[235Paul]

Hello all,

I've just bought a 2014 228i M Sport and joined the 2Addicts forum. I sold my 135i Coupe for a 2 series as i was looking for something a little less boy-racer!

After I picked up my car from the lot and had a good lock at it i found lying in the glovebox a part that I can't find where it came from. It is definitely BMW as it has a stamp. Obviously it presses in somewhere as it has a ring clip at the back.

Anyone know what this is and where it came from (attempted photos uploaded)?

Cheers.

[ch3k]

Believe it goes under the center cap roundel, inside the hub portion of the wheel.

[235Paul]

Really? Would never have thought of that. Looks like I'm taking the wheels off tonight. I bet it's the 4th wheel I take off! Thanks for the tip.

[ch3k]

I think you can see it with just popping the center roundel cover off - save some time and effort.

[Funwithdesign]

Yes it covers the hub nut. You can't replace it without taking off the wheel though, it won't fit through the centre hole of the wheel. However I would pry off the centre caps to see which hub it comes from (if it's even missing) before pulling wheels.

[aerobod]

If you don’t want to lever the centre cap off as the gap is quite tight to the wheel and it is easy to damage the finish, I’ve normally been successful in pulling the cap off using a rolled up piece of duct tape or blob of butyl tape to quickly yank the cap off.

[Funwithdesign]

Originally Posted by aerobod

If you don’t want to lever the centre cap off as the gap is quite tight to the wheel and it is easy to damage the finish, I’ve normally been successful in pulling the cap off using a rolled up piece of duct tape or blob of butyl tape to quickly yank the cap off.

Yes, or you could not listen to your son that one is loose when changing to your winter wheels and it will just fall off and get lost pretty much as soon as you go for a test drive...

[BM235iW]

To remove my wheel center caps (when I take the car to the track) I keep a small window suction cup on the trunk. Push the suction cup and pull, off goes the center cap.

[235Paul]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm wondering what the point of covering the Hub nut is? I'm sure BMW wouldn't add parts that they didn't need to. Anyway, I'll have a go at pulling the centre caps off to find out which wheel is the culprit.
I remember when I had to pull the wheels off my old 135i the nuts were torqued so high that I needed to use a 3 meter metal pipe as leverage. Why do tyre companies need to do the nuts up soo tight. hopefully the 228i isn't that bad.

[CP911]

Originally Posted by 228Paul

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm wondering what the point of covering the Hub nut is? I'm sure BMW wouldn't add parts that they didn't need to. Anyway, I'll have a go at pulling the centre caps off to find out which wheel is the culprit.
I remember when I had to pull the wheels off my old 135i the nuts were torqued so high that I needed to use a 3 meter metal pipe as leverage. Why do tyre companies need to do the nuts up soo tight. hopefully the 228i isn't that bad.

Over tightening the wheel bolts is always possible when a lot of mechanics out there don't fully understand how impact guns work. There is usually a chart that accompanies an impact gun to show an approximate tightening torque value based on the IPS (impacts per second) setting on their impact gun and how long the impacts are applied on a particular sized fastener. In other words, it's near impossible to get an accurate torque setting on a fastener when using an impact gun. Always use a click-type torque wrench by hand to get accurate and consistent tightening torques. FYI - These BMWs require 140Nm of torque on the wheel bolts. That is quite high compared to the average car.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by CP911

FYI - These BMWs require 140Nm of torque on the wheel bolts. That is quite high compared to the average car.

For those interested in a low-cost means of ensuring their lug bolts or nuts are tightened to the correct torque, BMW offers a non-adjustable, clicking 140nm torque wrench that you can get from ECS Tuning for $33 + shipping:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...h/71126769683/

This is the same unit shown on realoem at:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...&q=71126769683

The Heyco-branded torque wrench comes with a standard length 17mm socket.

[CP911]

Originally Posted by dradernh

For those interested in a low-cost means of ensuring their lug bolts or nuts are tightened to the correct torque, BMW offers a non-adjustable, clicking 140nm torque wrench that you can get from ECS Tuning for $33 + shipping:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...h/71126769683/

This is the same unit shown on realoem at:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...&q=71126769683

The Heyco-branded torque wrench comes with a standard length 17mm socket.

Nice. It's hard to tell from pics, but I'm assuming that it's a standard 1/2" square drive and I can use it with one of my delrin-sleeved deep wheel sockets?

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by CP911

Nice. It's hard to tell from pics, but I'm assuming that it's a standard 1/2" square drive and I can use it with one of my delrin-sleeved deep wheel sockets?

Yes and yes, you can. That's how I'm using it on my wheel stud-equipped car.