Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[Canyon Carver]

I live in a pretty safe neighborhood, so you can imagine my surprise when I walk out of my apartment this morning to notice that one of my neighbors had the wheels stolen off his Infiniti G37-S. They didn't even leave the car on blocks...just sitting on it's rotors. My car was about 100ft away. Scary.

Needless to say, this has motivated me to get locking lug nuts for my 135. Does anyone have any experience with them? Should I go BMW or aftermarket? Suggestions welcome...

[gnpower]

They didn't even put it on blocks? What is the world coming to?

[BMW86]

I got my Kics R26 yesterday. Haven't tried them out yet but they look sweet.

[Canyon Carver]

Originally Posted by gnpower

They didn't even put it on blocks? What is the world coming to?

LOL! I know, damn inconsiderate thieves...

I guess I made that distinction because typically they do put it on blocks, or at least the ones I've seen...

[KingOfJericho]

My logic on these is that you have no choice but to keep the key in the car somewhere (glove box, typically). The thief is no dummy and will smash the window to get to the key in the glove box. At that point, you have a broken window on top of the 4 missing wheels.

[Canyon Carver]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

My logic on these is that you have no choice but to keep the key in the car somewhere (glove box, typically). The thief is no dummy and will smash the window to get to the key in the glove box. At that point, you have a broken window on top of the 4 missing wheels.

Yeah - I thought about that scenario as well...but I think it's worth the risk. If the thief isn't a pro, the locking lugs could be enough of a deterrent to have him pick an easier target.

As for keeping it in the car...I think I would hide it somewhere else besides the glove box. I agree that's probably the first place they would look if they were pro's.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Canyon Carver

Yeah - I thought about that scenario as well...but I think it's worth the risk. If the thief isn't a pro, the locking lugs could be enough of a deterrent to have him pick an easier target.

As for keeping it in the car...I think I would hide it somewhere else besides the glove box. I agree that's probably the first place they would look if they were pro's.

But you still have the smashed window... Stuff like this is why we have car insurance.

[Canyon Carver]

I think I'd rather have a smashed window than coming out to my car sitting on it's rotors...who knows what other damage (Suspension, exhaust, etc) would be caused as a result of the car being dropped on it's rotors.

[coda72]

My dealer gave me locking lug nuts when I bought my car, so I didn't have to buy any. I also don't keep my key in the glove box, and never have, but it is somewhere in the car.

[Walt White Coupe]

While I only have the BMW stock locks on the 135i, I have these on my Corvette. Each lug nut is a lock so it will discourage most thieves because they will make them make more noise than they would like and will take them longer to defeat. All pluses. You will never stop the professional but you can make the lowlifes look elsewhere.
.

[Canyon Carver]

[QUOTE=Walt White Coupe;11181419]You will never stop the professional but you can make the lowlifes look elsewhere.

Exactly...

Thanks for the info on these locks, I'm going to check them out.

[BFD99]

I've been looking at some too, but i'm lucky enough to have a garage where I live.

[doublevanosrc]

My last BMW had the factory wheel locks and there was a special place for them in the tool kit in the trunk. All the service guys should know this so it wasn't a problem when i dropped of the car for service.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by BFD99

I've been looking at some too, but i'm lucky enough to have a garage where I live.

+1

A garage is a godsend, not only does it keep the car safe it also preserves the paint and makes wax coats last longer.

[Red Bread]

A thief can disable any wheel lock with a slightly larger socket with a rubber sleeve, or just hammering a cheap socket onto the lock. Don't waste your money.

[Canyon Carver]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

A thief can disable any wheel lock with a slightly larger socket with a rubber sleeve, or just hammering a cheap socket onto the lock. Don't waste your money.

You think? Hmmm. I might have to respectfully disagree. The clearance between the lugs and the wheel is very slim. I can't imagine there would be enough room for them to slip a larger socket with a rubber sleeve on because it wouldn't slide in. There's not enough room...

I've heard of hammering a cheap socket onto the lock...it usually breaks the cheap socket. Even if they did that successfully, the amount of noise and time it would take to hammer on a cheap socket 4 times would surely cause them to get caught. (At least in my neighborhood)

These thieves are probably in and out in under two minutes. The reality is, if they're pro's, they'll get them no matter what. I just want to slow them down...the longer it takes, the more chance of getting caught.

[gnpower]

Keep it in the trunk next to the battery.

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

But you still have the smashed window... Stuff like this is why we have car insurance.

[mdputnam]

Lost the locked wheels on my RX-7 once. The thief undid the 4 regular lug nuts grab the wheel from the opposite side of the locked stud and snapped the stud with the lock nut. He did leave me the broken stud with the lock nut attached, now I use two locks per wheel.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Canyon Carver

These thieves are probably in and out in under two minutes. The reality is, if they're pro's, they'll get them no matter what. I just want to slow them down...the longer it takes, the more chance of getting caught.

It will help your chances, but I've seen wheel shops take off a set of locks with the oversized sleeve in under a minute. If it's just the casual thief, you're good with locks. If it's a person that knows what they're doing, I don't think wheel locks will slow them down or deter them.

[Eyeman]

I have gorilla locks also. No way that I'd have nice wheels without locks. They may not stop a pro who really wants your wheels, but for sure if another was parked nearby with similar wheels and no locks I'm sure which wheels they'd take.

[crbalch]

I picked up locks from Bimmian, they are the Mechunik Pro Locks and I dont have any issues with them so far. I have a garage also but did it in safe measure. However, I will now move my key from the glovebox and put it somewhere different

[VMRWheels]

Depends on how much you're willing to spend in the end. There's a company called Rimlox that backs their product with a guarantee that you will not get your wheels stolen, otherwise they will cover the cost of replacements.

http://rimloxinc.com/

Apparently, nobody has ever beat their lock system. They do have a high price tag though. Just depends on what you're willing to spend. I think in the majority of cases, locks like the ones from Gorilla will be fine for most. You just have to remember though that if a thief really wants your wheels, they'll find ways to get them.