As the tittle states, is the stealer the only option for a proper wheel alignment? I need an alignment, but I'm not inclined to bring my own Vaseline for the raping that will ensue at the stealer. I have heard quotes for well over $200. Do you guys use other alignment shops, or is it strictly the stealer when it comes to alignment on your e60?

If you have had success with an alignment shop and you're located in the NYC area, can you please recommend?

I've had success at camber toe in lynbrook, they did an alignment on my 3 series and it was perfect. I think it was like 140.

^Thanks bud, I will google them for more information.

No prob, I know he's on the e90 post under matt@cambertoe you can read reviews there too.

Firestone offers LIFETIME alignment for $169. I've had it aligned 4 times in 13 months already and will continue to do so for the next 5 years.

short answer, take it where you like.

Long answer, if you have active steering it's a little more complicated because the steering wheel has to be "centered" (and I don't mean just physically, you have to turn it to center and then reset something in the active steering controller.) Personally, I've never been happy with alignments done by anyone other than my dealer. Can't explain why, don't know what they do different, but the car just feels ....right. I can't put my finger on what they do but I haven't found anyone else that can. This was the case on my E36, my E39s and my E60.

That doesn't mean you can't find someone else, though. My dealer charges $129 so it's not *too* bad.

General tire dd a fine job for me. They said they had the latest laser setup and could handle BMWs. Thinking about it more I wished asked where they got the alignment specs for a 550 sport package. $100 was just too good to resist.

What makes you think they would lube up before the raping?.....then again they would be able to charge double the price vaseline would normally cost and add labour charges for the actual time it would take to lube up. :)

Take it where you like! :thumbsup:

Not too sure about where you're located but Tires Plus has same equipment as the $tealer KDS laser alignment. It's called "exotic alignment" and is lifetime warrantied cost about $100. They did good job on E60 but the wheel is just a little off center. JUST a tad barely noticable but if you have a 5er you're most likely anal about these things. It's never bothered me enough to go back though. I had a friend do the 3er on same equipment for $50 and i can tell you THE TOOLS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PERSON USING THEM. Needless to say he did a shitty job. I did a better job manually in my garage man. DEAD serious. I still have to take it back.Anyway I guess it all boils down to what you feel comfy with.