2006 SL350 (R230) Wheel Nuts

[00slk]

3 repeats for me

 

[Danny_Labrador]

Surprised to find that my newly acquired car with factory spec 18" AMG spoke alloys does not have locking wheel nuts.

Its lasted up until now without them being nicked but I dont want that to happen on my watch.

I know that wheel bolts are quite a sensitive issue - chamfer, strength and length etc. - so I would welcome some advice on where I should get some from ?

 

[Larkone]

Took them all off both of my cars - alloy wheel theft is not really an issue nowadays compared to the risk of the locking nuts failing and leaving you stranded. Not a simple job to remove once they fail. Also thieves can just as easily buy the removal tools as garages can so if they really wanted your wheels locking nuts would not stop them.

 

[C16RKC]

I would not touch locking nuts with a 500 ft barge pole.... but then I am the chap who had to remove an expensive AMG alloy wheel with an Angle grinder earlier this year - due to a seized and snapped security bolt.







It took me a few hours and I must have gone through 4 or 5 cutting discs, maybe more.

 

[ajlsl600]

Dump them too much grief.

 

[peterws1957]

Surprised to find that my newly acquired car with factory spec 18" AMG spoke alloys does not have locking wheel nuts.

Its lasted up until now without them being nicked but I dont want that to happen on my watch.

I know that wheel bolts are quite a sensitive issue - chamfer, strength and length etc. - so I would welcome some advice on where I should get some from ?

If you want to fit them buy direct from MB who will give you the correct spec. Wouldn't use them myself as others have said. They tend to rust horribly for one thing. They were probably supplied originally with your car but a previous owner has removed them for the same reason.

 

[Blobcat]

In the words of Grand Master Flash - “Don’t do it”

 

[ajlsl600]

French version of kwik fit fd up 3cwheel bolts when fitting new tyres. I add 4vmorexandcthrow security bolts away as did on w168 and w208 I passed a benz place this week on way to a brico. Will try remember look next time.

 

[EmilysDad]

mine are in my garage somewhere for the same reasons as above

 

[AMGeed]

I've removed my locking wheel bolts, but if you want them, try alloy wheels direct and compare the price to main dealers.

SBA High Security locking wheel bolts £39 for a set of 4

Locking Wheel Nuts and Locking Wheel Bolts from Alloy Wheels Direct

Great range of High Security Locking Wheel Nuts and Locking wheel bolts to fit many vehicles. Protecting your wheels from theft. Fast Worldwide Shipping from the UKs premiere alloy wheel supplier

www.alloywheelsdirect.net

 

[Kudly]

Would also recommend Alloy Wheels Direct - bolts (normal & locking) just as good as MB but much cheaper even when including delivery.

 

[LostKiwi]

Binned mine on all my cars.

 

[Alastairp]

I binned the all of the (rusty) OE ones when I fitted my refurbished 18" wheels.

I used aftermarket security head bolts which have a proper head, just not in a standard hex format.



Anyone had any problems with this type as they have only been on for a couple of months now?

 

[SL63 Mark]

My original nuts are still clean and lovely after 7 years of use. I have no intention of binning the locking nuts on any of our vehicles.

Is there a reason why thieves are not nicking alloy wheels these days ? It used to be a real problem. I assume it is down to the widespread use of locking wheel nuts ?

Replacing 4 wheels and tyres on the SL63 would be serious £££

I assume it is due to the fact that wheels are now make and model specific. I doubt they would fit many other vehicles, probably would fit other SLs though,

 

[Larkone]

My original nuts are still clean and lovely after 7 years of use. I have no intention of binning the locking nuts on any of our vehicles.

Is there a reason why thieves are not nicking alloy wheels these days ? It used to be a real problem. I assume it is down to the widespread use of locking wheel nuts ?

Replacing 4 wheels and tyres on the SL63 would be serious £££

I assume it is due to the fact that wheels are now make and model specific. I doubt they would fit many other vehicles, probably would fit other SLs though,

More likely down to the fact that the majority of cars have alloys so they are not the rare and therefore valuable s/hand thing they used to be. Now your plastic bumpers and trim are a different story though.

 

[Conor]

As others have said, locking wheel nuts are not worth the hassle 95% of the time.

The remaining 5 percent is for high value stuff like //M - AMG - RS and other high end stuff. But then again, if your car is parked in an isolated spot and you've been targeted, the thieves will just get a locking nut key through usual channels..

So, perhaps we are back at 100% - not worth the hassle lol.

 

[peterws1957]

My original nuts are still clean and lovely after 7 years of use. I have no intention of binning the locking nuts on any of our vehicles.

Is there a reason why thieves are not nicking alloy wheels these days ? It used to be a real problem. I assume it is down to the widespread use of locking wheel nuts ?

Replacing 4 wheels and tyres on the SL63 would be serious £££

I assume it is due to the fact that wheels are now make and model specific. I doubt they would fit many other vehicles, probably would fit other SLs though,

I doubt it's down to locking wheel nuts, a set of universal removal tools seems readily available.

 

[SL63 Mark]

More likely down to the fact that the majority of cars have alloys so they are not the rare and therefore valuable s/hand thing they used to be. Now your plastic bumpers and trim are a different story though.

That is true. Back in the 80s the majority of wheels were rusty steel.

Anyone remember hub caps ? I remember my dad coming out to his new Austin 1100 and finding all four had vanished.

 

[Alastairp]

Bet he was disappointed that they didn't just drive off with the whole car......

 

[SL63 Mark]

Bet he was disappointed that they didn't just drive off with the whole car......

Fortunately the flywheel broke shortly afterwards, so it went back to the dealer. That was the end of his new car ownership experience. He hoped that buying a new car meant he would not have to spend every weekend under the car treating the rust. Unfortunately the Austin 1100 arrived from the factory already rusty, which disappointed him somewhat.