kp090 Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 Guys have you got your 4wheel alignment done before? i heard it needs a special tool to align properly as the s3 is different to most cars? do any1 know any places in the berkshire area that do it cheap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 went into a garage the other day to get it done, they said they cant do it properly as its they havent got the exact equipment the s3 needs to align properly. does any1 know where i can go apart from going audi as they probably charged an arm nleg for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo-S3 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 Im in manchester and ended up going to nottingham to have it done preoperly. All done for £58 which is good value considering that it does take some time setting up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 there are some small companies near me that say they do lazer 4wheel alignment, that isnt the stuff for the s3 is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo-S3 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 Nope you cant use that crappy stuff on the S3. Best to ring around a few companies and see what they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 ok cheers mate, the garage i always go to is fontain in iver, they charge £130 for alignment!! but ill ring around n see what happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinka Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 i know audi use,bies barth wheel allignment gear,as do most vag dealers,i would imagine thats the one you need?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 I have used Micheldever Tyres, they have 3 bays, all with the laser stuff and computer screens - did a great job on my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 cheers for the input guys, ive been to places to get it done before they say they can do it but it wont be done properly because they need the proper equipment so just keep sayin to go to audi to get it aligned, loads of garages have the lazer stuff but thats not what the s3 needs is it? are there any people from the berkshire area that know a good garage that does it for cheap apart from fontain in iver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 I turn down the tyre fitter type places. I get AMD to do mine on their beissbarth system, same as Audi would use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob_S3 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 Swifts Audi specialists in Sheffield did mine. £55, car drives straight as can be since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncS3 Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 Swings and roundabouts, Micheldever do outsourced work for the local Audi dealers (Martins Audi for example) - they arent your average tyre fitter place, its a big professional outfit with a very expensive setup (x3). Actually they are that good they actually know how to align a UR quattro, which is defenitely not an easy job in comparison to a modern car like the S3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil84afc Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 At the risk of sounding dense, why the need for 4wheel aligment?? What does it fix? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 [ QUOTE ] At the risk of sounding dense, why the need for 4wheel aligment?? What does it fix? [/ QUOTE ] AMD description. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 during like high speeds on normal roads, the car just doesnt seem stable, feels bit risky during a high speed like 80 on a normal.. do you think its got to do with the fact that the car needs to get properly aligned? or are other factors involved? when a car is properly aligned does it feel more stable n feels less like its going to go out of control? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo-S3 Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 Definately sounds like the wheel alignment. Have you ever had any work done to your car? Something surely must have been done to it in the past. The S3 feels rock solid at twice the speed limit. If it feels risky at 80mph then get it looked at as soon as. How many miles has it got on it? Any issues with the suspension during its MOT if its had one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 car went in for a variable service at 43,000 and the company had said it needs to get wheel alignment so i went to a tyre place but they said they cant do it because they havent got the equipment. recently the rear springs- a bit of the coil snapped so needed to get them replaced. thats the only proper work ive had on the car since i bought it at 43,000. the mileage is around 46,000 at the mo. so it most probably is the wheel alignment then? another question i was meaning to ask is that alot of companies do provide wheel alignment but may not have the proper equipment, im gunna ring around today to find a local one but are all companies aware s3's need the proper machine or will they blag and say yea yea we do it dont worry? sounds stupid but when i ring up what do i actually say so they understand what im on about because if they are not aware of the issues with s3's then they wont have a clue what im tryin to explain to them? thanx guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 once ive got the tyres replaced does the car need to get aligned again? because im due for a new set of tyres all round soon? and if im going spend money on gettin it aligned i mite aswell do it once ive got the new tyres? or replacing tyres wont make a difference if ive got the car aligned before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo-S3 Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 A lot of companies will blag you and say yes we can do it no problem. Ive had that myself and to be honest just a waste of money. Have you tried searching on the net for companies local to you that might know what they are doing? The replacement of tyres will necessitate the requirement of alignment at all. You have had the rear arm off hence thats why your aligment is way out on the rear. Where exactly are you located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 im located in maidenhead, berskhire. there is fontain in iver that do it but they charge £130 to do plus any other adjustments. audi in slough charge £240 plus vat. thats tooo much for aligment, rang up AMD and they charge bout 105 plus adjustments so bout 130 but all these places are bookd till middle july, i sorta wanted to get it done today/tomorrow. didnt no it was ajob that needs to be booked in. Mo so basically when i change my tyres do i need to get the 4wheel alignment done again? or does changing tyres not affect it? pardon my english i didnt understand necessitate.. im a student lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lottiefox Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 APS. Top notch equipment, 40 quid per hour. prob an hour to hour and half work. http://www.autops.co.uk/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srcoates Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 It is always best practice to re align the wheels with new tyres (more accurately, it is better not to do it with old ones). But it actually makes very little difference. It is good to check that they use laser wheel alignment, systems like 'Hunter' are good and will ensure that you get good results. The quotes do sound like an awful lot of money, but it pays to get it done right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 i no some places have the hunter machine. but they said they cant do the camber angles and stuff as they dont have the right equipment to do it. so does that mean once i get a new set of tyres all round i have to spend another £130 to get it all aligned again? or will it not make alot of difference and so no point gettin it done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo-S3 Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 It really is not worth throwing your money away getting an aligment done when replacing tyres. Just make sure you get the wheels and tyres balanced on a decent machine. by decent i mean not one that has spirit levels! I had new tyres fitted to mine and then did the alignment purely due to the fact that my tyres were worn. Remember, having an alignment will mean that they will set it all up to the perfect 'minute' on the machine as that will be near impossible. They have a tolerance in degrees and minutes and as long as its within that range then its gooin to be near on perfect anyway. Have you tried ringing Elite tyres in essex? Are they too far from you? The only way you will waste money is of you have your aligment done now and then 2 months down the line you decide to fit coilovers or new arbs all round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kp090 Posted July 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 have u got a postcode for elit tyres. i rang up that place lottiefox recommended. bout a hour drive from me. person said £40 plus vat. but said there mite be additonal costs there anything wrong with steering if its seized up? whats this about. why is gettin ur car aligned so complicated with an S3 lol MO i probably wont get no coilovers or arbs. it will just make me feel all the road bumps more wont it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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