I tried to remove my wheels but couldn't. I stood on a breaker bar (I weigh 165) attached to a 17mm socket and they wouldn't budge. I bounced on the breaker and ended up breaking the socket. Does the factory torque the lugs that tight? Anybody else find their lugs that tight from the factory?

 

Ive heard the factory torque specs are 103 ft lbs. Thats a lot of pressure on those little things. How long was your breaker bar? You may want to try using another cheater bar on the end of that (or a longer breaker bar) to break them loose. If you havent ever removed them before I think itll be harder the first time.

Either that...or go work out and get RIPPED out of your mind . This option may take a little longer though

 

I think the issue is that they are put on with some sort of thread sealant or rust protection at the factory. Mine (2009 MC) appeared to be very tight also. I torqued them back to 100 lbs. The come out very easily now. Seems to be a first time issue only.

I did go around and loosen them all, then re-torqued them just so I was not faced with the issue on the side of the road anyway (not to suggest that the run-flats would ever require me to remove the wheels -- ahem).

btw -- I'm finding that adding wheel studs and regular old lug nuts and getting rid of the run flats are quickly popping up on my immediate "to do" list. I can't find wheel locks for the current lug bolts anywhere.

 

The correct torque for the lug bolts is 103.3 ft-lb. (140 Nm).

Are you sure you are turning them the right way? They shouldn't be on so tight they would brake a socket.

If you do they yourself, you will want a torque wrench with a range going at least to 150 ft-lbs. Wheel hangers make using the bolts much easier.

 

Glad to know this. In my 335 it was 88ft-lb. I wonder why the Mini needs more pressure being a lighter car.

 

Before sometime in 2006 MINI used 12mm lug bolts. They required 88 ft-lbs. After that time, MINI switched to 14mm x 1.25mm pitch lug bolts. The larger bolts take more torque. I wouldn't be surprised if this change took place on BMWs as well.

 

I got my '06 MCS a couple of weeks ago..guess I need to check if it uses 12 or 14mm. BTW, my 335 was '09 (5 x 17mm bolts) so I doubt they were changed for '10; probably extra bolt reduces amount of pressure needed. Thanks again!

 

When the cars are delivered to the dealer they are prepared for sale by a non-mechenic type underpaid person that is supposed to go down a check list to get the vehical ready for sale. Wash, Remove suspension inserts, check oil, check wheel lugs and things like that. I guess when they stick the stupid air gun on the lug nuts they get way over tightened. They are also supposed to check the air in the tires etc. You are not the first person that ever had this problem. It is not only Mini but just about all of the dealers hire these fools because they don't have to pay them much. I wonder why you never see the same person doing the oil changes and set-up service staying at a dealer for years. It seems like a new person every time I went to my old Chevy dealer. I'm almost positive that it will be the same at my Mini dealer. For the cost of a new car the dealers should have qualified people only to do any work on a buyers car.
Ronnie948

 

Are you sure that 17mm is the thread size, rather than the size of the bolt head? MINIs use a 17mm socket for the lug bolts, but the threads are currently 14mm x 1.25mm. That is 14mm diameter threads x 1.25 mm distance between the peaks of the threads.

 

My bad...yes 17mm is the bold head; I normally go by that not by the thread size LOL