E30 Zone

just bought a e30 with 17in wheels, problem is it has locking wheel nuts and the car doesn't have a key anywhere and the previous owner has no idea. any tips on getting them off?

cheers

Depends on what type they are.

Common practice is to smash a slightly smaller sized socket onto the locking nut so that it grips the nut so it can be opened.

You could try to chisel them off anti-clockwise. This is time consuming and you will end up damaging your alloys.

You could heat the locking nuts up until they glow red hot, fit a socket over them and remove them.

Or if you do not want to damage anything get one of these....



its called a gator socket.

will it still grip the bolt if its round?

will it still grip the bolt if its round?

NO.

Use a chisel and smash one side of the round nut off so its a f**ked up shape so the gator socket can get a grip on it.

nice one fella, just seen a gator socket on flea bay for 15 quid, i might snap it up. (pun intended)

I see the one your after on the bay thats the original gator stuff.

Make sure its not a chinese copy. I heard they are shit and break quickly.

Glad to be of assistance

I had the same problem with roundones. I got a 19" socket that has loads of teeth on it (not sure of the techincal name 12 point socket perhaps?) as suppose to the hex socket.

I then hammered this onto the socket as its a very tight fit and took them off. The only thing is trying to get the socket back out of the lock nut, but I hammered mine back out which took longer than taking them off the car.

or you just go to Halfrods and buy a locking wheelnut remover! Mate of mine bought one and it is disappointing how easy they got his looking wheelnut off! Every scum can go and buy them at Halfords, why do I bother with locking wheel nuts?????

just looked on halfrauds, not sure whether to or not, read the reviews on there, and some people say its not that good. what the hell, its only 11 quid. might as well try it. cheers mate

or you just go to Halfrogs and buy a locking wheelnut remover!

I didn't know they sold a locking nut remover...

So what type are your locking wheelbolts? You still haven't described them!
The original E30 locking bolts, with a small conventional key, could be removed quicker with a screwdriver than the correct key!

just drill the centre of the bolt and use a reverse threaded tool. they look like a centre punch but they have a thread on the outside and are designed for this job. if you find you can't turn it, tighten the other bolts a little more and that should loosen it a little.

the tool costs about 6 quid and wont break when doing a simple job like this.


good luck