Should I have the alignment done at the dealer? Do they know anything or do anything special that firestone does not know or do?

 

If you are looking to have an aliment to factory specs. any Tom, **** and Harry alignment shop can get it done. If you are looking for a performance alignment take it to a shop that specializes in them. Mine cost me $75. They adjusted in the rear camber and toe (out) and in the front toe (out).

 

A Performance Alignment??? What is that?

 

If you are not looking for a performance alignment, and the car does not have any other sypmtoms, telling you it is out, there is no need to get it aligned, unless you changed some parts.

Unless the suspension is bent, or seriously worn, it is still in alignment. There is not much in the way of alignment adjustments on a stock MINI.

 

Hmmm. What about camber (not much in the way of alignment adjustments on a stock MINI)? With the wonderful road conditions in the S.F. Bay Area, if you didn't get an alignment check, you could be looking at easily a 25% reduction in tire life if camber is out of spec.

 

I know this specifically wont help your situation, but maybe others.

My dealer does track prep work for BMWCCA inspections, etc. They did a performance alignment for me under warranty because my MINI was pulling from the factory. I think you have to do that under 1200 miles. I'll probably have my next alignment when I reach 15K miles.

So anyways, give your dealer a call. I really trust my MINI dealer and won't have any work done at a local tire shop.

 

your shop asks you how you want your car to handle, and knows how to set it to get what you want. It's them asking your wieght, and if you drive solo or with passengers, so they can add weights into your car so that it's got the right amount of load to replicate how you drive, so that when you drive, the suspension has the settings that are best when you're in the car, not in the waiting room. It's a shop that can deal with ajustable suspension members, and set them up right, so you can get the most out of the potential of the car. Items like adjustable sway bars, control arms, camber/castor plates, coil-overs and end links.

Matt

 

BMW does alignment with specific amount of weight in the passenger compartment and possibly the boot area. I also believe it is done with full tank of gas.

 

If you want to "align" a MINI, you need to buy aftermarket parts which are adjustable for many of the adjustments.

You can find "front Camber plates" and "adjustable rear control arms" at most of the "MINI Performance" web sites.

John