BBS Cross Spokes - Security Issue

[NickE30]

Can anybody help me?

Having had just one of my cross-spoke centre caps nicked by some chav over 18 months ago, I decided to take the other three caps off the car to prevent anyone else pinching them.

In the last few months I managed to find, a bought a couple of centre caps off ebay. However, I'm reluctant to fit them, together with my original caps that have been gathering dust in the garage, just incase someone nicks them again.

Has anybody out there come up with a way of securing these caps on, yet a way that is easy to get them off in the event of a wheel-change? When I was recently changing the pads on my E30, the rust / salt build up on the centre hub made it extremely difficult to remove the wheel - so I need the caps back on to protect this exposed area. Plus, I'm becoming increasingly wound-up looking at my car's untidy appearance with no centre caps!.....

[Cloggy Saint]

I used silicone on mine, it makes it difficult to remove them without the tool. I guess it works as i've had all 4 caps for about 3 years!

[Gwynleym10]

a bought a couple of centre caps off ebay

Probably bought one of your old stolen ones! Very wary of centre caps on ebay, go for way to much money, even thoguh they are only Ԛ£25 from the dealers!

I think it actually fuels the steeling of them!

Silicon works, but will damage the lockring (plastic bit) if it is still in-tack.

It is possible to drill the cap and put a grub in the wheel, thus making them for less easy to steal.

[DieselMeister]

I've had this exact same probelm. Bought my Sport in november with 1 missing cap. Bought a second hand one from egay and before it had arrived, some tealeaf had another one. So I took the remaining ones off and have been musing on how to secure them ever since.

I was thinking about getting my local hardware store to drill the caps an put in an allen bolt.

I'll let you know if I pull it off (pardon the pun).

[orangecurry]

a bought a couple of centre caps off ebay

Probably bought one of your old stolen ones! Very wary of centre caps on ebay, go for way to much money, even thoguh they are only Ԛ£25 from the dealers!

which dealers is that? I was quoted 33 incl vat and not incl the BMW logo/sticker

I've sold caps on Ebay; I get them from the scrappies... they take the wheels off but usually chuck the bolts and caps onto the car seats

So don't tar us enterprising recycling businessmen with the same brush as thieving scumbags....

[NickE30]

Have to agree with 'orangecurry', I was quoted around Ԛ£35 for just one centre cap direct from a BMW dealer, then there's the further cost of the sticker.

Another reason I opted for second hand is because it would have looked just a stupid putting a brand new shiny centre cap on my old wheels. No matter how much I clean them, the surrounding wheel will always get more dirty than the new centre cap and look out of place.

DieselMeister - Let me know how you get on with the allen bolt method (post on some pictures or something.....)

Otherwise, think I might use a couple of small self-tapping screws per wheel, somehow preventing them twisting off easily.....

[Gwynleym10]

Have to agree with 'orangecurry', I was quoted around Ԛ£35 for just one centre cap direct from a BMW dealer, then there's the further cost of the sticker.

Sal will get them through the Zone shop for Ԛ£25 from the dealer.

I realise there are some genuine second hand non stolen caps on ebay, just difficult to tell which are which!

[DaveD]

europarts Ԛ£24.96 including sticker

[Brianmoooore]

Alternative solution. Get some all plastic caps from the early E34s, cut off everything that sticks out the back and silicon them to your E30 wheels.

[Gwynleym10]

Brain surely that would be a bugger to get off if you needed to change a wheel, especially in an emergancy (in the dark/rain/snow/wind) etc

[stevetigger]

or park the car in the garage like me, and never leave it when you go for a drive.....resulting in no caps missing! I have never had a cap go missing!

[tylerma]

or park the car in the garage like me, and never leave it when you go for a drive.....resulting in no caps missing! I have never had a cap go missing!

not all of us have a garage mate

[stevetigger]

or park the car in the garage like me, and never leave it when you go for a drive.....resulting in no caps missing! I have never had a cap go missing!

not all of us have a garage mate

Nor did I, So I bought a house with one!

[DieselMeister]

I'm lucky enough to have off the road parking but I'm not in a position to buy a house yet. If I was, I wouldn't have the E30.

Win some...

Basically, it was a rum decision by BMW (or a clever one, depending upon your perspective) to design removable caps without a more secure locking system.

I'm about to find out if this can be solved though. If not, aftermarket rims here I come I hate the charver look w/out the trims...

[e30geezer]

Can anybody help me?

Having had just one of my cross-spoke centre caps nicked by some chav over 18 months ago, I decided to take the other three caps off the car to prevent anyone else pinching them.

In the last few months I managed to find, a bought a couple of centre caps off ebay. However, I'm reluctant to fit them, together with my original caps that have been gathering dust in the garage, just incase someone nicks them again.

Has anybody out there come up with a way of securing these caps on, yet a way that is easy to get them off in the event of a wheel-change? When I was recently changing the pads on my E30, the rust / salt build up on the centre hub made it extremely difficult to remove the wheel - so I need the caps back on to protect this exposed area. Plus, I'm becoming increasingly wound-up looking at my car's untidy appearance with no centre caps!.....

hi, mate have had mine drilled on 2 screws on each wheel , very secure .

[Brianmoooore]

Brain surely that would be a bugger to get off if you needed to change a wheel, especially in an emergancy (in the dark/rain/snow/wind) etc

Standard spanner should twist them off OK.

[NickE30]

E30geezer,

Where exactly have you drilled in the screws? on to the centre hub? ( through the centre cap badge) or either side of the badge? (preventing the caps from being twisted). Are you able to post on any photos......

Cheers.