Wheel nut key ??

[step_change]

Hi all,
Someone, could have been BMW, Kwikfit or Speedys over torqued my wheel and with me trying to get it off I fouled my Wheel nut key. The first three wheels were fine, it was the fourth where this happened. I don't have the code either, just a purple colour on the top. Not urgent now since on run flats but I need to get a replacement sorted pronto....

Anyone recommend a decent place to get a replacement please?

Thanks.

 

[Nictrix]

Unless the locking nuts have been changed from the factory, BMW will be able to supply the correct key if you give them the vin number.

 

[buzyg]

Have you considered buying a new set of plain wheel nuts and get the last locking nut removed. They are not worth the hastle IMHO. If some one wanted to nick your angels they could get the locking nuts off in seconds. :wink:

 

[maxman]

Just go to a main dealer,they have a master set,if I remember correctly there's only about 12 to choose from.
The exact same thing happend to me..The locking key is not that dear £9 plus vat.

 

[step_change]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the advice. I was in a bit of a panic....
I am thinking of ditching the locking wheel nuts all together.

 

[Pickster]

Hi Maxman is right just go to main dealer , same happened to me , guy in the parts dept came out to the car park with a dozen or so on a bunch, he had a good idea which one it was tried it and bobs your uncle .
Stratstone in Leeds charged 20.00 plus vat for the replacement.

 

[step_change]

Took it to BMW, they removed them all with their own master and I asked them to replace them all with ordinary wheel bolts. They had two they let me have and I had to buy two more for £9 for the two of them.

Those locking wheel nuts are a PITA. This is the third time in my DIY'ing this has happened and I am always careful to engage the key properly and squarely. BMW say it is always happening to them with customer's vehicles where the locking nut has been over torqued and abandoned by the likes of tyre dealers and they carry a large stock of the nuts for when they break a customer's own one. Also they told me, as @buzyg said, if someone is really into BMW wheels, they could just buy a full set of the 12 types of locking nut key and they'd be able to remove wheels at will. So having locking wheel nuts is not much of a deterrent nowadays.

Also what they said is that the main bolts should be torqued to 140Nm and the locking one to 120Nm.

 

[mcbutler]

It's a common BMW problem as cars age. The locking nut thread is a few mm too long and protrudes from the rear of the hub. It rusts and jams.
On my first Z4 I went for my new tyres and the locking key stripped out on the first nut leaving the material from the key in the head of the bolt from which it was immovable.
It then took a garage full of professionals nearly 3 hours to remove all my wheels!
They used a socket from snap on that you simply hammer on with a sledge hammer (seriously) and with a lot of effort they eventually come off.
My advice, don't bother replacing them just buy four normal wheel bolts and pop them in.

Oh, the colour sticker on the top of the bolt is your 'key code' if i remember corectly.

 

[buzyg]

Took it to BMW, they removed them all with their own master and I asked them to replace them all with ordinary wheel bolts. They had two they let me have and I had to buy two more for £9 for the two of them.

Those locking wheel nuts are a PITA. This is the third time in my DIY'ing this has happened and I am always careful to engage the key properly and squarely. BMW say it is always happening to them with customer's vehicles where the locking nut has been over torqued and abandoned by the likes of tyre dealers and they carry a large stock of the nuts for when they break a customer's own one. Also they told me, as @buzyg said, if someone is really into BMW wheels, they could just buy a full set of the 12 types of locking nut key and they'd be able to remove wheels at will. So having locking wheel nuts is not much of a deterrent nowadays.

Also what they said is that the main bolts should be torqued to 140Nm and the locking one to 120Nm.

 

[Busterboo]

It's a common BMW problem as cars age. The locking nut thread is a few mm too long and protrudes from the rear of the hub. It rusts and jams.
On my first Z4 I went for my new tyres and the locking key stripped out on the first nut leaving the material from the key in the head of the bolt from which it was immovable.
It then took a garage full of professionals nearly 3 hours to remove all my wheels!
They used a socket from snap on that you simply hammer on with a sledge hammer (seriously) and with a lot of effort they eventually come off.
My advice, don't bother replacing them just buy four normal wheel bolts and pop them in.

Oh, the colour sticker on the top of the bolt is your 'key code' if i remember corectly.

Yep, same thing happened to me.