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As my username suggests, I'm still learning about the thrills of typical Mercedes maintenance. Anyways, I went to a local garage to get my winter wheel/tire set put on (it'll be my first winter with the car). The previous owners had lost the wheel lock key, and the garage didn't have one that fit (it was close to closing, so I dont think they wanted to keep looking). I then went to an O'Reilly's and was told to get something that looks like the below image. It fits over the lugnut just fine, but a quick Google search shows that the OEM key looks nothing like this (if I searched for the right thing, idk), and costs 10x as much. Will this be a suitable replacement, or am I searching for the wrong item?
Yeah I could just go to a Mercedes dealer or an imports garage, but where's the fun in that? And ideally, I want this to be a diy thing.
The OEM wheel lock key looks nothing like this. This is an aftermarket wheel lock, that you can buy from any auto parts store.
If the wheel lock is indeed Mercedes, then you can only get the key from them.
old school tip: Get a socket thats a tad bit smaller than the locklug. Get hammer. Bang the socket onto the lock lug. Place impact gun or breaker bar onto socket. Remove.
Sometimes not even that will work. Take my wheel for example, these were custom made for my car. The lug bolt hole pattern had to be drilled into the wheels. If I was to take a small socket and pound it on, I would end up damaging my wheels, in the long run. I suggest going to the dealership, as they most likely have a set of extra keys for every wheel lock set they sell. If they were to remove the locks, then you could just buy new ones.
As for me, I use two different wheel locks for my wheels, just for added insurance.
On my GTI, I didn’t have the wheel lock key.
So I just JB Welded a bolt to each lock & backed them off with a socket set.
Now that using your brain. But what if your lug bolts are really torqued on? When I bought my BMW X5, 6 months ago it didn't come with wheel locks.
So I purchased a set, but when I went to remove one of the lug bolts, they were torqued on like 150 ft/lbs. I caught hell, just trying to get one off.
I don't think that JB Weld would hold up under that much torque, but good technique none the less.
My dealer tells me that the factory authorized service departments have a universal key for all MB factory wheel locks. I have had my car in the dealer shop with my key at home, and they had no problem rotating tires, etc. (Yes, I'm sure they did the rotation - the scuffed wheel was re-located.)
If you have the OEM wheel locks, each dealer has a master set and can order you the key for your exact lock, or at least take them off and sell you a new set.
If you have the OEM wheel locks, each dealer has a master set and can order you the key for your exact lock, or at least take them off and sell you a new set.
I always knew that the dealerships would have master keys for all their wheel locks.
10-16-2018, 01:53 PM
But what if your lug bolts are really torqued on? When I bought my BMW X5, 6 months ago it didn't come with wheel locks.
