Tracking out???

[chippy wedge]

Has anyone had issues over their tracking/wheel alignment on their Mini?

I recently changed the front tyres (not at Mini dealer) after only doing 3,000 miles since I bought it from the dealer (bought second hand but car done less than 14k in total). There seems to have been a rapid loss of tread and since my wife is mainly using it for school runs and pottering around town, it has not been due to any extreme punishment.

Anyways, the chap who replaced the tyres said that the tracking may be out. They checked it via laser alignment and showed me the readings. The driver's side was out by 7mm and passenger side by 1mm. I told them not to change it as i would speak with Mini only having had the car for 5 months.

Mini told me that their laser alignment is linked up to BMW and the settings are different. I am getting them to check it anyway but has anyone else been told the same or is this BS from the dealer.

[baSkey]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

they can say that they set it up differently all they like... but at the end of the day it clearly does get 'knocked out' and even more at the end of the day i got my geometry checked BECAUSE it felt dodgy. the none bmw garage changed it and afterwards it felt like it had done when it was first bought...

the tyres don't seem to be wearing oddly so i have no reason to suppose that my none bmw garage set it up incorrectly.

i know that some old skool garages use metal and string..but if you go dto a decent independent they have those rigs that they load in the correct settings for your specific car (just as a main dealer would do)...

ps i don't think 14k on tyres is bad. my fronts lasted 16.5k.

Edited by baSkey on Thursday 14th June 14:08

[haggle]

normal laser alingers dont work on minis you need KDS (kilo diagnostics machine) that bmw use and some better independant places have as the ride height needs to be weighed down and set at defult befoure being checked i had a loacl fitter mess mine up as id didnt know this at first

[baSkey]

haggle said:

normal laser alingers dont work on minis you need KDS (kilo diagnostics machine) that bmw use and some better independant places have as the ride height needs to be weighed down and set at defult befoure being checked i had a loacl fitter mess mine up as id didnt know this at first

i am getting concerned about this..!

i am pretty sure my place did it right (it feels right) the tyres seem to be wearing alright.. but you just don't know.. i guess that's what bmw prey on...!

[chippy wedge]

Thanks guys. Dealer has found the tracking to be out, albeit not as much as had been advised when the tyres were put on. They do have a different way of doing things at the dealer and advice would be to get them done at the dealer. Luckily they did it under warranty as one of the suspension bushes needed replacing anyway.

[haggle]

baSkey said:

haggle said:

normal laser alingers dont work on minis you need KDS (kilo diagnostics machine) that bmw use and some better independant places have as the ride height needs to be weighed down and set at defult befoure being checked i had a loacl fitter mess mine up as id didnt know this at first

i am getting concerned about this..!

i am pretty sure my place did it right (it feels right) the tyres seem to be wearing alright.. but you just don't know.. i guess that's what bmw prey on...!

yep once its been messed up its messed up as i found and i had to bite the bullet and take it to the dealer i know a lot of folk say its a rip off but then its rare for a small car to have independant multi link suspensoin all round like the mini dose when most just have a simple torsion beam rear axle