TFT

I had my 2008 S8 in for service and they told me I would need a wheel alignment. I was told that due to the type of suspension, etc the alignment would coast around $500.
Does this make sense? Any of you guys have this done on your S8s or A8s?

tjf

Sounds like they are trying to take you for a ride. An Audi dealer price should only be around $125 - $150

MP4.2+6.0

Yep. $95 big smackers at my usual indy tire shop for the standard computerized set up on the essentially identical W12. Twice over the years. But then since the shop doesn't have that uber precise German engineering overhead that helps pay for the granite, marble and "free" Starbucks, maybe I'm being taken for a ride. Not.

In plain English, it's a suspension with parts and bolts and has four wheels that go around. Let's get real. Once you learn they can also move the subframe if it gets serious, that's about it. The lasers and bubble levels and mirrors and socket wrenches and mallets don't work any different in the rarified Audi universe. And extra points if you realize if alignment is going out and it wasn't a wheel hit or pothole, then you can get ahead of the next $1,500 add on "supplemental" when they tell you you need the full upper suspension "job" and then of course another alignment. Oh, and then there's the $12-1500 extra special brake job I can already guess... Paging Herr Doktor Prokto, we have a live one on aisle one. Bring the shears and lube while we get him a latte.

Giovanni Giovino 6.0+6.0TT

$500 is absurd....

I just had the 4 wheel alignment done last week on the 05 A8L W12 for $100.00 along with four new Pirelli P7's ($1026) because the shop that did it previously back in June did a half *** job, center steering off and pulling, took 3 time for him to get it right, or so he told me it was right, first it was pigeon-toed and way sensitive, then felt like it was plowing down the road, third time, no pulling, and stayed straight, but would squeal at high speed through off or on ramps, never did that before, claimed it was my brand new tires.....


Long story short, I just went back to Sears last week as I got a flat in the front and found out why, see pics, so the same "technician" at Sears Automotive who worked on my vehicle back in June to do the alignment after I replaced all the suspension parts on a Sunday said I was wrong and was misinformed on the proper procedure of the front end alignment for the Audi A8, and that "the Sub-Frame does not get moved at all for front end alignment", I assured him that he was in-fact wrong, and that the Sub-Frame adjustment is part of the alignment, his answer was "even if it is, I am not moving it", so I wound up with 3 destroyed tires, both front and passenger rear, SO be sure you ask for your before and after printout of alignment and that they do in-fact move the Sub-Frame as needed, this time at the other shop I saw it being adjusted in person, both Sears and F&M have the same alignment machine, look how bad the before (Sears work) was...

TSHong

The only way that estimate would be close if they had to recalibrate an ACC senor and then alignment. If only a straight up alignment, like everyone has said, it's an overcharge.

richard-tx

Generally speaking, if the wheel alignment is messed with, then the ACC need to be aligned too.

TFT

What is the ACC?

Giovanni Giovino 6.0+6.0TT

Adaptive cruise control.

TFT

What would the Adaptive Cruise Control have to do with alignment?

Giovanni Giovino 6.0+6.0TT

Hello Richard,
While I agree that is what has always been said, I on the other hand have had my alignment done 3 times over the years and the ACC has never been touched, and it works as it should, I believe that as long as the ACC sensor remains square to the body, and the suspension is square to the body as it should be, and no one has ever moved the ACC sensor for adjustment or accident damage, it should be as factory set, and doing the 4 wheel alignment brings the suspension back into factory specs, so all should be matching.

Just my thoughts and experience.