Topic: The continuing adventures

[mmret]

Railton and RRocket: Yes, I know. I know.

Having..some Z4 issues. Here's the facts.

Recently had an adventure getting FCABs replaced. Details are here http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1718149. The short version is that I've got new OEM bushings on now and the car feels pretty much fine, no odd vibrations or anything. So that is good.

However, the car does not appear to be properly aligned.

The shop spent a lot of time on this but could not get it right. Here's what happened:

First, their machine was out of spec. Obviously this caused some problems. This caused horrible pull. But they got a guy in to recalibrate their machine or whatever.

After redoing the alignment on the recalibrated machine, the car is "mostly" aligned, but not totally. It will still drift to the right if you leave your hands off the wheel, but it does not take much wheel effort to keep it straight. Under hard braking there is occasionally a slight pull but its intermittent and could be in my mind, or a rut in the road.
The car did not have this issue before the FCAB + realignment adventure.

The alignment spec is here:

The tech said that in his opinion the car has been in an accident or has some sort of suspension damage. He had to push the suspension on both sides all the way to the right side of the mount to get it into spec. He said the front right suspension appeared to be especially problematic.

He said the front right caster being so far above front left was a sign that the frame or suspension was bent, and this is why its pulling. I am not as sure, since as far as I know higher caster on the right should cause the car to pull LEFT, not right. Also as mentioned the car didn't do this before.

Photos of the suspension mounts here. Note the alignment of the holes.



I am 99.9% sure I ran CarFax / AutoCheck / whatever on this car before buying it. If it had an accident listed I wouldn't have bought it. But sometimes things do slip through the cracks.

Which all brings me to a question of where to proceed to next? Here are the possibilities that I can see

1. The shop's alignment machine is still broken and its giving me a bad alignment. Solution is to go to someone who doesn't have a broken machine.

2. The car's suspension is damaged. Must get new suspension parts.

3. The car's frame is bent (ie: accident). Live and learn.

Suggestions? Theories?

[Careener]

A body shop should be able to tell if it's been in an accident.
if so and they can only get close to spec I say live learn and enjoy.

[wing]

Well roads are crowned to the right.  A perfectly straight car will pull right, good techs compensate for it.

Try another alignment shop.  It may need pushing all the way because they have the caster at the right value but not tweaked properly.

[rrocket]

Find a local shop with a Hunter Hawkeye alignment system.  You may need to go to their site to see where you can find one locally.

Another is a competent race shop.  The ones that align race cars.  You MAY be able to find one locally.  Maybe Wing might know?

I REALLY suggest finding someone with the Hunter Hawkeye though....

[wing]

Don't know Hamilton, but do know 2 good places in Ottawa, maybe even 3.

Or get out the calculator and string lol

[mmret]

Don't know Hamilton, but do know 2 good places in Ottawa, maybe even 3.

Or get out the calculator and string lol

I live in GTA.

[TopGun]

You asked for theories...so here we go despite the fact I'll likely get called all kinds of nasty things like the last time.

During my current car search, many people suggested the Carfax reports can be misleading.  While Ontario insurers do an excellent job reporting accidents, that is not the case in other jurisdictions in Canada...and especially in the US where a movement of a car from one state to another can "clean" a record.

[Careener]

Don't know Hamilton, but do know 2 good places in Ottawa, maybe even 3.

Or get out the calculator and string lol

I live in GTA.

Here's the local rep from Hunter's info

Chris Ward
905-431-6403

I specialize in:
Alignment Systems
Lift Racks
Inspection Lanes
Brake Lathes
Wheel Balancers
Tire Changers

[1TSX]

It could be damaged/worn suspension parts.

Hit any potholes lately? Kiss any curbs? I accidently went off a higher than normal curb when exiting a parking lot on a rainy night a few weeks ago (in the TSX), and I needed both right upper and lower control arms (both were bent :\) to get the car back to perfect alignment.

[rrocket]

You asked for theories...so here we go despite the fact I'll likely get called all kinds of nasty things like the last time.

During my current car search, many people suggested the Carfax reports can be misleading.  While Ontario insurers do an excellent job reporting accidents, that is not the case in other jurisdictions in Canada...and especially in the US where a movement of a car from one state to another can "clean" a record.

Carfax can be junk.  If someone has a car wreck and repairs it out of pocket (no insurance company involved) it can get by Carfax easy...

[articsteve]

^^^  USA Carfax is for informational purposes only.  Not to be relied on for accident damage.

[articsteve]

Suggestions?

Dump it and go on to the next.  You have reached that point in time.   

[mmret]

Might it be worth paying a visit to the bodyshop that fixed the TSX to have it checked? I believe they have one of those laser frame-checking machines.

Suggestions?

Dump it and go on to the next.  You have reached that point in time.  

Positive thoughts!

[1TSX]

Might it be worth paying a visit to the bodyshop that fixed the TSX to have it checked? I believe they have one of those laser frame-checking machines.

Suggestions?

Dump it and go on to the next.  You have reached that point in time.  

Positive thoughts!

So...how about one of those CPO C63's?

[articsteve]

Positive thoughts!

Nothing but, Sir!

Regarding any motor toy: car, boat, sled, etc.  The following always reigns supreme 99% of the time:

Best day is the day of receipt, the next best day is when you get rid of it.

It's time.     That Bimmer will never be right.  



Roll the dice and get into an early 2000 ish 911 cab in automatic.   Drive it till it blows up.

[rrocket]

Roll the dice and get into an early 2000 ish 911 cab in automatic.   Drive it till it blows up.

Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire!  "Drive it till it blows up" could be a week or two on a 911. 

[rrocket]

Might it be worth paying a visit to the bodyshop that fixed the TSX to have it checked? I believe they have one of those laser frame-checking machines.

Sure it's worth it.  But that might not answer the question. You see, these laser machines are so accurate that they can measure less than 1mm tolerance.  A car can EASILY be built out of tolerance right from the factory, especially things like frame components which can be built at another location, shipped, crashed about with forklifts, etc.

The good part about these machines and their frame bending jigs that go with them is that in the case of a repair, they can often get the repair closer to the factory specs than the actual factory could.

It might not make sense...but it's true.

[blur911]

Another is a competent race shop.  The ones that align race cars.  You MAY be able to find one locally.  Maybe Wing might know?

http://www.canalignment.com/

Have you tried swapping tires around?  They can cause pull.

[mmret]

Don't think its the tires. The shop swapped them around a lot to no avail.

Shop gets an A for effort but the accuracy is still in question. I remain suspicious about the setup of their alignment machine.

Maybe I'll just roll into Crappy Tire to get an alignment measurement printout.

[inco]

Yes you can go to CT, but are you willing to live with the thought that this car MIGHT have been in an accident. I couldn't and would want to sort that out ASAP. If it really can be shown that it wasn't then maybe another shop with the Hunter system can give it a go.

If that works then it's happy driving, but if not it will at least eliminate one area of concern knowing the frame is ok.