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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - 4 wheel alignment

My Sept 2004 ZT-T 1.8T has just had its 1st service at 10630 miles. The cost was £225 including oil, coolant and brake fluid changes. However, I have been advised to have a 4 wheel alignment check as there are signs of uneven tyre wear.

Apparently there is 4mm of tread remaining on all 4 tyres which is not too much of a surprise as I drive fairly conservatively most of the time. What was a shock was the price of £122.20 for the alignment check.

Is this in line with what others have been charged recently?

Andy
Andy Dear

I own and run an XPart Autoservice Centre in Kent. We charge £55 plus VAT for a check and adjustment. We have a proper computerised Hunter alignment system.

BTW when getting the alignment done on a ZT you should make sure that you have a full tank of fuel, otherwise the alignment won't be correct.
Ralph Gadsby

Andy,
I had two new rear tyres fitted last week on my ZTT 190 by Southam Tyres (owned by Micheldever Tyres) and 4 wheel alignment checked and adjusted. They had a fantastic bit of kit to measure the alignment, it uses cameras with mirrors fixed to each wheel. A PC screen shows all 4 wheels and their alignment along with camber. The guy then raises the ramp, and the cameras move up with the car. He can then undo the bolts on rear suspension and by watching the relevant wheel on the PC screen he can move the rear arm until the colour of the wheel on the screen changes from red to yellow to green, indicating the alignment is correct. After adjusting all 4 wheels he showed me the readout on the screen and it was perfect. I asked him how much the alignment ramp and kit cost, £75K was the answer! He charged me £27 per axle to check and adjust, total of £54 plus vat.. It was well worth it, the old tyres were worn on the outer half of the tread, and both rear wheels were toeing in...

Incidently I purchased 2 new 225/45 by ZR18 Kumho KU31 tyres, with fitting, new valves and a balance they cost me £184.

Hope this gives you an idea of cost...

Brian Rainbow, Leamington Spa
Brian Rainbow

Thanks for your responses. Seems I am being overcharged again!

Andy
Andy Dear

£75K for the kit! Wow! Our equipment *only* cost around £30k new.

BTW our aligmnent system is the same type as that used by Leda Suspension (except that we use a 4-post ramp).

Ralph
Ralph Gadsby

Ralph,

I have just discovered that the local Ex Rover MG dealer who quoted me £122.20 for 4-wheel alignment is listed on the XPart website as an XPart Autoservice Centre. Presumably the affiliation with XPart has no bearing on the rates charged!

Andy
Andy Dear

Some of the XPart Autoservice Centres are former MG Rover dealers and are continuing to charge main dealer prices. We are a new independant business, so we charge reasonable prices ;) We are also enthusiasts... I own 'several' MGs, including a Japan Cup F that I use for trackdays and a Twilight ZS180 with a bonnet bulge (courtesy of S&R).

Ralph
www.mgr-service.com
Ralph Gadsby

Well, I stayed loyal to my local ex-MGR dealer and the wheel alignment ended up costing £131.60 inc VAT.

Thats for a "Full Unilux" - whatever that is!

Next time I will consider travelling some distance from Whins of Milton in search of a better quote.

Andy
Andy Dear

This thread was discussed between 22/01/2007 and 02/02/2007

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