I'll leave it and shop around for a local shop to do it rather than a dealer. At £150 or approx $225 I think BMW Mini are just ripping me off. I did ask a tyre fitter about this problem when I had the tyres changed a while back and he said that BMW had me over a barrel because they had to do it on a special machine. As long as other garages can do it, that'll be the way to go. Thanks wrxgoose for the offer but I live just outside off London in Surrey.

 

It's also worth making sure that u have the adequate tire pressure.

 

Mine is turning slightly to the right, but then again, I ran my car off the road into a ditch. so don't do that, it tends to mess things up.

 

Hit up your local Nissan dealer (assuming they sell the GTR), they'll be hurting for business and have an uber expensive Hawkeye laser alignment rack (dealership requirement)
They usually have alignment specials on for $79-89 and they have the R56 settings in the machine. When I was working for Nissan I popped mine on the machine and found that my rear subframe needed a slight shift.

As a side note, the front & rear subframes are considered "fixed"/non-adjustable, but there is enough movement in them to affect your toe & camber... So if you loosen your rear subframe to install a swaybar or have any repairs done in the front that require the subframe to be dropped, go get you alignment re-checked. The Mini's a very short wheelbase car, so it's important to get a top notch alignment. This is where a 6-pack or a box of donuts is totally worth it

 

I'd second the tire pressure check. That's a lot cheaper and faster to do than go to the alignment shop and a couple of pounds difference can cause a degree or two in steering misalignment.