[drewfromthehou]

I have a 2020 X3 M40i and the dealership told me at my first oil change that BMW requires every 10k miles for tire rotation and full alignment and that it would be an out of pocket charge as it was not covered by the maintenance plan.

I did not proceed as I was only at 8k miles but I have never seen anything about this so called "required maintenance" and seems to go against what my salesperson said when I purchased the car that any required maintenance work would be covered during my lease.

Is everyone else doing this every 10k miles? I just have caught the dealership lying so many times I just do not trust anything they say anymore and come here to get the truth.

[kscarrol]

Sounds like dealer BS to me but I'm new to the X3. Maybe freshxdough can chime in on this...

[TXSchnee]

I do the alignments every oil change. The camber is off on the G01 and the outside edge of my tires was wearing abnormally. It isn't technically required, but it was only $200 last trip and I felt it was well worth it.

[Wgosma]

you should not need to align the car unless it's had suspension work performed or you did something like smacking a curb or hit major pothole, or you notice unusual tire wear pattern.

Been driving Bimmers for 15 years, only time any of my car's required alignment was after suspension component replacement work - Dealer advising regular alignments sounds like great money maker for them.

[g_lev]

I would assume that anything that is "required" is covered under the maintenance plan. Anything they tell you otherwise is BS

[freshxdough]

Alignment and rotation is never required. But service advisors are sometimes forced by management to push things. Just like every time you go into target or JcPenny and they ask you if you want to open a credit card with them, they get spiffs on those types of things. I think the writers wording was poor, insinuating that it is "required". It is merely suggested.

Dealers do however 'recommend' a yearly alignment.
An annual alignment helps with tire wear and keeps vehicle handling in check. It is a good idea to get one every year, especially with the M40i that likes to eat tires on the outer edges. Even if you haven't done any suspension work or hit any pot holes it does not take much to knock out the front toe and start eating tires. Rotation is obviously only available for those who have square setups and would not be a bad idea to rotate when doing an annual alignment to get the most tire life.

[rob175]

I checked the Owner's Maintenance Manual in my 2020 X3 and I found NO REFERENCE to "wheel alignments" at all....and certainly NOT as part of any scheduled maintenance. While not a terrible idea, IF one has more money than common sense, there's just no need if the car doesn't "pull" to one side or if the tires are wearing evenly.(especially when braking and not holding the steering wheel tightly).

Rotating tires at regular intervals IS a good idea to make them last a bit longer. I change my oil every 5,000 miles NOT every 10,000. My "indi" does every other change while my BMW does the other under the included factory maintenance. I have my "indi" rotate the tires because his labor rate is a fraction of the dealer.

But, as I said, frequent wheel alignments are NOT suggest or required......If the car rides well, the only alignments I perform are when I put new tires on the car.

[383vett]

Originally Posted by TXSchnee

I do the alignments every oil change. The camber is off on the G01 and the outside edge of my tires was wearing abnormally. It isn't technically required, but it was only $200 last trip and I felt it was well worth it.

There is no camber adjustment on a normal G01 alignment. All that is done is the toe adjustment.

[TXSchnee]

Originally Posted by 383vett

There is no camber adjustment on a normal G01 alignment. All that is done is the toe adjustment.

Well, then it is the toe in they nominally correct during the G01 alignment. Never had to do one on my F25 or F15, but the G01 will eat tires if you don't. Also, I have the staggered 20" set up, so I cannot rotate (21" is also staggered) so alignment is the only way to make sure tires are wearing more evenly.

[383vett]

Originally Posted by TXSchnee

Well, then it is the toe in they nominally correct during the G01 alignment. Never had to do one on my F25 or F15, but the G01 will eat tires if you don't. Also, I have the staggered 20" set up, so I cannot rotate (21" is also staggered) so alignment is the only way to make sure tires are wearing more evenly.

I agree. These X3's can eat tires. I'm able to do my own alignments at home so it is pretty easy to keep the wheels pointed forward. It's really easy when toe is the only adjustment. For those of you with a flat garage and a few wrenches, you might want to consider doing your own toe checks.

[Torinalth]

FxD said it best, not required but some push it hard. that said, get an alignment for peace of mind early on. Mine was way off from spec from the factory and ate my oem tires super fast. They wouldn't cover it saying I knocked the alignment out, BS. got the alignment and been much rougher in the following 18 months and no issues yet. If mine is out from the factory might be worth getting it looked at. but a local shop would be cheaper than BMW

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by 383vett

There is no camber adjustment on a normal G01 alignment. All that is done is the toe adjustment.

Rear camber, rear toe and front toe are the only adjustable angles on the G01.

[Torinalth]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Rear camber, rear toe and front toe are the only adjustable angles on the G01.

no front camber? interesting, not even a lobed strut bolt? good to know. thanks.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by Torinalth

no front camber? interesting, not even a lobed strut bolt? good to know. thanks.

Front camber is fixed in place. Swivel bearings can be replaced in the Plus or Minus camber direction to correct camber if needed.

[garz747]

Ive never aligned 01 330i or 07 Z4M- however my M40i steering wheel has been cocked a tiny increment to the left on delivery. Would you have dealer adjust and how ?or leave alone?

[drewfromthehou]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Alignment and rotation is never required. But service advisors are sometimes forced by management to push things. Just like every time you go into target or JcPenny and they ask you if you want to open a credit card with them, they get spiffs on those types of things. I think the writers wording was poor, insinuating that it is "required". It is merely suggested.

Dealers do however 'recommend' a yearly alignment.
An annual alignment helps with tire wear and keeps vehicle handling in check. It is a good idea to get one every year, especially with the M40i that likes to eat tires on the outer edges. Even if you haven't done any suspension work or hit any pot holes it does not take much to knock out the front toe and start eating tires. Rotation is obviously only available for those who have square setups and would not be a bad idea to rotate when doing an annual alignment to get the most tire life.

This makes a ton more sense to me than what I was told by the service advisor. He used the word "required" with me, even going as far to say that ignoring it beyond 10k miles would put my warranty in jeopardy.

However the cost was 360 dollars, so I guess that is reasonable to avoid having to replace the 21" tires early.

I'm learning a lot about my BMW on these forums and most of it from you freshdough! So much appreciated!

[rob175]

No matter if it's "suggested", "advised", "wise" or anything else...there's NO MENTION of it in the BMW "Maintenance Schedule" book that comes with the car. So it's certainly not "required" as one was told and it has no effect on the warranty whatsoever.

Is it still a good idea?.....if there are no symptoms then why throw away money? As I wrote before, most will advise an alignment be performed when new tires are installed. A car that's out of alignment is one of the easiest tests to perform as a driver......if it pulls to one side when braking on a flat road or the tires are wearing down noticeably on an edge....then get the alignment checked....if not save your money.

[sevarino]

A suspension that requires an alignment every 10K is poorly designed. Never had to do this in 45 yrs owning BMWs, Audis, Volvos and even Ramblers. If you hit something, or replace suspension components, then get the alignment. If X3's are eating tires, that's not a great design (but no car is perfect).

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Rotation is obviously only available for those who have square setups and would not be a bad idea to rotate when doing an annual alignment to get the most tire life.

So since I have the 20" wheels on my M40i, is it ok to move the left side wheels to the right and vice versa?

[sbt007]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

So since I have the 20" wheels on my M40i, is it ok to move the left side wheels to the right and vice versa?

That part depends on the tires. If they are directional, then you cannot do this either.

[rob175]

On my new 2020 X3 with the standard 18" wheels the Michelin RF tires are "asymmetric"....NOT directional so they can be easily rotated.

[383vett]

Originally Posted by garz747

Ive never aligned 01 330i or 07 Z4M- however my M40i steering wheel has been cocked a tiny increment to the left on delivery. Would you have dealer adjust and how ?or leave alone?

Have the dealer adjust the toe. If the tires are wearing evenly, it would take 3 minutes to do it yourself with only a couple of wrenches.