[Hartside]

I got home from the dealer last night and a tyre pressure warning flashed up for the drivers side rear. I found a big screw embedded in the tread of the tyre and this morning called the local tyre place as I’m hoping it could be fixed.

Once I got there and got booked in I suddenly thought that they would need the locking wheel key and set about looking for it. I looked everywhere for it and couldn’t find it. The manual was useless for giving its location, so I left the tyre place and headed back to the dealer, who found it for me in about 30 seconds! Stupidly I had looked in the bag that the tyre gunk and compressor and couldn’t see it. There’s a small pouch with a zip on the other side of the bag that the locking key sits in. Red faced I apologised profusely. Currently with the BMW dealer waiting to get seen and hoping that my 1700 mile old tyre doesn’t need replacing!

Anyone looking for the wheel key, there’s the heads up as to where it resides!

[tex2670]

It wouldn't be in the manual - wheel locks aren't from the factory. They are installed at the dealer.

[kenrok1]

funny - that is where I put mine because it seemed like that little pouch was a good place to store it... originally it was in a small carboard box in the cargo cubby. my X3s used to have notched out place under the cargo floor lid

[kenrok1]

Originally Posted by tex2670

It wouldn't be in the manual - wheel locks aren't from the factory. They are installed at the dealer.

but it is a factory part and it is in the manual

[Rayneman]

Mine was given to me in a small pouch, along with my "manual" which seemed to hilariously be the nice BMW cover they've always come in, but yet with no actual manual. No mention was made of what was in the pouch, but when I examined it later, I found it to be the wheel key.

[schnell325]

First thing I do on all my new BMWs is swap out the locking bolt for a regular one.

[Hartside]

Originally Posted by tex2670

It wouldn't be in the manual - wheel locks aren't from the factory. They are installed at the dealer.

I think ours are factory installed for the UK

[markronnie]

As stated within the tread locks are not factory installed. They are provided by dealer who uses a second party.
Lock key is typically put in glove box or under the rear floor hatch by dealer.

Do yourself a favor & order a 2nd key & place it in a safe place up front & keep a key under the rear floor hatch for safe storage

[Hartside]

Originally Posted by markronnie

As stated within the tread locks are not factory installed. They are provided by dealer who uses a second party.
Lock key is typically put in glove box or under the rear floor hatch by dealer.

Do yourself a favor & order a 2nd key & place it in a safe place up front & keep a key under the rear floor hatch for safe storage

Not in the UK. We get a can of gunk for tyre sealing and a compressor. In the same BMW labelled bag there is a small zip compartment containing the locking key and a wheel brace.

We also get a BMW med kit and red warning triangle, factory supplied

[kenrok1]

Originally Posted by markronnie

As stated within the tread locks are not factory installed.

you guys can debate whether they are installed by the factory or the dealer ~ they may who knows, seems like splitting hairs... but the fact remains that is indeed a "factory" part - I posted the pic from the manual.

[DestinationMoon!]

Fwiw, if you lose the key almost any garage will have a friction bolt extractor that will remove almost any "security" bolt. You can buy them on Amazon. Almost any thieves are likely to have them too. Which is why I stopped using them

[fueledbycaffeine]

Originally Posted by DestinationMoon!

Fwiw, if you lose the key almost any garage will have a friction bolt extractor that will remove almost any "security" bolt. You can buy them on Amazon. Almost any thieves are likely to have them too. Which is why I stopped using them

Yeah, but they might also deter less experienced thieves. I feel like it is worth a shot.

[DaveMc]

Originally Posted by Hartside

Not in the UK. We get a can of gunk for tyre sealing and a compressor. In the same BMW labelled bag there is a small zip compartment containing the locking key and a wheel brace.

We also get a BMW med kit and red warning triangle, factory supplied

Funny, I got everything above except the wheel brace!
Since bought a used 19" spare wheel (off an old S class Merc) and a scissor jack that fits the U11 jacking points. I had a spare wheel brace and socket from my old car. Figured if I have it, I shouldn't need it.

[Boldblue737]

Originally Posted by fueledbycaffeine

Yeah, but they might also deter less experienced thieves. I feel like it is worth a shot.

yep it costs so little (or is easily free if you just ask for it when negotiating the price of the car) I felt perhaps it would deter thieves in the airport parking lot I put my car in weekly to just look for another target for rims. who knows, if they want it... they will get it... but often security is just making your car harder to mess with than the poor guy's next to you.