Relationship: Independent vs. dealer

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AndrewEvans81
Newbie
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Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2025 11:54 pm

Alignment can only be done properly at the dealership, from what I've read. Independent equipment typically can't perform what mbs can. They apparently have a further adjustment. Does this have any basis in reality?
DJones85
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Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2025 12:33 am

I haven't heard of that one.
sherlockHOME
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Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:30 pm

Because my CLS has an Airmatic suspension, when I took it in for a geometry check and adjustment, the mechanics also adjusted the ride height at each corner.
MercedesMan98
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Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:40 pm

I took my 219 CLS and Cayenne to Progrip in Larbert for alignments, and I don't see why anyone would pay three or four times as much at the dealership if they don't have to.
Bluewhaleeee
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Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2022 2:40 pm

For something that took over 90 minutes to finish, the £90 my dealership charged seemed fair.
godisgreat
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Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2019 2:30 pm

At the Kwik Fit near me, it costs £70. They have Hunter and an older guy they hired for his expertise. It costs £70, but if they install it and everything is in spec, it's only £0—exactly the amount I spent!
mortimerPAS
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Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:45 pm

Holy cow! If the alignment is complete, that makes perfect sense.
Bluewhaleeee
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There was a lot of back-and-forth adjustment because they had to raise the ride height, which changed the cambers. After that, I felt so much better—solid and grounded.
That vehicle was mine.
Jul4ster
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What is the dealership's initial cost?
BuickUS4
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Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2022 4:35 pm

I rely on a man who specialises in setting up race car chassis; he is an expert with Hunter rigs. As previously said, the man is more important than the tools.
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