[AlphaJulietGolf]

Morning all, I had a set of ST216 alloys fitted yesterday really happy with them got them from Mark at BM Auto Sport, fantastic service, will get pics up later once the car has been cleaned.

My question is are these the McGard wheel nuts that everyone recommend. Have found a set on flebay. Want to put a set on the car on top of the OEM ones as an added deterrent to any tea leaf!

Cheers

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MCGARD-LOCKING...#ht_713wt_1158

The link may help.

[Jon D]

BMW do their own McGards in black for about £30 a set - that way you know you're getting the correct size.

[toxicnerve]

Those look like the "normal" McGard bolts which are perfectly adequate. However, McGard also do a variation known as the "Ultra" range.

These are pretty much the same but include a "spinner" on the outside which should make them harder to steal. I bought a set from BMW recently, the benefit of buying the BMW part is that they are black rather than chrome/silver.

IIRC they were about £40. Let me dig out the part number for you....

Have a look here:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...32&hg=36&fg=25

The part number is the one on the bottom:

36136792849

They're the same as the McGard Ultra (made by them for BMW I believe) and they're in black

Originally Posted by Jon D

BMW do their own McGards in black for about £30 a set - that way you know you're getting the correct size.

Damn, £30??? Where from? Even with 15% discount I paid something like £40 (inc. VAT).

[AlphaJulietGolf]

Nice one, cheers Jon D and Toxic, will be making a trip to the Stealer this morning up the road to see if they have any, no fecker is getting these beauties

[toxicnerve]

Mate,

Have a word with your dealer's parts counter, they should be able to get you them for around what I said. Failing that, drop "Anneka @ Sytner" (without the quotes) a PM on here, she might be able to sort something for you.

[AlphaJulietGolf]

Just went to the stealers, Specialist BMW Stevenage, and they wanted £50 just for the normal McGards So I politely excused myself away from the parts department and said no thanks

[Matrez]

I had these on my E46 and took them off somehow thanks to God and put normal BMW black ones. McGards are good looking bolts, nothing else is good about them. The bolt key got damaged after couple of times taking wheels off. The bolt key is made of soft black material inside and gets soft when applying power and just kind of looses shape and you cant get them off cause its broke. I had to use hammer to get it on the bolt and used electric gun pushing it hard to take it off. Useless crap...

[toxicnerve]

Matrez,

The bolts/key themselves are fine. The problem is using them in conjunction with an impact wrench.

If you use a proper torque wrench to get them on and off the key will be fine.

[Tunna_uk]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Matrez,

The bolts/key themselves are fine. The problem is using them in conjunction with an impact wrench.

If you use a proper torque wrench to get them on and off the key will be fine.

+1
Don't overtighten or you will have problems

[Matrez]

I wouldnt buy them anyway. Very bad...
I have my black BMW bolts and I can take them off with anything I want and they will be fine forever McGards are waste of money. Thats my opinion

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by Matrez

I wouldnt buy them anyway. Very bad...
I have my black BMW bolts and I can take them off with anything I want and they will be fine forever McGards are waste of money. Thats my opinion

To be fair, a lot of people end up doing the same as you have.

The irony of the situation is that locking wheel bolts/nuts only cause grief for the owners of cars, for example if they lose the key or it gets damaged (as in your case Matrez). For a serious thief they're no obstacle and if someone really wants to steal your wheels they will.

Locking wheel bolts (as with most security measures) only really deter your opportunist/amateur.

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by Matrez

I have my black BMW bolts and I and any light fingered scumbag can take them off with anything I/they want and they will be fine forever in someone else's possession to be sold on Ebay. McGards are waste of money. Thats my opinion

Edited for accuracy

[Matrez]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

To be fair, a lot of people end up doing the same as you have.

The irony of the situation is that locking wheel bolts/nuts only cause grief for the owners of cars, for example if they lose the key or it gets damaged (as in your case Matrez). For a serious thief they're no obstacle and if someone really wants to steal your wheels they will.

Locking wheel bolts (as with most security measures) only really deter your opportunist/amateur.

Yep its true, but you can also have 2 or 5 if you want, looking wheel bolts per wheel hehe :P Noone would steal it then I think

To be honest when I put my new wheels shortly I will not have any locking wheel bolts I will buy these :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...RK:MESINDXX:IT

What do you think of them huh ? Superb, arent they ?
Will not get rusty, chipped or color loss. Look great too

[Matrez]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

Edited for accuracy

Hehe :P Its true, as all of the BMW locking bolts are excatly the same, right ?

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by Matrez

What do you think of them huh ? Superb, arent they ?
Will not get rusty, chipped or color loss. Look great too

Look great Matrez, they'll go the same way as your new wheels - nicked and on the bay.

All locking wheel nuts are capable of being bypassed one way or another, so are car alarms/house alarms and any form of security for that matter.

It's all about presenting a deterrent,by not using any form of the latter, you might as well leave a note on your windscreen:

'Feel free to steal my wheels and of course my shiny nuts, thanks'.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

Look great Matrez, they'll go the same way as your new wheels - nicked and on the bay.

All locking wheel nuts are capable of being bypassed one way or another, so are car alarms/house alarms and any form of security for that matter.

It's all about presenting a deterrent,by not using any form of the latter, you might as well leave a note on your windscreen:

'Feel free to steal my wheels and of course my shiny nuts, thanks'.

You might want to see a doctor about that

Like I said, locking nuts/bolts are simply a deterrent against the opportunist. Any determined thief will be able to bypass anything easily enough.

[Dr Dave]

It's all about making your wheels less attractive/easy to steal than those down t'road.

All these security options are deterrents only - or delaying tactics.

[Matrez]

Ive never heard anyone who got wheels nicked ;P
So, McGards are the best locking wheel nuts if you know how to take them on and off hehe... ;P
Ill get x16 of these polasised ones and McGards. What torque needs to be applied ?

[rsmallwo]

The BMW Mcguard nuts have instructions with them!!!

I neglected to view these and applied to much torque which knackered the head. The instructions tell you to use 120nm +/- 10% other wise damage will ensue.

They do look nice as they are the same colour as the other nuts.

They are a deterent to people who have the standard BMW locking nut, which is really easy to get hold of I here. Any pro will have them off but my wheels are worth £700 not £2k, not really worth it for them.

[Matrez]

Adding the price for the tyres your set will be worth over 1k pounds.
Yeah, McGards look nice and do not get rusty or anything, but the problem is with the key. The material used for it is just too soft and gets damaged quickly when care is not taken. I am wondering why its not made with a solid material.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Matrez,

The bolts/key themselves are fine. The problem is using them in conjunction with an impact wrench.

If you use a proper torque wrench to get them on and off the key will be fine.

Additionally, ensure that the key is fully engaged with the bolt head and apply axial pressure whilst torquing.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by Matrez

......The material used for it is just too soft and gets damaged quickly when care is not taken. I am wondering why its not made with a solid material.

Solid???? Are you under the impression that they're hollow? .