Renault OptiLine laser check

[MattyMarsh]

Just spoke to Renault regarding a laser alignment check. They do something called an OptiLine check. It takes 2 hours and costs about £150. Bl**dy expensive.

What do they do that takes 2 hours ?

As anyone had this done ? Do any other national garages provide a similar service for less?

 

[ESCOBAR]

lol, the technician takes his pals out in your car for a 1hr 45 minute blast while you sit in the garage drinking coffee then returns to do the business after 5 minutes of letting the smoke clear from the thrashing hes given it.

 

[Djw John]

Theres a local specilist to me who does absolutly evrything for £32.50 in about an hour or so, I wouldnt give it to Reno for that job.

 

[MattyMarsh]

Thought it was a rip off. The problem is finding someone else that can do this. Anyone in the Midlands or Staffordshire ?

 

[scooby stu]

Ive used a couple of places in Northampton for full alignment check that I would recommend - is this too far away ?

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

To get a laser alignment check for under £80 is unheard of I think. Remember its different to just getting the tracking done.

 

[geoff_clio182]

There is a good one in Bedford...costs £60 for a 4 wheel alignment and takes about 20 minutes.

 

[MattyMarsh]

scooby -

Would be willing to travel to Northampton. Do you have the details on the garages you used. Thanks.

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

Sorry, but I cant see 20min job being laser alignment.

 

[geoff_clio182]

Quote: Originally posted by mike8579 on 24 November 2004

Sorry, but I cant see 20min job being laser alignment.

Well Im sorry but it is, ring them if you want. Company is STS Wheel Alignment and the phone number is 01234 269800, and its the only thing they really do. All the major car dealers in Bedford use them, including BMW, Volvo, Land Rover, SKoda and Chrysler.

 

[Fred@BTM]

Northampton Motorsport tel 01604 766624 and ask for Roger Fowle

hes expensive, but knows his sh*t!!!! £94 for a set up

geoff there are SO MANY different tracking/alingment places out there ranging from your £25 quickfits upto you £100 + motorsport companys

youd be amazed at how far from 100% straight a £25 quickfit track really is!!! and they use lazers, but i reckon they must be special bent lazers

problem with those types of setup are that you have human error built into them (im on about the one where the lazer shines onto the board)

Northampton Motorsport are 100% computer, so it cant be fcuked up

 

[MattyMarsh]

Thanks Fred.

 

[geoff_clio182]

The one at Bedford uses a Hunter (if I remember correctly) laser alignment which is all done through a computer. You put in details of the car year and model and its does most of it for them!

 

[MattyMarsh]

Thanks geoff. Bedford is a bit too far for me. I guess they could only produce those detailed reports using a computer system. If someone says "yes thats okay" then they arent doing a laser alignment check. I am after the full report.

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

Nah. Not having it. Most dealerships charge in the region of £150.

It took more than 20mins to do the tracking on mine and that wasnt a full on laser set up. It only did the horixontal alignment. The vertical alignment should be done as well, and at both ends of the car.

Thats going to be more like an hour of a job.

 

[geoff_clio182]

Well Mike you can believe what you like.

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

Im just intrigued to know how it only takes 20 mins to do the vertical AND horizontal alignment of 4 wheels? I assume the Optiline is a full geometry check you see?

 

[rabbos]

Does anyone know of a laser alignment place in Oxfordshire?

 

[geoff_clio182]

I dont know how it takes only 20 minutes just that it does!

 

[MattyMarsh]

Geoff,

Perhaps ESCOBARs post was more accurate than we thought. Give or take 5 minutes .

"lol, the technician takes his pals out in your car for a 1hr 45 minute blast while you sit in the garage drinking coffee then returns to do the business after 5 minutes of letting the smoke clear from the thrashing hes given it."

 

[Jason C]

...a good motorsport mechanic might use string - dont be put off.

 

[MattyMarsh]

Why should that put me off. Dont they all use string ?

 

[Fred@BTM]

Quote: Originally posted by Jason C on 25 November 2004

...a good motorsport mechanic might use string - dont be put off.

ok, but ill rephrase that for you!!!

...a good motorsport mechanic might use string, but they wont win any races!!!



Geoff, HUNTER is the best gear you can get!!!! so thats a DAM good price!!!!!!

 

[DARKO]

Quote: Originally posted by mike8579 on 25 November 2004

Im just intrigued to know how it only takes 20 mins to do the vertical AND horizontal alignment of 4 wheels? I assume the Optiline is a full geometry check you see?

If its checked and found to be ok why should it take any longer?

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

It would take that long just to put the gear on. Ive since looked at websites for places that offer this service and they all say at least an hour.

I suspect that the 20min job is simply a tracking job. to align 4 wheels the front wheels are set to be in line with the rears to put it simply so only 2 are actually adjusted. However a full geometry set up is a whole different kettle of fish.

My alignment took 20 mins (after they freed up the track rod ends).

 

[tinhead]

I thought you could only adjust the front tracking on the clio so whats the point in paying a fortune to measure anything else unless youve had a bump.