I need help here. I don't have the wheel lock keys for my MINI! I have gone to Braman Mini in West Palm Beach asking for help. The service guy there, Joe Spadafora said the wheel locks need to be pried off and new locks put on. Okay. But, Braman won't do it because they might damage the wheels and they won't be liable. I went to Tire Kingdom. They won't do it.

I have tried to contact the previous owner....phone disconnected. I have combed the car for places the keys might be, the foam toolkit next to the battery. Nowhere!

Any ideas? They are BMW/MINI wheel locks. Has anyone any experience with this? I really don't know what to do.
-Tara

 

Are you using the standard MINI wheel locks? If so, drop me a PM and I will tell you how to defeat them without hurting your wheels.

 

Try these at Sears. They are meant to remove wheel locks:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...TOOL&ihtoken=1

 

if all fails, i'd drop a large 1/2 drive hex key or torex into it with a mallet and just use a wratchet.

 

Thanks for the help! Here are my locks.... I think that they are "standard. On the BMW site there are two types, these and ones w/ just a big space in the center

 

Just in case you haven't looked, other common locations to hide wheel locks are the two side compartments in the rear and under the back seat. I had one attached under the drivers seat with a reusable zip tie thingie.

 

Thanks, Vader. I will look in those places... Keeping my fingers crossed...

 

^^ dang, that pict you show has a piece of metal in the center... will
need to drill that out before you smack a torex in there.

hope you find the lock!

 

Thanks, everyone. I ordered a similiar tool to the one Sddave suggested from Sears... 15/16 size, and was able to get the locks off so easily. I purchased new wheel locks from the dealer to replace the old ones. I can't believe how easy it was with the right tools! The dealer and tire shop lead me to believe it was next to impossible.

Thank goodness for NAM!
-Tara

 

Just goes to show how much some dealers and tire shops really know!

 

I always put anti sieze paste on things like this to make them come apart more easily.

 

I am glad these worked for you

It is sooo easy to get locks off with these, it makes one wonder if it is worth it getting wheel locks at all.

 

The question it seems to beg is if anybody has had the wheels stolen off their MINI. I don't remember seeing anybody post that they have, but it might have happened and I missed it.

 

I don't know of anyone who's had wheels stolen, but the 4x100 bolt pattern that our MINIs use is common. Honda, Mazda, and lots of others use it, so I think there's a risk of losing wheels, especially aftermarket ones.

 

If these are Mcgard lug bolts then just call Mcgard. They supply most lug bolt locks. They will ask for an imprint and then send you the key you need.

 

I remember reading someone posting about starting to drive off only to discover lug bolts missing or loose. On further investigation it appeared that the wheels were in the process of being removed but the theives had been scared off.

Here's a case in the UK where expensive AC Schnitzer wheels disappeared.

 

cool, nice to hear you got it off.