How To Remove OEM BMW Wheel Locks For Less Than $50!

In this video I will show you how to cheaply remove the following style of OEM BMW wheel locks from an F30 3-series in case of an emergency, or if you simply do not want to pay someone else to remove them for you.
I am not affiliated with nor was I sponsored/compensated by AutoZone for this video - they're just one of most common physical US auto-parts store that stocks the unique tool needed for the job.
BMW Wheel Lock Part #: 36136792851
Tools/Parts Used:
3lb sledgehammer
1/2 inch breaker bar
1/2 inch x 23mm socket (1 per wheel lock) ($6-8)
1/2 inch 10-point spline tool by CTA ($10): www.autozone.com/screwdrivers...
www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-4710...
Replacement wheel bolts: www.turnermotorsport.com/p-12...
Specialty Tool for Wheel Lock Removal: agatools.com/products/aga-wlr...

[@rtrooperw8115]

TY - this worked for me! A couple of clarifications for anyone having to perform this job: 1) you MUST have a 12-point 23mm socket, not a 6-point. The 12-point allows those extra teeth in the socket to grip on to the locking lug effectively. 6-point WILL NOT work properly! Also, really no need for the longer 23mm socket, the shorter socket is best as even after hammering it in completely, there is still plenty of room to attach the 1/2" breaker bar into the 1/2" back of the socket. I would also not hammer on the breaker bar to attach the 23mm socket, no need and less stable to get that necessary tight fit. It's more effective to just pound the socket on, then attach the breaker bar once the socket is snug. Everything else worked like a charm. TY again!!!

[@theentrylevelentrepreneur3563]

Whew! Thank you! Worked for me and saved me $230 per lug to have BMW drill them off.

[@abdiali4176]

Just want to say thank you, dealer wanted 180$ per wheel. I did it for less than 45$ cheers

[@megatronmax14]

Heck, I almost spent $400 on the AGA tool kit. I also considered $179 an hour at a local BMW shop with no guarantee that the wheel wasn’t gonna get damaged!

[@Bruv_1620]

im half way through the process of removing the locks off my e39 540i lol and this helped a bunch!. Pro tip dont let tire shops torque the wheel locks with the air gun.

[@timmurphy3668]

I work in a tire shop and had a BMW x 3 with a sheared off lock key. Your method was incredibly easy. Thank you

[@steveng19401]

This works!!! I watched another vid and the size socket didn’t work. Buy the exact same sock he says and it will work super easy. I was shocked! Thank you!

[@megatronmax14]

Alex, I wanna thank you for this awesome video and sharing this amazing information. My nightmare is finally over thanks to your generosity. It all started when the idiot at tire shop over torqued all my wheel bolts and wheel locks by hitting them so hard with pneumatic impact gun. I managed to break all bolts and locks loose but one stubborn one. It was so tight that I stripped the first key. I ordered two new keys from McGard in upstate NY who is the maker of these BMW locks. The second broke and the metal basically melted inside the groves. I went back to stupid tire shop and three attempts later, they banged up the cap and floating ring with a chisel. They were never able to remove the bolt with spline groves. I thankfully stumbled upon your video and ran immediately to Autozone and purchase the 10 point 1/2” spline tool ( part #4710 at Auto zone). And to think that even the technicians at McGard did not know this trick. Instead sending me a drill bit kit in order to drill out head of bolt-Thank God you saved me from this. I can’t thank you enough. Now I just gotta get wheel powder coated again since it got butchered. No more wheel locks ever again!

[@travishogans5603]

Alex, my man! Thank you so much for this video, I had 2 wheels locks on my 2015 BMW M6 that were stripped out and couldn't figure out how to get them off. Your video saved me $600 and a trip to dealership. I was able to get them both off within 15min, just wanted to say thank you!!

[@Umiizack]

Bro! Thank you so much 🙏 You saved me so much money and time. Literally the only person online that showing how to do this so easily. Same wheels lock and everything and my wheels locks gots broken at a tire shop because they don’t know what thier doing be setting psi way too high smh. I was stuck and I didn’t know what to do for months, but you came through! Thank you again 🙏🙏

[@doingyamom]

This really does work! I was a bit nervous at first because you basically get one chance but it worked really well! I had it out in a max of 20 mins

[@Martinjk123]

Thank you. Worked like a charm. Was at this lock for hours before I found your video.

[@joesutera6940]

Works great! Thank you!! Struggled for weeks before finding your solution

[@butsarahsaid]

Thank you so much! I did just as you and did and bought all the same parts and I got all of my locks off of my bmw. After getting stuck on the side of the road a week ago and bring charged over $150 for them to change ONE wheel( new tire not included) I was desperate to get the other three off so I could change out the tires. You seriously saved me so much money. Thank you again!!

[@kristervendelin6986]

Thank you. I wasted 2 sets of cobalt drills before just to get one out. You made my life easier.

[@HeadedWest302]

Glad I could help!

[@soobvious3995]

Amazing way to extract BMW wheel lock lug with spinning ring on it (without key or key damaged)! The 23mm 12-point socket worked magic and took the ring and lock head off instantly. I opted out the 2nd step approach as I was afraid that the CTA 10-point tuner lug nut socket may fail since you only have one shot at it and my overtightened lug may just would not turn as desired. Instead, I used a 3” disk cutting tool to have the lug head I just removed in step one shaped into a 19mm hex nut and hammered it back into the original lug grooves, which is still on the wheel. It worked like a charm. I searched and watched lots of KZbin episodes on this subject, using approaches like welding, chiseling and drilling, all making a mess, and Alex On Everything method is by far the best. Total cost: $8.20 for the 23mm socket (still reusable) if you already have other tools needed for this job - breaker bar, bench vise, sledgehammer, 3" disk cutter, 19mm and 17mm sockets. It is time to say goodbye to wheel locks. They are more trouble than anything else. Anyone wants my modified lug head to go with 19mm socket, let me know here. I can mail it to you.

[@zamanos9602]

That would be incredible. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get these wheel locks since we can’t find the key and it’s been driving me crazy.

[@IS-bg5zh]

I have one lug spinning type to get off. I would love to get this tool.

[@AndyTranfl]

Thank you so much for the video. I literally have the exact same car. 2015 328i with same non sport wheel with the same exact problem. Purchased the parts at Autozone; 23mm sockets (deep or shallow 12pt works), the tuner 10pt key and 3lb sledgehammer (home depot) Used 1/2 drive break bar and everything came out smoothly. No more wheel locks for me. All going into garbage including those "new" 23mm sockets lol. Thanks again!

[@chadterry9770]

Works like a charm! You only need one 23 mm socket for all the wheels, you can tap the key nut out on a vice.

[@Ben5on]

You have no idea how helpful this was. The previous tech who mounted the rear tires on my 2016 F30 over torqued only the wheel lock. It stripped my key when I tried to remove it. Took it to BMW, they tried to remove it with their key and it stripped theirs as well. So they wanted $275 to remove it. I then went to about 8-9 tires shops/mechanics and they all tried with their tools but couldn’t remove it. They all had the day lug nut extractors that won’t work on these wheel locks. So they just kept saying to go back to BMW and pay the $275. I came upon this video, bought the same exact items you listed in the description and removed it within 5 minutes. Piece of cake!

[@HeadedWest302]

Glad I could help! And yes, it’s very satisfying not having to fork over hundreds to a dealer for such a cheap fix haha

[@MegatronPajamas]

Thank you sir. The spline tool didn’t work for me. After I got the cap off I hammered a 23mm 12pt deep socket and it came right off.

[@natekillen1]

This video saved me so much heartache

[@egjr2722]

THIIIIIIIIS IS perfect! very much appreciated.

[@mokoman9972]

Did these lug nuts have a spinning ring on as well

[@drazenrivera2004]

You save me a lot of money thanks a lot bud

[@wrongmark]

Thanks for this video. Going to use this strategy this weekend after having bought three eBay wheel keys which all broke first use trying to get a tight bolt off.

[@HeadedWest302]

Good luck! Let us know how it works out

[@wrongmark]

I managed to get the outside part off using your method and a 22mm 12-point socket. Now struggling with the inside bit after trying an M14 spline bit that stripped the bolt. Got a few bits on order from Amazon to try.

[@wrongmark]

Update for anyone stuck with this. The method worked for one wheel, but then could not manage it on the others even with new sockets purchased. I ended up buying the proper tool (with slide hammer) from eBay for £85 which worked well.

[@jacky1983chenpeng]

Couldn’t really tell easily, does this work with the wheel lock that has the spinning collar, please? I am trying to apply this method on my 2016 MB GLC300 too. Could you advise please? Thanks

[@IS-bg5zh]

Does it work on the spinning collar locks too?

[@samsnow7370]

looked great... my key stripped (I believe) and bmw wants $69 for the new key... I am still nervous in what you did. But I will eventually try this. My Mini lock nuts are BMW's. I have a question: you stated you have to break the top off of the lock nut to expose the "spline"; is that how that lock nut is made where the bolt and the head of the lock nut is in 2 pieces?

[@HeadedWest302]

Yes, this is a 2-piece design where the external flower part (where the key is inserted) is wedged in the inner splined part. If your first key stripped, it's very likely the new one will too since the key's metal is soft and it does not go very deep (~1/8"). I looked up the Mini wheel locks and they appear to be identical, so this should work - check some of the other testimonials in the comments - even non-car folks managed to get these out following the procedure shown Worst case scenario, you'll need a dealership to drill them out, but definitely worth the $50 to try first! You can even return the unused sockets to recoup some cost, good luck

[@danielsilva-cx2ne]

Guys try! Really works thanks bro

[@HeadedWest302]

👍👍👍👍

[@casemcfarland6460]

Yoo found your video and it fucking worked on my 2013 BMW x5 you are a genius thanks soooo muchh my lug was stripped from over tightten also key was fucked bought a new key and tge lug was so stripped it stripped my new key thats when I found ur video and step by step follow the process and boom 🤯 it worked!!! You are the man the hardest part to find was the 1/2” 10 point drive with 1/2 socket on end its not the one that comes in a set its the single one sold in the lugnut section at autozone !!!

[@megatronmax14]

I also went through two sets of keys and no luck. One thing shared by McGard who makes these BMW locks is, over tighten the other four bolts-without stripping off course. This will relieve pressure from the over torqued wheel lock. Good luck to anyone who finds themselves is this situation!

[@dustincollins3655]

Wow i can't thank you enough

[@QUiNTiNBANKS]

Genius

[@DrMarvinLara]

Does this work with Mercedes spinning wheel locks too?

[@HeadedWest302]

There's only one way to find out :)

[@user-ho5pc8ro2z]

매우 감사합니다! 아주좋은 정보에요. 크게 도움됬습니다.

[@nawingurung]

That 10 point half inch spline, what size is that? Is that m14 spline?

[@HeadedWest302]

I’m not sure to be honest but there is a link to the part in the video description, you might be able to find more info there

[@dustincollins3655]

Hey man for real though, how did you figure this out??? It's genius, please respond. Thank you

[@HeadedWest302]

So my approach to this issue was that if I couldn’t figure it out, I would need the dealer to remove them anyway, so worth trying to DIY in a way that isn’t destructive - such as drilling it out. First part was to figure out what size socket would work to fit on top, then what weight of hammer needed to drive it on - at first I was using a 2lb hammer and it wasn’t hitting hard enough to drive the socket on. Once I got the top/outer part of the wheel lock off, I could see it had a splined inner, so then I went hunting for something I could hammer into it and turn it out. The 10 point tuner key just happened to be the perfect size for it, but you could come up with a variety of options to get the inner part of the wheel lock out. It was very much just a process of trial and error before I would give up and let a dealership run my pockets, and I knew if I broke something I could still drive the car over to them with 4/5 bolts still holding the wheel on.

[@dustincollins3655]

@@HeadedWest302 wow, thank you again 🙏

[@bryanthugov9376]

Now how do you get the bolt out the socket?

[@HeadedWest302]

Not sure, I bought 4 sockets for the job and treated them as throwaways once I hammered them onto the wheel lock. Good luck!

[@BruteCo]

Worked until I was hammering the 10 point spline, then it stripped the inner part now I’m assuming I need to have it welded on to wrench it off

[@HeadedWest302]

Hey! Sorry to hear you ran into issues. Sounds like you might not have driven the spline tool in deep enough - which is where having a heavy enough hammer is key to pulling this off smoothly. Hope it all worked out though!

[@marckevinnn]

damn, I can't fit a 23mm socket in the lug slot lol freakin' aftermarket wheels.

[@jimmyle3246]

Man I’m looking at videos like this cause my local Costco SNAPPED my wheel lock while trying to replace the tire.. now they are saying I need to go to the dealership/mechanic to get it screwed off.. what do I do?

[@HeadedWest302]

Is your wheel lock the same one in the video? I pretty much walk you through the steps as long as the part is a match, but even if not, you could tweak this approach by adjusting the socket size to fit the wheel lock, it just needs to be slightly too small to fit over the lock head and then bang it on with the sledgehammer. If your lock has a spinning ring, it may not work, but nothing is foolproof to a talented fool :)

[@gabrielmendez49]

What size is the 12 point

[@HeadedWest302]

Hi! You can find more info on the 10 point socket specs using the link in the description.

[@Alycanj]

bmw is a money trap they don't even know what key that fits, my wheels have a totally different lock, is round and teeth on the inside and nobody on earth knows or has the correct size