Main dealer Wheel alignment
Main dealer Wheel alignment
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Vet Guru

Original Poster:

2,206 posts

257 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Booking car in for a AM Dealer service and asked the cost of wheel alignment I was told laser wheel alignment takes a couple of hours and circa £500!!!!

Called a few other AM dealers and quoted the same and some will do it for £250 all in
And even a tad cheaper if you have a service done

Has anyone had any experiences with this?


paulrog1

1,121 posts

158 months

Tuesday
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I have mine done at Bamford Rose, I think he sets the wheel alignment for fast road driving, it was about £250.


BiggaJ

1,053 posts

56 months

Tuesday
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Daylight robbery.

I had my former Vantage sorted out at Phoenix AM in Basingstoke and they charged me a fraction of those prices.

bogie

16,801 posts

289 months

Tuesday
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Ive had a number of cars done over the years, Its just dependent on labour rate of where you go and what needs adjusting. Usually they charge an hour to setup and check. That could be £100 or £250 at a main dealer. Then adjustments after that.

I cant remember ever paying more than £200, but then Ive not had need to do it for last 8 years and never at a main dealer, always at independent.

V8 Minotaur

109 posts

12 months

Tuesday
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Just make sure to ask if they use the Hunter alignment - I believe this locates the laser system to the centre of the wheel, rather than around the rim, to ensure the best possible accuracy.

A good garage will have the exact data for your make, model and year - also possibly the wheel diameter - and will adjust to best possible setting, rather than just in the green area of ok.

Jon39

13,951 posts

160 months

Tuesday
quotequote all

Vet Guru said:
Booking car in for a AM Dealer service and asked the cost of wheel alignment I was told laser wheel alignment takes a couple of hours and circa £500!!!!

Called a few other AM dealers and quoted the same and some will do it for £250 all in
And even a tad cheaper if you have a service done

Has anyone had any experiences with this?

We can go to AM dealers for a routine MoT and only have to pay the standard fee (coffee and cakes included).

For everything else, each bill includes a contribution towards all the glass, travertine floor, employees, financing £millions of vehicle stock (low sales volume), well equipped workshop, oh, and plus an amount for the actual work carried out.

Wheel alignment is not specialised, so I would probably take my car to Protyre in Chesham. Have not been there for some time, but they have the laser equipment and hopefully remain top notch under the new ownership. I have seen many high value cars there, some taken there by appointed agents.

A PHer originally recommended them, after I asked about extra careful tyre fitters.


Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 16th September 17:04

Minglar

1,524 posts

140 months

Tuesday
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The last time I had mine done at my local AM MD I was also quoted two hours labour, but I can’t remember exactly how much they charged as it was a few years ago. Having said that I’m fairly sure it was nowhere near £500, which I think sounds somewhat top heavy. Aston Installations did mine a couple of years ago after they had arranged for all the wheels to be refurbished and had fitted new tyres and new TPMS sensors. For the alignment alone they charged £120, which sounds very reasonable to me. HTH a bit. BRM.

Simpo Two

89,598 posts

282 months

Tuesday
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Jon39 said:
Wheel alignment is not specialised, so I would probably take my car to Protyre in Chesham. Have not been there for some time, but they have the laser equipment and hopefully remain top notch under the new ownership. I have seen many high value cars there, some taken there by appointed agents.
I did wonder what was different from four wheels on an Aston from four wheels on anything else... hardly needs AMDS does it?

KnowsAnAston

31 posts

134 months

Wednesday
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AMDS could be needed if you've got a DBX, the air suspension should be put into a specific mode during the alignment, otherwise it can start relevelling and throw it all out.

Jon39

13,951 posts

160 months

Wednesday
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KnowsAnAston said:
AMDS could be needed if you've got a DBX, the air suspension should be put into a specific mode during the alignment, otherwise it can start relevelling and throw it all out.

I didn't know the DBX has air suspension.
Is it an option, or does every DBX have that suspension?

Mercedes-Benz cars tend to have air suspension failures in later life.
It won't be a problem in the early years and the ride is magic carpet like, but not a popular choice with later owners.








Simpo Two

89,598 posts

282 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
KnowsAnAston said:
AMDS could be needed if you've got a DBX, the air suspension should be put into a specific mode during the alignment, otherwise it can start relevelling and throw it all out.
Blimey. At this rate Aston owners will need AMDS to refuel. Now that would be a money-spinner...

M1AGM

3,736 posts

49 months

Wednesday
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As said above, any reputable tyre fitting garage will have a hunter machine to do the alignment, and at a far more reasonable price.

Nigel_O

3,393 posts

236 months

Wednesday
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AM Bristol did my Vantage for £199 inc VAT

Panamax

6,852 posts

51 months

Wednesday
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M1AGM said:
As said above, any reputable tyre fitting garage will have a hunter machine to do the alignment, and at a far more reasonable price.
Definitely this. The only difference is the labour rate.
No, not your local tyre fitter. A proper, professional tyre specialist.

Vet Guru

Original Poster:

2,206 posts

257 months

Wednesday
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Nigel_O said:
AM Bristol did my Vantage for £199 inc VAT
That’s cheap when was that?

Nigel_O

3,393 posts

236 months

Yesterday (15:34)
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Vet Guru said:
That s cheap when was that?
September 2023

roddo

580 posts

212 months

Yesterday (18:05)
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It’s not the Hunter machine you need but someone who knows what they are doing……

If anyone near Sheffield needs help with wheel alignment drop me a message