chikoo

Wanted to share my latest experience with mechanics, and their love for a good car when they get their hands on one.

Most of you know I just gifted myself a 2005 BMW 330Ci ZHP convertible. After driving around, I figured I need a wheel alignment. So took it to the neighborhood Firestone where I take my other vehicles, i.e. Lexus, Mercedes , Mazda. Upon handing the keys over to them, I walk over to the work bays and see that the technician has taken it for a spin. Ok. No worries. Then he puts it up and does the wheel alignment and after that he takes it out for another spin to check if everything is ok. No problems again. Except that they NEVER did this with any of my other vehicles, or the other vehicles that were there for an alignment.

Can't blame them for not being able to resist the urge to take a spin. I couldn't and which is why I ended up buying it.

Happy Friday!

bagwell

Because (in theory) they test drive beforehand to see if it was pulling left or right.......and then after they aligned it, they test drive to make sure it was done right and doesn't pull.

I've given up on firestone shti alignments... had to take 3 cars back because they pulled to the right worse than before....I'm done with them.

chikoo

I got my IS250 done last week, and they did a great job on it. The BMW still needs some fine tuning and heading back today.

jwong77

I think its hit and miss with Firestone. Luckily the one near me has aligned my cars pretty well over the years.

chikoo

Just came back from the Firestone that had done a great job with my IS. They were able to align the BMW to my expectations just as good (woohoo) despite the fact that they came clear beforehand that they do not have the "tools" for a BMW alignment. Does anybody know what tools they are talking about?

lalexusgs

I also had Firestone and other alignment shops telling me they cant do a proper alignment to BMWs. But in my case they were not referring to any special tools, just said their equipment is not capable to align BMWs to BMW specs.

bagwell

Umm the alignment tools (machine)
LOL!!!!

freezingco

I would be pissed if they did that to my cars....

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

I have Firestone lifetime alignment for my GS, but I haven't used it in years. Same story though. They said they need to test drive the car around to make sure the alignment is okay. Funny, they never asked to drive my father's old Camry around the block.... To top it off, the GS was still pulling after their 'test drive'. I went home and did my own alignment. It drives straight now.

bagwell

I think the thread title should be changed to "shtty Firestone alignment stories"

chikoo

My original title was " I don't know what the title should be"

pman6

string method?

chikoo

and it happens again...this time at the BMW dealer. I went in to discuss some service options. As I pulled in, the service "host" takes down the odo, gets my service advisor name, and then the valet kid comes up to pull the car into the parking spot. But instead I watch him take a spin around the huge parking lot (where cars & coffee is hosted) and then finally comes around parks the car, and then walks up to me and asks "ZHP eh?" I nod in agreement, and he responds "This is pristine condition. Love it".