HELP! I can't get my wheels off!

[Pondrew]

Hi,
Could someone please tell me how to get my wheels off?

All studs off, WD40 inside hub, between hub and wheel all around the rear edge. I have even sprayed it in the stud holes. Hit tyre hard with a rubber mallet. It ain't moving!
Am I missing something?

 

[R.E92]

In that situation I would put the bolts back in finger-tight and roll the car around your driveway a little. That should break the bond between the hub and wheel. When it goes you'll hear a big thud.

Given the state of your wheels and calipers it looks like your car was parked in the sea. You might need to rock the car a little using the brakes to stop harshly to get the bond to break.

 

[Smartbear]

Bigger hammer on the inside of the tyre (mind those rims with that sledgehammer) and hit it like you mean it
Rob

 

[Pondrew]

DONE IT!

They are so rusted on the WD40 took a good few minutes to penetrate.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Pondrew]

I'm only taking them off to sort the rust issue. Next step wire brush!!

 

[clarker63]

Once the wheel nuts are undone a little (and keeping the wheel on), I tend to lower the car back down on the jack so the wheels touch the ground until they release. you can then raise the jack up, and then remove the nuts/wheels. Works every time and requires no hammering/spraying/etc!

 

[Pondrew]

Once the wheel nuts are undone a little (and keeping the wheel on), I tend to lower the car back down on the jack so the wheels touch the ground until they release. you can then raise the jack up, and then remove the nuts/wheels. Works every time and requires no hammering/spraying/etc!

Yeah that occurred to me, but my trolley jack is a bit "up or down" and I didn't want to damage the hub.

 

[flybobbie]

Kettle of hot water to expand the alloy wheel.

 

[Boltz]

Don’t want to be the Prophet of doom but those are the egg shell 326 alloys so you need to be looking for cracks on the inner rims and if you find any make use of any warranty you may have on the car!!!!

 

[ronk]

The wheels on the 335 get swapped October and April (winter /Summer) and every time I have a struggle.
Both sets of wheels are BMW products, Ive tried copper slip, Oil, grease and dry - They are wire brushed each time but they stick on.

It would seem its a BMW problem and not confined to the E89 :thumbsdown:

 

[Mr Tidy]

It would seem its a BMW problem and not confined to the E89 :thumbsdown:

It isn't just a BMW problem, I had the same issue on a 1991 Sierra with steel wheels back in the mid-90s! I ended up using a sledge-hammer. :lol:

I also swap wheels twice a year on my 3 Series (winters/summers) and have never had a problem with them - just whack each side of the wheel alternately with the heeel of my hand and they pop off eventually.

 

[ronk]

I think it’s going to bad in the Springtime as the Winters have been on from Oct 19 - as the was not used much during the year due to the lockdown.

 

[Smartbear]

I think it’s going to bad in the Springtime as the Winters have been on from Oct 19 - as the was not used much during the year due to the lockdown.

If i remember rightly Ron didn’t you recently have to prematurely replace corroded discs? With your wheels regularly becoming fused to the hubs I’m wondering if your wheel cleaning spray’s causing more harm than good? :?
Rob

 

[R.E92]

Could also be related to how much torque is on the wheel bolts, quite easy to use too much force with a breaker bar or air gun.

I always wipe a bit of copper grease over the contact surfaces and use a torque wrench at 120nm. Never had a problem getting the wheels off after.

 

[ronk]

I think it’s going to bad in the Springtime as the Winters have been on from Oct 19 - as the was not used much during the year due to the lockdown.

If i remember rightly Ron didn’t you recently have to prematurely replace corroded discs? With your wheels regularly becoming fused to the hubs I’m wondering if your wheel cleaning spray’s causing more harm than good? :?
Rob

I did replace the discs on the front of the 335 at great expense! I think the corrosion had been there from new when it had been shipped or In storage- I always regret not going back to the dealer but it was 220 miles away and although not 100% it wasn’t bad enough to go back - I admit it blind sided me.

The wheels are always torqued on and the spigots cared for and after a wash the us always driven.

I should add here that these problems relate to my 335 and not the 35is. - that has been left entirely to the mercy of my local main dealership.