BraveHelios

With the factory suspension setup?

My last set of $250.00 each, Cooper RS3 tires lasted around 12k. Not good!

Bought new tires and had alignment done. Rears are now at -2.0 degrees camber.

What is the minimum amount of camber (approaching zero) that the stock suspension can be adjusted to?

What is a good, workable number for the camber setting on this car where my tires might last a bit longer than 12k?

Will setting the camber closer to 0 degrees mean that the other setting will need to be changed too?

Thanks!

BraveHelios

Anyone? Anybody have information they would like to share?

jtbgonesailing

When you had your alignment done, did they load the car with 150# in each front seat, 150# in middle of back sea and 45#, I believe it is, in the trunk, with a full tank of gas? That is what is referred to as normal setting for alignment.

Jim165

The rear camber can be set to near zero on these cars provided the suspension components are in good shape. I had mine set to as close to zero as possible and I was about .02 away on one side and .035 on the other....possibly due to worn bushings. There is still very slight noticeable camber and it's perfect the way it sits now, especially lowered and with spacers. Excessive tire wear has pretty much disappeared with not too noticeable of a detriment in handling. Used to get 12-14k on rears ( inner wear ruins a perfectly good tire) and now I get close to the mfr rated wear...

FormerE30Owner

Tire rotation helps too, if they are the same size.

BraveHelios

Thanks guys!

The wheels are staggered... different sizes front to rear; so rotating will not help.

I will take this info to my alignment guy and hopefully they will be able to get the camber closer to zero degrees.

FormerE30Owner

Mine are set at -2.0 and I haven't had unusual wear, but then mine are stock same sized all around and I cross rotate them They are Nokian WGr 2's.

BraveHelios

So... just got off the phone with the local Commercial Tire store that swapped my tires and did my alignment last week. I asked them at the time to see if they could adjust my camber closer to zero degrees but 'spaced' on my request, so they set it to factory specs; -2.0 degrees. I subsequently asked them to check/research a bit to see if the factory suspension could be adjusted to something closer to zero degrees. They said they would get back to me... they did not, so I called them today and they informed me that the stock suspension could not be adjusted to anything closer to 0 degrees.

Are they just trying to blow me off? Is it an insurance thing? There is more to this story but I will wait until I hear from y'all.

BraveHelios

I am about ready to call another alignment shop to check if they can do the alignment for me. Any recommendations?

Jim165

Probably too much liability if they don't follow factory specs. you'll have to go to an independent BMW mechanic with alignment capability. Most tire shops and major chains, plus dealers will not deviate from the factory specs because of the liability. Luckily, I had a couple of indies near me that would happily do it for me as they are aware of the tire wear benefits and many customers request it...