Holy Cow! Alignment cost after GMG springs
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Holy Cow! Alignment cost after GMG springs
So I had my 991.1 TTS lowered by a local shop and they took it to the local Porsche Dealer, The Exchange in Highland Park, IL for an alignment. We were quoted $399 previously for the alignment, but after my car showed up they realized that it had Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and called me to let me know that the vehicle will require "re-calibration" of the cameras related to ACC and some others. So basically, when any suspension work is performed, a car requires an alignment, but if your car has ACC, lane assists, etc there is a secondary calibration that takes place. A wooping 6 hr long process and $1200 cost to perform a wheel and "sensor" alignment.
I phoned a friend at Audi, because the service adviser didn't quite understand or know how to explain this. I'm techy and car savy guy and have never heard of such a thing. Long story short, he confirmed. It has to do with the center of the steering wheel in relation to the wheel and sensors/cameras - AND it's only applicable when alignment is off by a certain spec. It's all interconnected. Everything has to be within spec in order for the systems to functions properly. VW is the same way. Obviously, the cost for the service is no where near.
I was wondering what other's have experienced? It truly makes me sick to my stomach to fork out that kind of cash for an alignment when all I wanted to do is make my car look "better" by ONE inch.
I phoned a friend at Audi, because the service adviser didn't quite understand or know how to explain this. I'm techy and car savy guy and have never heard of such a thing. Long story short, he confirmed. It has to do with the center of the steering wheel in relation to the wheel and sensors/cameras - AND it's only applicable when alignment is off by a certain spec. It's all interconnected. Everything has to be within spec in order for the systems to functions properly. VW is the same way. Obviously, the cost for the service is no where near.
I was wondering what other's have experienced? It truly makes me sick to my stomach to fork out that kind of cash for an alignment when all I wanted to do is make my car look "better" by ONE inch.
#4
Rennlist Member
I recently had my car lowered using Techart springs. I live in the north shore and The Exchange does a lot of my warranty work, etc. In February I called them to obtain a quote to install the springs and perform an alignment. Their estimate was $3500-$4000 for installation and labor, excluding parts! I had it done elsewhere but can confirm that their prices are high.
#5
Rennlist Member
You were overcharged. I have ACC as well. The dealerships here charge $200-299 for a standard wheel alignment, and $400-450 for a car with ACC. I had mine done recently and they only charged me $400 with the PCA discount.
#7
Rennlist Member
I changed my own (Techart) and had the car aligned at my normal local shop. We did nothing special for ACC and I've had no issues whatsoever with the ACC working properly or the lane assist working properly.
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#8
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Depending on how many of their cookies you eat, it may have been a good price.
#9
Three Wheelin'
I think you got robbed by your local shop and the dealer. The local shop probably had the dealer put extra markup in for them, since they brought it to the dealer. Dealers and shops assume we are all rich idiots and will just pay whatever we are told. It's the Porsche way.