Shop can't perform wheel alignment on 85 325E?

[tomstin]

Took my 85 325 to a local tire shop for a wheel alignment . Family owned place that has been in business for decades. They told me they don't have the "proper equipment" and something about "weights"? Anyone else have this problem? The only thing they can probably adjust is toe as caster and camber appear to me to be set with the strut towers. Any insight?

[reelizmpro]

Yes, they are correct. E30 suspension is pretty basic with only toe adjustment via tie rods. Literally, nothing else can be adjusted unless of course you install camber/caster/toe adjustments.

[TobyB]

...and you can set toe yourself with a couple of tape measures...

Older cars' data isn't in the more recent alignment machines,
so they can read what's there, but don't know what it ought to be.

t

[Sunnyledge]

BMW specifies that the alignment is to be done with a certain amount of weight in the front and rear seats. I’ve had the same experience where the dealer that installed my new tires said they couldn’t (or wouldn’t) do an alignment. It’s easy enough to do yourself. There are videos online.

[tomstin]

Took the car to an independent BMW shop and they took care of it. I had set toe on my garage floor a few years ago when I rebuilt the front suspension but wanted someone to verify before I replaced the tires. Of course probably paid twice what the local tire shop would have charged.

My local tire shop is in the process of transitioning from dad to son. Seems to be going well but I think if dad was there he would have known how to align the old BMW. Like a lot of business in my area, they seem to be having trouble finding people to show up to work. I think there is another problem brewing, old guys like me are retiring, particularly in the trades, and people don't seem to want to do that kind of work.