ZS EV LOCKING WHEEL NUTS

[JodyS21]

Somebody looking for a spare wheel that fits

OMG I didn't think about that. Why am I bothering thinking about buying a spare wheel..... LOL

 

[Bazzer44]

Morning Mark,

My dealer wanted £60 for a set ! I have since found an MG dealer in the south selling branded genuine locking bolts for £23.95 on ebay shop. Sales manager at my dealer thinks its unlikely they would be targeted but I am not convinced so I bought a set.

Me too

 

[Spinynorman]

I must say I wasn’t enamoured with the alloys or tyres TBH but the design grows on you. It’s only because my previous car was a Toyota RAV 4 (1998) which had beautiful alloys - sort of three twisted fans and smooth - no patterns. Very easy to clean and never had a problem with them. Did eveyone know that the locking nuts dont fit the standard covers on the ZS EV? Don’t know whether that’s a good thing, but it does show you have them and might deter the opportunistic thief...

 

[Tim Green]

I had an issue with my Merc anti-theft wheel nuts whereby the “thread” stripped on the nut itself(eg the anti theft bit). This meant I had to take the car to a specialist who had to drill out the nut at great expense and difficulty. When I asked the chap doing the work he said car manufacturers are not using them any more because the market for second-hand wheels is now non existent. You can check this by looking on eBay. So I don’t use the anti theft nuts any more.

 

[bloggsy]

I had an issue with my Merc anti-theft wheel nuts whereby the “thread” stripped on the nut itself(eg the anti theft bit). This meant I had to take the car to a specialist who had to drill out the nut at great expense and difficulty. When I asked the chap doing the work he said car manufacturers are not using them any more because the market for second-hand wheels is now non existent. You can check this by looking on eBay. So I don’t use the anti theft nuts any more.

I spoke to my mate who owns/runs his own garage and he says that if I ever lose my 'key' for the locking nuts, he'd just weld a 'normal' nut onto the top of the locking wheel nut and then he can 'easily' remove it.

Not pretty and will ruin the locking nut but it will do the job.

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[Tim Green]

That’s a very good idea as long as it’s possible to weld to hardened stainless steel?

 

[Dodger]

That’s a very good idea as long as it’s possible to weld to hardened stainless steel?

Would the alloy wheel be ok with the heat?

 

[bloggsy]

Would the alloy wheel be ok with the heat?

Yeah - he did mention there was a risk, but he'd protect the wheel with a shield of sorts (he didn't say what but I would guess some sheet metal or heavy cloth). He'd only do a tack weld or something that wouldn't take long so it should be fine.

Unsure re welding to hardened stainless steel - I'd leave it to my mate but he did say it wouldn't be a problem to do this - hopefully, I'll never need to take him up on this!!! ?

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[Lovemyev]

if I ever lose my 'key' for the locking nuts

It is very kind of your friend to offer to weld a nut on your bolt if you loose your locking key.
However, I would be concerned about damage caused to the diamond cut alloy in the process.
A refurb / replacement wheel is NOT a cheap option, and the welding option is a lot of good if you have a puncture a long way from home.
If you are like my son, who has lost more keys in ten years than anybody I know !.
Then it maybe a good idea to send for a spare locking wheel nut key before this happens ?.
The removal key / sockets do have different random coded pattern in the head and are coloured coded with a blob of paint on the master key ( black / purple etc ) and a spare key nut CAN be purchased / ordered from the main dealer.
Because of this, they are not cheap at £29 each.
Here is a link to the replacement key / socket for the black coded set.

Locking Wheel Nut Key 173 Black - Brown and Gammons

Locking Wheel Nut Key 173 Black 10296779 in Service Parts Locking Wheel Nuts

www.ukmgparts.com

But remember, the main dealer RRP price for a complete set is £60 and not £26.95 .
A complete set of bolts and nuts can be purchased on-line for this price.

Pardon our interruption...

If you have proof of purchase of your previous set from the SAME company, then you know what you need to do !.
Request a set with the same code / colour ( if in stock ) and then you have a spare key / socket and an additional set of replacement bolts in for the price.
Two sets are STILL less expensive than buying direct from most main dealers.

 

[Jaygee]

I spoke to my mate who owns/runs his own garage and he says that if I ever lose my 'key' for the locking nuts, he'd just weld a 'normal' nut onto the top of the locking wheel nut and then he can 'easily' remove it.

Not pretty and will ruin the locking nut but it will do the job.

Cheers

Bloggsy

There are videos on YouTube of people knocking a snug socket onto and then removing the nut using an impact driver. Of course socket is then sacrificed. Unsure of how it would work though as the outer ring on the locking nuts I bought is free rotating so won’t remove the locking nut if turned without the key. Welding might then be the only option.

 

[LDN21]

Do any of you know where to get replacements of the little plastic caps that go over the bolts

 

[bloggsy]

Do any of you know where to get replacements of the little plastic caps that go over the bolts

Hi @LDN21 - they're all over ebay or Amazon and are very cheap; just search for Wheel Nut covers.

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[macd2401]

Do any of you know where to get replacements of the little plastic caps that go over the bolts

Or you can just follow me around... my car appears to be shedding them at random ?‍

 

[Alb]

If someone wants your wheels (debatable) a locking nut isn't going to stand in their way. Tools to remove them are cheap and widely available.

 

[LDN21]

Hi @LDN21 - they're all over ebay or Amazon and are very cheap; just search for Wheel Nut covers.

Cheers

Bloggsy

I wanted to double check first never had to buy them before. Had to get tyres changed today and they said 2 was missing.

 

[LDN21]

Or you can just follow me around... my car appears to be shedding them at random ?‍

Not sure if that’s what’s happened to mine but serviced on Tuesday and Tyres changed today and the tyre placed said 2 was missing them

 

[Lovemyev]

Not sure if that’s what’s happened to mine but serviced on Tuesday and Tyres changed today and the tyre placed said 2 was missing them

The OEM wheel nut covers are finished in like a mid grey charcoal colour.
When installed the MG locking nuts, they are in a steel chrome finish and they stood out a little to much on the car.
So, I purchased a set of the chrome effect wheel nut covers from E.Bay to match the locking wheel nuts.
I thought they looked great and really set the car off, but after about 9 months the chrome effect had started to peel off them and they started to look really tatty.
I have therefore refitted the OEM grey covers for now.
The OEM wheel nut covers appear to be of a better quality than the ones I purchased, that's for sure.

 

[bloggsy]

Not sure if that’s what’s happened to mine but serviced on Tuesday and Tyres changed today and the tyre placed said 2 was missing them

Yeah, as you can see from other posts, it's fairly common! It'll probably be better to buy about 16 so you can replace lost ones over the next few years of ownership! I'd also choose a 'set' of covers that includes the 'tweezers' to help you remove them. The car comes with one but it's so easy to lose it and makes the removal of the covers harder!

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[LDN21]

If anyone was wondering the wheel nut covers are the 17mm ones

 

[Bluejeros]

Hi,

A quick question, do the little plastic wheel nut covers fit over the lockining wheel nuts?