[gr4z]

So I came to swap my winters for my lovely 19" summer wheels the other day. Got all 19 nuts off apart from the very last one which happened to be the secure bolt on my rear wheel. Could I get the bugger off? No. So called BMW Assist, he couldn't do it either and suggested the security key was slightly damaged or worn and I should call my local dealer and get another even though it has worked on the other 3 secure nuts. I know what secure key number it is so can order another if needed.

So called dealer. They have told me I need to book a service and be charged for the dealer to assess if the key or the wheel bolt is faulty. Seems excessive as it would probably take someone 2 mins to get a wheel gun on it. Then they said it would take about 4 weeks for a new key to arrive!

As the car is only 10 months is it excessive that I have to pay to found what is wrong with the nut or key? Tempted to take it to my local tyre fitter and get them to get it off.

What do you guys think?

[ronime]

Is the security key slipping/spinning on the bolt?

If not then the bolt is seized for some reason. Possibly corrosion.

[rosstin]

As a side question, how do you find the key number?

[Dave1963]

My son had a brand new Corsa, which he had a puncture in. I went to assist him, to discover the locking wheel nut would not budge. Some twat had done it up with an air gun.....Took it to Vauxhall and they decided to charge him for a new set of wheel nuts and the time to take them off, when it was those twats who had serviced it......That was an interesting conversation.....Ended up taliking to Vauxhall head office, who told the dealer to sort it at their cost....Who put the winters on?

[gr4z]

The security key just slips off the bolt. Works fine on the other three bolts. Neither the key or bolt look damaged.

A local tyre fitter who I have used for years put the winters on when they fitted my TPMS valves. I will stop by tomorrow on the way home from work and see if they can help. Screw BMW charging me.

I asked the parts department for my key number. They got a master set out and tried them all until it fitted.

[Dave1963]

Originally Posted by gr4z

The security key just slips off the bolt. Works fine on the other three bolts. Neither the key or bolt look damaged.

A local tyre fitter who I have used for years put the winters on when they fitted my TPMS valves. I will stop by tomorrow on the way home from work and see if they can help. Screw BMW charging me.

I asked the parts department for my key number. They got a master set out and tried them all until it fitted.

Good shout.

[Tr0y]

Common problem unfortunately. The locking keys are shite!! You could try putting the key on the bolt and tapping it with a mallet before trying to get it off. And use a long bar for added leverage.

[gr4z]

Originally Posted by Tr0y

Common problem unfortunately. The locking keys are shite!! You could try putting the key on the bolt and tapping it with a mallet before trying to get it off. And use a long bar for added leverage.

Yeah I tried that as did the guy from BMW Assist. Wrench just kept slipping off with key attached. Feels like the wheel nut is either over tightened or slightly worn.

[ronime]

Just tried my Irwin Bolt Grips. The largest that I have is 19mm (3/4") but it is too small. You might be able to hammer on a cheap bi-hex 22m socket but there is real danger of damaging the recess in the wheel where the security bolt sits.

I would be tempted to sacrifice the key and bolt set by packing some steel epoxy putty in and letting it set overnight with the key in place. It might provide enough temporary grip to crack the bolt free. Depends how much the stealers will charge to free off the bolt with their master key and supply you with a replacement key.

Many years ago some scrotes broke into several cars on our street and stole the locking wheel bolt keys, including the one from our Fiesta. The supplying Ford dealer sold me a replacement key and bolt set and loaned me their master key set for free whilst I changed the bolts over outside their workshop.

[gr4z]

Originally Posted by ronime

Just tried my Irwin Bolt Grips. The largest that I have is 19mm (3/4") but it is too small. You might be able to hammer on a cheap bi-hex 22m socket but there is real danger of damaging the recess in the wheel where the security bolt sits.

Think I will take it to my tyre fitter first and see what they can do. If they can't will have to pay the buggers at BMW to sort it.

[ajfoggy]

Surely they will take it off for free? Then just order a new set of bolts with key for about £35 quid I think.

or £20

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BMW-36-13-7.../dp/B004V4ILA2

[gr4z]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

Surely they will take it off for free? Then just order a new set of bolts with key for about £35 quid I think.

BMW have already said they won't do anything for free. I apparently need to book it in as a service for them to 'investigate' the issue!

[HighlandPete]

Sounds to me as if the bolts have been overtightened, or the key not correctly engaged before use. The bolts only require torqueing to 140Nm +/- 10Nm, no reason to damage the locking key.

If anyone requires a long breaker bar, the bolts are definitely over tight.

[gr4z]

Thanks guys. I will order the ones mentioned above from Amazon if I can the old ones off!

Assume those from Amazon that mention they are for the F30 would be the same for F36.

[ajfoggy]

Originally Posted by gr4z

BMW have already said they won't do anything for free. I apparently need to book it in as a service for them to 'investigate' the issue!

Harsh... hopefully it is not crossed!!

One of the cars I bought had a wheel bolt missing!!! When they order a new set of bolts they found the reason it was missing because at some point it had been crossed and needed a new hub!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by gr4z

BMW have already said they won't do anything for free. I apparently need to book it in as a service for them to 'investigate' the issue!

You'd think a decent dealer would do it for free.

There is another side to it, if the bolt is overtight. If it is the key, the dealer's master key may get damaged trying to undo the bolt. I'm aware of this happening to one of my neighbours, with a BMW dealer.

[gr4z]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

Harsh... hopefully it is not crossed!!

One of the cars I bought had a wheel bolt missing!!! When they order a new set of bolts they found the reason it was missing because at some point it had been crossed and needed a new hub!

That's what I am worried about. Some dozy tyre fitter cross threading it. Something is definitely not right though with the nut. I think the key is actually ok.

[greatbm]

There is a sequence of unbolting wheels with the Mcguard BMW locking bolts. When removing a wheel you should loosen the locking bolt first before the standard bolts. On refit the locking bolt is torqued up last. I have had no problems following this procedure torquing up to 140 Nm.

[macfife]

Originally Posted by greatbm

There is a sequence of unbolting wheels with the Mcguard BMW locking bolts. When removing a wheel you should loosen the locking bolt first before the standard bolts. On refit the locking bolt is torqued up last. I have had no problems following this procedure torquing up to 140 Nm.

I had same issue this autumn as my fourth change using the locking key, kept slipping and bought a new locking key direct from BMW as it had a coloured dot on it. Still had same issue.

Solution: took car to kwik fit, lad put the key on, gave it some hard twacks with a hammer with key on the nut and then cracked it off with the torque wrench.

[ronime]

Irwin do a specific set of lug nut extractors but they ain't cheap:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/irwi...bolt-grip-set/

[ronime]

Originally Posted by macfife

... bought a new locking key direct from BMW as it had a coloured dot on it.

I was going to ask about that. My key has a specific colour/shape sticker on it that I suspect is the "code".

I'm going to hazard a guess that there are circle, square and triangle stickers in a variety of colours.

[kitster]

Originally Posted by ronime

I was going to ask about that. My key has a specific colour/shape sticker on it that I suspect is the "code".

I'm going to hazard a guess that there are circle, square and triangle stickers in a variety of colours.

Had the same issue over Xmas. Dealer wanted £100 per bolt to remove and the parts department let me borrow their master set. They have about 20 master keys so I suspect the symbol means nothing. Parts guy said the bolts are crap and they have loads of customers coming in for spares. One thing to note, on the F30 there are two types of locking bolts available the newer style with the wobbly pattern (what I had), and the older style bolts with jagged teeth. I ended up going with the older style as they are cheaper, also their tyre fitter said they less prone to be damaged.