Should I align at the dealer? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ara T. · #1 12-03-2006, 05:15 AM

1985 W123 300D Turbo, 'bout 215K. I got a quote from the dealer for an alignment for 180 dollars, and thats if they DO NOT have to touch the camber. The guy said that they need to order camber bolts to change the camber?? Is this right? Is this how it is with all cars if you need to change the camber? I had heard of this, but only with cars that have been lowered by 1 or 2 inches or more.

So basically he didn't give me a straight answer on how much it costs if they had to order camber bolts but it sounds pretty elaborate. Which I do not mind, as long as it gets done right. I had the alignment checked at an independent Mercedes guy, Autokraft if anyone is in the Santa Rosa area (i know a few are). It was 70 bucks and he said it was fine, only a small adjustment was needed. But 6 months/15K miles later my front tires have worn down to the wear bars on the inside edge. That's what leads me to believe it's a camber issue. The car kind of looks bowlegged (front tires pointing inwards) to me but it may be my eyes. How much neg. camber do these run from the factory?The rears are wearing perfectly fine and normally.

I'm not sure how these cars are supposed to handle, but I get pretty horrible understeer and front tire squeelage in spirited (not insane) driving. I have no clunks in the suspension and everything is tight. But i do have a creaking noise when I go over speedbumps (im guessing balljoints). It pulls slightly to the right, but it seems all cars do. The steering is extremely tight, basically no play at all, i think the previous owner replaced the tie rods. The lower control arm bushings look pretty old and crappy (cracks) and such so I figure I will sort this out before spending 200+ dollars on an alignment. I've had this car for about 4 years and aside from shocks and sway bar bushings/links I haven't touched the suspension, I think it's time to spend some money on it.

But what leads me to believe it might be fixed with a simple alignment is that the front tires are worn exactly equally. What are the chances all the front suspension components are wearing exactly the same?

#2 12-03-2006, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

The car kind of looks bowlegged (front tires pointing inwards) to me but it may be my eyes.
...
The lower control arm bushings look pretty old and crappy (cracks) and such so I figure I will sort this out before spending 200+ dollars on an alignment.

The bowing is just from your point of view. Because our eyes are so close together, we cannot look at both tires straight on to see if they are equal.

Check your ball joints, tierod ends, pitman arm joint and idler arm for looseness, slack, and bends. Replace any of these that are worn before you spend money on an alignment. I recommend you do the alignment at the dealership but if you take it there and they find a bad ball joint for example, they will say they can't align it and bill you $60 for checking it.

The camber can also be affected by improper weight distribution and worn out springs. I had the same issue with my rear tires when I had an extra 16gallon fuel tank in my trunk (250lbs). The inside edge was wearing at a noticeable rate whereas the outsides looked new. Removing the tank and replacing my shocks solved all the wear issues.

Ara T. · #3 12-03-2006, 05:42 AM

Everything is tight, I couldn't feel any play in suprisingly, anything really. Ride height is above average. I think I will do the balljoints on account of the creaking, and the crappy control arm bushings.

tobybul · #4 12-03-2006, 07:02 AM

$180 + is too much for me for alignment. I bring my cars to Ford (just happens to be) dealership that has computerized laser alignment machines. The machine has specs of many cars including MB programmed into it.

The mechanic operating it is an older fella who has been at it for years and always gets it right.

They charge $49.99.

JWJ · #5 12-03-2006, 07:37 AM

Yesterday the MB dealership quoted me $99.00 for an alignment.

sokoloff · #6 12-03-2006, 09:49 AM

If a shop doesn't have the Mercedes "tools" to lock the steering wheel and the spreader bar, then your alignments are likely not going to be perfect. They might be okay, but then again, they might not.

I have not found a shop other than a dealer to get mine done right. Dealer cost is $119. $180 seems WAY out of line.

Len

TheDon · #7 12-03-2006, 10:02 AM

180$ without touching the camber... im getting 125$ without touching the excentric bolts (same thing maybe??)

rg2098 · #8 12-03-2006, 10:19 AM

My dealer charged me $120 for a full alignment. I don't know what yours is thinking.

Now for a little personal story.
Before I had mine done at the dealer, I took it to Belle Tire. I asked about the wheel lock and spreader bar, and they assured me they had them and could do the alignment per Mercedes Specs. Forward one month. My new (2 miles on them when the alignment was done) were wearing excessively. I took the car back, screamed at them, they refunded my money and re-did the alignment. I rotated my tires to have the better ones on the front (winter snow at the time), week later they were wearing excessively.

Then I took it to the dealer and its been great ever since. Made the biggest difference in the world with handling.

The same shop put the upper strut bushings on upside down on my Volvo (my father took it there against my wishes), and refused to fix it unless I payed more money.

pwogaman · #9 12-03-2006, 12:31 PM

I paid $100 for my last dealer alignment. $180 is way too much. Shop around and get a better price somewhere else, then call back the $180 dealer and tell them you are going to be traveling to where ever you got the better quote and will get the alignment there unless the $180 place is willing to match their price. If they say no then never go back - period. $180 is just way too much (I needed to say it again).

#10 12-03-2006, 12:42 PM

As I recall, I paid under $100 (maybe around $80) at an independent alignment shop recommended by my MB indy with good results (good handling, even tire wear).

Your description of handling,

"I get pretty horrible understeer and front tire squeelage in spirited (not insane) driving. .... It pulls slightly to the right, but it seems all cars do."

does not sound normal for a 300D. It shouldn't squeal under any kind of reasonable conditions, and it should not pull noticeably. Mine will track straight without touching the wheel on a reasonably flat highway.

TheDon · #11 12-03-2006, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

As I recall, I paid under $100 (maybe around $80) at an independent alignment shop recommended by my MB indy with good results (good handling, even tire wear).

Your description of handling,

"I get pretty horrible understeer and front tire squeelage in spirited (not insane) driving. .... It pulls slightly to the right, but it seems all cars do."

does not sound normal for a 300D. It shouldn't squeal under any kind of reasonable conditions, and it should not pull noticeably. Mine will track straight without touching the wheel on a reasonably flat highway.

hmm well my front tires squeel when i take sharp turns (ever since i hit the curb... no date so far on an alignment)

pawoSD · #12 12-03-2006, 01:16 PM

I had mine done 11 months ago at the dealer and it cost about $129 and its been perfect.

tangofox007 · #13 12-03-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

But 6 months/15K miles later my front tires have worn down to the wear bars on the inside edge. That's what leads me to believe it's a camber issue. The car kind of looks bowlegged (front tires pointing inwards) to me but it may be my eyes. How much neg. camber do these run from the factory??

The camber will tend to go negative when the upper control arm bushings get tired and sag. Within limits, the sag can be compensated for during an alignment, but the alignment will be short-lived if the bushings are on the way out.

Ara T. · #14 12-03-2006, 07:51 PM

The squeeling could be the tires, though my father's Accord has the same exact ones and no squeeling whatsoever. Then again he has a 5 year old suspension.

Ara T. · #15 12-03-2006, 07:59 PM

So what exactly is that Control Arm bushing kit at fastlane? There is Control Arm bushings (inner and outer) then the kit. I think i'm going to find a shop to do this, I'd rather it be someone with a spring compressor + knows what he's doing.