Locking wheel nuts.. removal as I've bust the key?

benji182 · 26 May 2009 at 18:05

right, a new question to all you helpful guys.

i went into halfords looking for some new locking wheel bolts and there were loads. so i picked up a set of the McGard (i think they were called) and asked these look similar M14 x1.5 not sure on what measurements that means but he said they're wrong so after giving him my car details BMW 316i SE Compact (E36) he showed me another set but they had the same measurements on just a different brand so that through my confidence and didn't buy either.

does anyone know what size wheel bolts i should have on my car?

Wicksta · 26 May 2009 at 18:07

To be honest unless you have some very special wheels just order a set of 4 normal wheelnuts from ebay for a quid each or something.

benji182 · 26 May 2009 at 18:23

Wicksta said:
To be honest unless you have some very special wheels just order a set of 4 normal wheelnuts from ebay for a quid each or something.

they're not special but 18" M6 reps wouldn't be cheap to replace so rather have a semi decent correct fitting wheel bolt on there.

so if you know the correct size or where i can find out. please do let me know as MOT is this week.

AtlanticP · 26 May 2009 at 19:11

benji182 said:
they're not special but 18" M6 reps wouldn't be cheap to replace so rather have a semi decent correct fitting wheel bolt on there.

so if you know the correct size or where i can find out. please do let me know as MOT is this week.

try here mate:

http://www.mcgard.com/Applications/AutomotiveSearch/default.aspx?QToK=/zv/1OM7BBluKtWGe5tqEw==

I* don't know the specifics of your BM so couldn't check myself..

InvaderGIR · 26 May 2009 at 19:21

I have a full set of BMW locking nuts, with two keys.

Pieces of crap, swapped them out for some normal bolts.

Lum · 26 May 2009 at 21:02

Park outside Halfords, take one nut out, take it into the store with you and compare to the ones on display.

As well as making sure the threads match, you need to make sure the taper immediately above the thread is the same too.

Demon · 26 May 2009 at 21:24

For a lot of locking wheel nuts, the 'Gator Grip' socket fits quite nicely..

http://www.endeavortool.com/

Some scrap yard geezer was using them to undo some alloys we wanted off a car that had locking wheel nuts.. amazingly easy..

benji182 · 27 May 2009 at 00:43

Demon said:
For a lot of locking wheel nuts, the 'Gator Grip' socket fits quite nicely..

http://www.endeavortool.com/

Some scrap yard geezer was using them to undo some alloys we wanted off a car that had locking wheel nuts.. amazingly easy..

that thing looks like it does business!!

good find, if i have trouble with the other 3 i might invest in this and then just sell on or keep.

mattpc · 27 May 2009 at 01:13

Sorry I've not read the whole thread so this may have been posted. Over the last few years I've mislaid the locking nut for a couple of my cars. The way I have got round it without fail is to carefully hammer on a socket that is too small for the locking nut and then undo it. It cost you a socket but it's the quickest and most effective way of undoing any locking nuts I've encountered.

Matt82 · 27 May 2009 at 06:42

benji182 said:
BMW had a tray of about 20 keys and none fitted, also mensioned the tyres are for 180+ mph or something yet my car won't do more than 125 lol.

17mm socket £4.29 not bad - gave it a pounding and it came free easy, hopefully it'll be same story on the other 3.

thanks for your replies.

your career as a wheel thief should how flourish