E30 locking wheelnut key

[TaitRacing]

Evening chaps

My recent purchase has come without the key for the locking wheel nut and I'm having a set of Proxes put on tomorrow, has anyone got any tips for getting these poxy things off without the key? Drill or chisel?

Cheers

[Simon]

If you are going to a tyre place to have them fitted, they will have them off with no trouble.

[SGP]

If you can get a hold of a key it will obviously save loads of time and grief.I got a donor car a while back with the same problem,it wasn't an original e30 locking stud (splined socket) in the end I got them off by using a steel hole saw in the drill and cutting compound it was quick (alloys are soft)and drilling right through the wheel around the stud, it came out easily having removed the wheel around it.The wheels were rendered useless of course but they were cheap and nasty and in tatters anyway so it didn't matter.If youve got wheels worth saving (bbs for example)its worth getting a lend of the proper key if possible, or you may be able to drill them and get a stud extractor in which will save the wheels, otherwise they'll be scrap.

[TaitRacing]

Cheers people - I think they are the proper BMW ones.

It's a small mot centre/garage/tyre shop near my work. I hope they don't charge the earth for doing it, got one of those feelings that they will though...

[noney82]

weld a normal wheel stud to the end this will dy pass locking nut then just get a new set of locking nuts

[Andy335Touring]

If they are the shitty orginals like i had then get a pair bigish grips and wiggle them till they fail/fall off

[orangecurry]

my key for my 'originals' looks very proper key-like - I don't think anything other than the proper key will fit

so forcible removal is the order of the day

[Brianmoooore]

If these are the original types with a proper key, rather than the internal spline and adaptor setup of the later type, then the outer covers can easily be knocked off with a large screwdriver and hammer. Almost as quick to do this than use the key even if you have it.

[WerkdE30]

cold chisel and a hammer easy as. bmw dealerships also have complete sets of wheel nut keys just depends how friendly your local one is.

[E30Mark]

Even with the proper key these original wheel nuts are a pain to get off.

Hammer them to death and fit something else!

[bennyboy]

i'm trying to get mine off now aswell. got one off with a stud remover. it has a reversr thread so just drill a hole and wind it in. it becomes tight and before you know it your loosening the nut! you can get the set from halfords for about Ԛ£7. Good luck mate!

[TaitRacing]

Cheers people. A club hammer and chisel made easy work of it! Roll on the Proxes!

[dobbie82]

DOes anyone have a picture of the key that i should look for? dont really want to go down the hammer and chisel route as I want to keep the car original as possible (and dont want to buy another set of nuts really)

There is one small key that i think disables the alarm but that is still too big

Is it a standard key that you can buy from a dealer if you give them your vin number? as i am popping down to my "local" dealer next week

[orangecurry]

I can do you a picture later this evening Hannah.

[dobbie82]

ok thanks very much (hope its no trouble though) you can just describe rough size if its easier!

[orangecurry]

erm from memory

2cm square bit of metal, then say 0.5cm x 2cm proper key bit, teeth on one side only????
I think the whole key is L-shaped, i.e. the key proper comes out of one side of the square bit where you put your fingers......


much easier to photo

[dazleeds]

drill em out
very easy and wont put a fight
5mins each maximum

[FlashBastd]

Mine are a bit worn, what is the best type to replace them with?

[dazleeds]

Mine are a bit worn, what is the best type to replace them with?

anything chunky id say

not them things with 3 little stubs on the removal key etc they always snap

get something where the actual wheel nut bit is solid and has thick bits cut in them on the sides for the removal part

sorry that sounds crap hope ya get what i mean

[dobbie82]

Keys found now.. (at the bottom of where the torch goes)

no less than four of them! best split them up before the bunch is lost again!

[dodgydodger]

easy peazy, do it at work all the time, get a socket that fits straight over without fouling the stud, then go a size down, hold it over the stud and smack it with a hammer a few times, put a bar on the socket and unwind!
works each and every time!
THE DODGYDODGER

[FlashBastd]

I had to do that on Sunday night when I changed mine. I was only changing them as the original key didn't fit well, but I cleverly managed to loose the key after removing the first bolt.