OEM Valve Stem Caps

eightd2 · 09-23-2020, 09:14 PM

I drive a 2019 X5. The other day I received a warning regarding tire air pressure was low. This is typical as the temperatures drop. Several months ago I replaced the stock plain silver plastic valve stem caps with OEM BMW caps. They are plastic too. Unfortunately I could not remove two of the caps by hand and had to carefully remove them with pliers. Needless to say the plastic cracked and were unusable. I read the metal caps fuse to the stem, but has anyone experienced this with the plastic caps? Any solution? My wife has the same caps on her X3 and hers are stuck as well.

Thank you.

Paladin1 · 09-24-2020, 09:37 AM

Plastic caps should be easily removable - you may want to verify yours are indeed plastic, because dissimilar metals can fuse by friction galling. And assuming they aren't honked on with a torque wrench - finger-tight is sufficient. Where did you get your caps? I've seen several on Amazon advertised as "OEM" that were in fact aluminum, made in China.

eightd2 · 09-24-2020, 08:20 PM

I would have thought they were metal as well based on the difficulty in removing them, but they are in fact plastic bought from the dealer. Very odd indeed!

09-23-2020, 09:14 PM	#1
eightd2 New Member 9 Rep 21 Posts Drives: X5 40i Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	OEM Valve Stem Caps I drive a 2019 X5. The other day I received a warning regarding tire air pressure was low. This is typical as the temperatures drop. Several months ago I replaced the stock plain silver plastic valve stem caps with OEM BMW caps. They are plastic too. Unfortunately I could not remove two of the caps by hand and had to carefully remove them with pliers. Needless to say the plastic cracked and were unusable. I read the metal caps fuse to the stem, but has anyone experienced this with the plastic caps? Any solution? My wife has the same caps on her X3 and hers are stuck as well. Thank you.
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09-24-2020, 09:37 AM	#2
Paladin1 Brigadier General 5551 Rep 4,499 Posts Drives: 2022 iX xDrive50, DGM Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 iX xDrive M60 [0.00] 2022 iX xDrive50 [0.00]	Plastic caps should be easily removable - you may want to verify yours are indeed plastic, because dissimilar metals can fuse by friction galling. And assuming they aren't honked on with a torque wrench - finger-tight is sufficient. Where did you get your caps? I've seen several on Amazon advertised as "OEM" that were in fact aluminum, made in China. Last edited by Paladin1; 09-24-2020 at 09:44 AM..
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09-24-2020, 08:20 PM	#3
eightd2 New Member 9 Rep 21 Posts Drives: X5 40i Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I would have thought they were metal as well based on the difficulty in removing them, but they are in fact plastic bought from the dealer. Very odd indeed!
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