[Colmsport]

Looks like my alignment is out on my F30 as the drivers side front tyre is wearing quite noticeably on the outside edge, even though the steering wheel doesn’t look like it’s off centre.

BMW have offered to do a ‘KDS’ for £120, however other tyre places are offering 4 wheel alignment from £40+VAT.

Is there much difference from what BMW do compared with tyre places?

Any recommendations for places around the South Wales / Gloucestershire area? Would rather take the car to someone who knows what they’re doing rather than have the car set up wrong.

Cheers.

[Digidick]

I go to a place (Eden Tyres) that use Hunter Alignment equipment, always been spot on and around £50 for a 4 wheel job.

[kitster]

£120 that's pretty cheap! My local dealer was asked for £240. Ended up going to an indy who had a Hunter setup.

I was told the KDS is just the software specific to BMW but the hunter systems can just download the correct settings for your car. Also something about the little hole in your alloys (near the centre cap), it's where the rod inserts (ooh err), from the clamping sensor....helps keep it nice a straight.

[Hooded]

I pay £60 for a 4 wheel hunter alignment.

[Digidick]

That's all you need

[Manivxr]

I used hunter at a local tyre place. 90 quid all in. It's a great piece of equipment

[Colmsport]

Cheers for the responses guys!

Think I’m gonna book it in with a tyre place rather than have BMW relieve me of cash unnecessarily. Got choice of a fairly local place in a village with Hunter equipment or ‘Protyre’ in Gloucester who use the ‘John Bean’ equipment which apparently is snap on kit.

Favouring Protyre at the moment only because they should know what they’re doing, right??

[Eddamoo]

If your tyres are wearing out on the edge as you say, it's not an alignment issue most likely. Your tyres are probably under inflated.

A picture would help diagnose this. Runflats are especially bad for this as their tyre walls are so rigid, you need more pressure to push the main tread surface to the road.

[ian332isport]

Originally Posted by Eddamoo

If your tyres are wearing out on the edge as you say, it's not an alignment issue most likely. Your tyres are probably under inflated.

Under inflation would cause extra wear on both the inside and outside of the tyre. As the OP only has wear on the outside, it indicates too much toe in, or excessive positive camber. Excessive positive camber would be very unusual, so it’s probably a simple tracking adjustment.

[Eddamoo]

Originally Posted by ian332isport

Under inflation would cause extra wear on both the inside and outside of the tyre. As the OP only has wear on the outside, it indicates too much toe in, or excessive positive camber. Excessive positive camber would be very unusual, so it’s probably a simple tracking adjustment.

Completely disagree - i've seen several with just outer wear, just like my own when i bought it.

Outer side walls take more load from cornering as the cars weight rolls the wall under the tyre and are therefore stronger on asymmetric tyres. This is often why the outer wall wears first.

Toe in would cause wear called "Feathering".

[Fazil]

Bloody hell, 120?!
I paid 75ish at Bowker Blackburn a few months ago for my 340i

I had it done at 2 places with a hunter machine and it just kept going out of whack straight away, and I mean within a mile.

In the end, I had mine done at Bowker, and they had to do it 3 times before I was satisfied.

But its been fine since.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by ian332isport

Under inflation would cause extra wear on both the inside and outside of the tyre. As the OP only has wear on the outside, it indicates too much toe in, or excessive positive camber. Excessive positive camber would be very unusual, so it’s probably a simple tracking adjustment.

Tyre setting pressure is the first call. Many go for an alignment adjustment, when it is simply a pressure issue with RFTs. Front outer shoulder/sidewall can also run colder and therefore wear is accelerated on the outside, if pressure is low.

Talking from experience of this wear, with nothing wrong with the alignment. RFTs don't always conform with what we expect, when it comes to wear patterns.