Loading car with weight for alignment purposes

[Quattro Pete]

The proper procedure for BMW alignment is to arrive with a full tank of gas and also load up the car with about 300 lbs of weights (placed on the floor in various places). Does anyone know how critical that is? The reason I ask is that none of the indy shops in my area seem to follow this procedure, so it seems that I'm left with the BMW service dept if I want it done right.

Thanks.

 

[Solo2driver]

For racing, we always do alignments with race-level fuel and prep, and with the correct weight of the driver in the driver's seat. You'd be surprised how things can change, especially in a Stock car.

That being said though, with varying fuel loads, passengers, road crown, etc. that can all change for street-driven applications.

BUT if the BMW procedure is to do all those things, then a good alignment shop should be able to accommodate this...all you have to do is ask, and print out the instructions for them

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Solo2driver
a good alignment shop should be able to accommodate this...

Yeah. Problem is, they don't have the weights. I guess I'll keep looking...

 

[XS650]

Ballast it yourself, books, bricks, sandbags, dead bodies....

 

[mechtech2]

I'd have 1/2 to 3/4 fuel in the tank.
Weight in the driver's seat is where I'd want any extra weight for testing.
Maybe they'll let you sit there.
But does it matter much?
I don't think it's critical - just a better way to do an alignment.