[lordbmw]

Taking your wheels off is relatively simple, however, putting them back on is harder than it is with most other cars since we have bolts instead of studs.

What I do is try to raise the wheel by placing objects under it so it’s aligned properly.

What do you folks do?

[ryan stewart]

Hang it on the lip of the hub and hold it in place with my foot.

[jacbo]

when the car is jacked high enough it slips on just fine, i make sure the holes line up and put one bolt in while holding the wheel with my other hand.

never really struggled with it tbh

[ppointer]

Try one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RP1NPRR...roduct_details

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Never really struggled, only when I had spacers it was a PITA to align but then got a wheel stud tool and that helped a lot.

[Chapperss]

Originally Posted by lordbmw

Taking your wheels off is relatively simple, however, putting them back on is harder than it is with most other cars since we have bolts instead of studs.

What I do is try to raise the wheel by placing objects under it so it’s aligned properly.

What do you folks do?

Do you even lift bro?

Said as a joke, but I do just lift em up and plonk them on the lip, rotate till holes line up and then grab a bolt and zip it on.

I`ve not owned a car with studs but can imagine that has its own challenge of having to line the wheel up before sliding on, which if you get wrong you are left holding the damn thing.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Wheel hanger helps align it. Don't actually hang the wheel on it though. I've had it mess up my paint.

Other than that, just simply lift it up, align the holes, hold it with your foot or something and thread in a bolt.

[Efthreeoh]

Good lord, BMW rookies... lol.

[tcphoto]

I bought two wheel hangers and they help align the wheel making it easier to start the lug nut.

[marvinstockman]

A Philips screwdriver works fine. The older BMW's came with a tool kit that contained a wheel hanger.

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by lordbmw

Taking your wheels off is relatively simple, however, putting them back on is harder than it is with most other cars since we have bolts instead of studs...

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

... just simply lift it up, align the holes, hold it with your foot or something and thread in a bolt.

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Good lord, BMW rookies... lol.

Actually, E9x Alloy wheels are significantly lighter than MANY wheels, and relatively easy to "Mount". The problem often encountered is that corrosion of the wheel & "Hub-Centric" Hub makes REMOVAL difficult, even to the point of having to loosen wheel bolts ~ 1/2 turn each and moving the car a few feet, perhaps even doing a "figure 8" in a cul de sac.

ISTA has a procedure for cleaning the "Hub-centric" surfaces with wire brush when wheel is removed.

SOOOO, if your Wheel and Hub are cleaned to remove corrosion build-up, and wheel can be properly centered on hub, putting it in proper position with BOTH hands, and then holding it there with ONE hand while you insert ALL 5 Wheel Bolts and "Finger-tighten" each BEFORE torquing in star pattern should be simple.

"F30", since you rotate tires every few months, and love to hear the sound of an impact wrench, Please advise if there's a better way. I have air tools, use impact wrench to REMOVE wheel bolts, but prefer to NOT use anything other than Torque Wrench to reinstall wheel. That preference is to prevent Cross-Threading the Bolts/Lugs, and to prevent "cocking" of wheel on hub by careful location of wheel on hub and equal torque on ALL 5 bolts. I obviously NEVER worked in a Tire Shop.
George

[Cloverdale]

Originally Posted by lordbmw

Taking your wheels off is relatively simple, however, putting them back on is harder than it is with most other cars since we have bolts instead of studs.

What I do is try to raise the wheel by placing objects under it so it’s aligned properly.

What do you folks do?

'Lord' was the first word that came to mind having read your post! But welcome! Have your spouse lead the operation?

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by gbalthrop

"F30", since you rotate tires every few months, and love to hear the sound of an impact wrench, Please advise if there's a better way. I have air tools, use impact wrench to REMOVE wheel bolts, but prefer to NOT use anything other than Torque Wrench to reinstall wheel. That preference is to prevent Cross-Threading the Bolts/Lugs, and to prevent "cocking" of wheel on hub by careful location of wheel on hub and equal torque on ALL 5 bolts. I obviously NEVER worked in a Tire Shop.
George

Just start the lugs by hand then snug them up with the impact, if it doesn't start cross threaded it can't eventually become cross threaded.

Then I finish final torquing with the torque wrench when it's on the ground.

[BSM n54iS]

This thread has WAY more responses to it already than warranted

[Brian86]

Originally Posted by gbalthrop

ISTA has a procedure for cleaning the "Hub-centric" surfaces with wire brush when wheel is removed.

Only zee Germans would have a procedure for this. That is the teutonic stereotype in a nutshell.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by lordbmw

Taking your wheels off is relatively simple, however, putting them back on is harder than it is with most other cars since we have bolts instead of studs.

What I do is try to raise the wheel by placing objects under it so it’s aligned properly.

What do you folks do?

I ordered a stud kit for my car. So much easier!!

[mainbearing]

As others mentioned, put the wheel on the hub lip and rotate.

Here is a video on using a wheel hanger. I think it would be useful on a larger, heavier wheel, but not needed on the stock E90:

Wheel hanger 10:01 into the video:

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by Brian86

Only zee Germans would have a procedure for this. That is the teutonic stereotype in a nutshell.

Achtung! You MUST get this $180 Genuine BMW Part/Tool (Part# 81-25-2-344-011):
https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...ol-81252344011

The cause of "Sticking" wheels, and need for procedure is REAL. The $180 cost for that tool is NOT (for us). ANY wire brush will do.
If you run a shop & change/ clean wheels every day, then the labor savings will pay for the tool in short order.

Portion of the procedure is attached below.
George

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by gbalthrop

Actually, E9x Alloy wheels are significantly lighter than MANY wheels, and relatively easy to "Mount". The problem often encountered is that corrosion of the wheel & "Hub-Centric" Hub makes REMOVAL difficult, even to the point of having to loosen wheel bolts ~ 1/2 turn each and moving the car a few feet, perhaps even doing a "figure 8" in a cul de sac.

ISTA has a procedure for cleaning the "Hub-centric" surfaces with wire brush when wheel is removed.

SOOOO, if your Wheel and Hub are cleaned to remove corrosion build-up, and wheel can be properly centered on hub, putting it in proper position with BOTH hands, and then holding it there with ONE hand while you insert ALL 5 Wheel Bolts and "Finger-tighten" each BEFORE torquing in star pattern should be simple.

"F30", since you rotate tires every few months, and love to hear the sound of an impact wrench, Please advise if there's a better way. I have air tools, use impact wrench to REMOVE wheel bolts, but prefer to NOT use anything other than Torque Wrench to reinstall wheel. That preference is to prevent Cross-Threading the Bolts/Lugs, and to prevent "cocking" of wheel on hub by careful location of wheel on hub and equal torque on ALL 5 bolts. I obviously NEVER worked in a Tire Shop.
George

The bolt thread is an M12 x 1.5. Any M12 suspension bolt, which are usually pretty long, make for great wheel alignment pins. If you replace an M12 bolt from the suspension, just cut the head off, grind in a few ribs for finger grips, and you have a free wheel pin.

George, I just thread the bolt in a few turns by hand using a 17MM socket and then run in with an impact gun on its min. torque setting. I run the bolts down in the proper pattern, which is skipping every other bolt. I finish up with a torque wrench at 88.5 pound-foot when the wheels are back on the ground. My wife is going to buy me a set of torque sticks for Christmas

The sound of an electric impact gun just doesn't do it for me.

[Oregonian]

Originally Posted by marvinstockman

A Philips screwdriver works fine. The older BMW's came with a tool kit that contained a wheel hanger.

Do you happen to know what model year that ended? Curious if my 2008 335Xi had one and it disappeared, or never had one. Thanks

[The Nightman]

Wheel hangers are great for vehicles with wheel bolts and spacers. I used to make my own from old inner tie rods.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Oregonian

Do you happen to know what model year that ended? Curious if my 2008 335Xi had one and it disappeared, or never had one. Thanks

If your car came with a factory spare tire and jack, it would have the wheel alignment pin. BMW still sells them. The plastic end, which fits in the bolt hole in the hub gets chewed up after just a few uses.