[DgjoX6M2016]

Unlike the dealers who throw the wheels on with speed the priority, here is how it should be done. Lazy dealer already knocked off paint from brand new M caliper. Annoying as hell.

[LexxM3]

The two hub pins are essential, those SUV load rated 20, 21, and 22" rims and tires are heavy. Didn't need the pins for an E46 M3, but on the X5 ... essential. I find that I use 2 pins to take off the rims, then 1 pin to put on, then align, then fix with the 2nd pin — aligning onto 2 pins is too hard.

Another key thing to make sure is that the pins are screwed in all the way when under hanging load — you run the risk of stripping you hub threads or the rims falling off if that's not the case, you definitely don't want either of those to happen.

[chrisny]

Tore a bicep once changing one of the 315's on our F15. Was stuck and once I got it loose, dropped down hard/suddenly. These pins sound like a way better idea!

[ikheetleon]

Nice, didn't know such pins/rods exist. Trying to find them in my country now, but can't seem to get the right desciption. You say "hub pins", is there any (international) brand of these? That might help me search for them.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by ikheetleon

Nice, didn't know such pins/rods exist. Trying to find them in my country now, but can't seem to get the right desciption. You say "hub pins", is there any (international) brand of these? That might help me search for them.

I got mine here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/382922302249 BloxSport are quite reputable, good quality stuff. They called them "wheel hangers".

(Here it is directly from BLOXSPORT on eBay: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/163500896329 They are quite responsive to communication and basic customization and even offers).

[DgjoX6M2016]

I bought them in Amazon. Just verify threads as the right ones. I have different threads for different vehicles. For example our e91 has much coarser threads than f86 or g05.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

I bought them in Amazon. Just verify threads as the right ones. I have different threads for different vehicles. For example our e91 has much coarser threads than f86 or g05.

Uhm, this is the G05/G06 forum. Let's not confuse anyone with wrong specs. Our lug bolts are M14x1.25 (NOT M14x1.5).

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

Uhm, this is the G05/G06 forum. Let's not confuse anyone with wrong specs. Our lug bolts are M14x1.25 (NOT M14x1.5).

Thanks...I know the forum. I mentioned verify threads as this was a simple amazon search. Thanks for posting the right sizes.

[ikheetleon]

Just ordered the Bloxsport set (M14x1.25). Will make the swap from 22" summer rims to 20" winter rims a bit easier next season!

[MystroX5]

I am fanatical with wheel changing and proper lug torque. (No impact tools PERIOD)
I always do my own with my own sit down method and use my legs/knees as a wheel jack to support the wheels as they come off/on. Chipping your M-calipers is inexcusable. This is the kind of carelessness that I won’t let go unnoticed.
I certainly would have the service manager looking at it and working out a solution. I would probably touch it up myself and ask for swag credit at the dealership for future parts.

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

I am fanatical with wheel changing and proper lug torque. (No impact tools PERIOD)
I always do my own with my own sit down and use my legs/knees as a wheel jack to support the wheels as they come off/on. Chipping your M-calipers is inexcusable. This is the kind of carelessness that I won’t let go unnoticed.
I certainly would have the service manager looking at it and working out a solution. I would probably touch it up myself and ask for swag credit at the dealership for future parts.

Gotta ask why so against the impact tool?

I only ask because the car is built using the tools in almost every way. Also if you all ask you can take a tour of the shop at the dealer (I do at all the dealers i've worked with). I have not seen pneumatic tools in shop's that are not computer controlled in awhile!!! Meaning they will only torque to what they are set too.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

I am fanatical with wheel changing and proper lug torque. (No impact tools PERIOD)
I always do my own with my own sit down method and use my legs/knees as a wheel jack to support the wheels as they come off/on. Chipping your M-calipers is inexcusable. This is the kind of carelessness that I won’t let go unnoticed.
I certainly would have the service manager looking at it and working out a solution. I would probably touch it up myself and ask for swag credit at the dealership for future parts.

I too always talk with the service mgr and tell them I do not want an impact wrench used on my wheels, its all to be done by hand and they have to use a torque wrench. I can remember a friend of mine who made four labels and put them on the inside of each wheel that read...You're dead if you use an impact wrench on my wheels!

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

I too always talk with the service mgr and tell them I do not want an impact wrench used on my wheels, its all to be done by hand and they have to use a torque wrench. I can remember a friend of mine who made four labels and put them on the inside of each wheel that read...You're dead if you use an impact wrench on my wheels!

I've never had a bad experience but what is it about them that you don't like? Or what do they cause that makes them not good for wheels?

[Tenac]

So just for shit's and giggles I texted my SA. Asking him if they use an impact here is what he said.

Yes they do but they have to finish with the torque wrench, he told me this avoids over torque "which I guess is why you guys don't like them?" . He also said yes they use the posts for the wheels.

[OSCORP]

Ordering 3 from bloxsport. Thank you very much for this LexxM3 and Dgjo

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by Tenac

I've never had a bad experience but what is it about them that you don't like? Or what do they cause that makes them not good for wheels?

I have watched both BMW and non BMW service techs remove and install wheels on my car as well as others cars that happened to be on their lifts while I was in the bay. Taking the wheel off isn't so much the problem, its putting it back on that causes the issues, such as. ..
- They snap the socket onto their impact wrench and quickly insert the socket into your lug well but miss the opening and hit the wheel with the socket causing dents and scrapes around the opening.
- The tools used in a service dept become worn and not replaced. This causes the deep 17mm socket to wobble when they pull the trigger on the impact wrench. When removing the lug, the lug then wobbles even more and the service tech for some reason dwells long enough when pulling out the lug that it hits and ruins the inside diameter of the lug well
- When using an impact wrench to install the lug, they over tighten it. I have never seen a service tech look at or adjust the torque setting after installing wheels on someone else's car and then mine.

Sure, if you own your car long enough, you will get wear, scrapes and dings around this area of your wheel because at some point, someone other than you will be doing the work but I like to keep mine looking as new as possible for as long as possible so I take precautions when I can.

Do you remember the days before gas stations would let you fill your own tank? Did you notice all the gas nozzle dings because careless attendants simply slammed the nozzle in? Over the years I've tried to be much more tolerant of all this and appreciate the fact that someone is doing the work for me. Its never worked, I'm not wired that way

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

I have watched both BMW and non BMW service techs remove and install wheels on my car as well as others cars that happened to be on their lifts while I was in the bay. Taking the wheel off isn't so much the problem, its putting it back on that causes the issues, such as. ..
- They snap the socket onto their impact wrench and quickly insert the socket into your lug well but miss the opening and hit the wheel with the socket causing dents and scrapes around the opening.
- The tools used in a service dept become worn and not replaced. This causes the deep 17mm socket to wobble when they pull the trigger on the impact wrench. When removing the lug, the lug then wobbles even more and the service tech for some reason dwells long enough when pulling out the lug that it hits and ruins the inside diameter of the lug well
- When using an impact wrench to install the lug, they over tighten it. I have never seen a service tech look at or adjust the torque setting after installing wheels on someone else's car and then mine.

Sure, if you own your car long enough, you will get wear, scrapes and dings around this area of your wheel because at some point, someone other than you will be doing the work but I like to keep mine looking as new as possible for as long as possible so I take precautions when I can.

Do you remember the days before gas stations would let you fill your own tank? Did you notice all the gas nozzle dings because careless attendants simply slammed the nozzle in? Over the years I've tried to be much more tolerant of all this and appreciate the fact that someone is doing the work for me. Its never worked, I'm not wired that way

I see what you are saying, yeah the wear on the impact is much greater than that of hand tools. And the sloppy techs can cause damage as well.

Days of not filling my tank are way before my time, unless I go to Jersey. LOL


My old F150 I had to buy new lugs around 160k mark. So I get it I see what you are saying. thanks!

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by OSCORP

Ordering 3 from bloxsport. Thank you very much for this Dgjo

No prob! The stud guides are very helpful for sure!

And to Mystro, I for sure will bring up with my Service Manager when I bring in for oil change. I would like for them to touch it up to make sure rust doesn't start undermining the balance of the caliper paint. So annoying they did that!!! Aggggh. I take such good care of the car and one careless person undermines all that.

I am active in the f86 forum as well, and posted something a while back about what was initially diagnosed as a wheel hub failing given lots of clicking noise. I determined it was improperly torqued wheel lugs. I was damn near unable to get two of the lugs out with a breaker bar, but others three were easily removed. I found out when I was swapping to winters.

Hand torqued properly, all clicking from wheel completely went away! This is in support of why you never use air tools!!!

Tip: Buy a set of plastic sleeved deep sockets to protect the finished wheel from rotating metal socket.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by Tenac

I see what you are saying, yeah the wear on the impact is much greater than that of hand tools. And the sloppy techs can cause damage as well.

Days of not filling my tank are way before my time, unless I go to Jersey. LOL


My old F150 I had to buy new lugs around 160k mark. So I get it I see what you are saying. thanks!

Geez, is Jersey still not letting people self fill? Ugh! My son takes his cars to OEM dealers as well as independents and when I look at his wheels, I almost faint!

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

No prob! The stud guides are very helpful for sure!

Hand torqued properly, all clicking from wheel completely went away! This is in support of why you never use air tools!!!

Tip: Buy a set of plastic sleeved deep sockets to protect the finished wheel from rotating metal socket.

Right you are DgjoX6M2016. All my lug sockets have plastic coated sleeves like the ones in your pic. I also carry them in my car in case I need to change a wheel on the road.

[mobilejo]

If used with care, there is nothing wrong with impact tools to do the 'loose' turning. Its lazy mechanics who use them (a) without care and scratch things and (b) instead of a torque wrench to finish off the job that are the problem.

I have just ordered some of those pins to make my life easier, but I must say I'm feeling pretty strong - I fitted spacers & removed on my X6 a few times now with the factory 21's and I am proud to say I can get up the wheel with one arm while aligning one wheel bolt with the other as the wheel approaches the hub, always as smooth as butter.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by Tenac

Gotta ask why so against the impact tool?

I only ask because the car is built using the tools in almost every way. Also if you all ask you can take a tour of the shop at the dealer (I do at all the dealers i've worked with). I have not seen pneumatic tools in shop's that are not computer controlled in awhile!!! Meaning they will only torque to what they are set too.

Impact tools are over used to save time and will improperly torque your lugs. They can bugger up threads by cross threading as they apply power when the lug isn’t started correctly and before they know it, the end threads are damaged. Too much power, not enough finesse.
They also tend to scratch the lug holes from user error. Any serious service center that IS responsible for wheel damage will hand torque the lugs and be very careful with the impact gun.