MK6 Wheel / Rim / Tyre Thread

[MovieDude]

I ordered from tyresales.com.au. Worked out a little cheaper than your link but thanks all the same.

[MovieDude]

What is the general opinion on after market replacement Detroits? Do they look identical and work as well as the originals?

[Frankenstrat]

I was attempting to rotate my tyres this morning (02/01/2015) and to my supreme irritation my anti-theft removal key kept slipping without turning the anti-theft lug. On close inspection I see that the edges in the removal key have been rounded off. This probably happened when the wheels were removed some years ago by a mechanic using a rattle gun. Over the intervening years rotating my tyres the edges of the key have gradually become more and more rounded to the extent that today they wouldn't stay 'keyed' in to the stud anymore.

I guess I have two options here;
1) Buy a new anti-theft key (from hours of fruitless Googling I get the impression they are no longer available)
2) Hope that some kind-hearted Golf driver in the South Perth/Como area will loosen the offending anti-theft lugs for me.

Could someone help me out please? If you PM me I can give you an address and mobile number.

[brad]

There are about 20 different patterns. You can still buy them. Possibly there's a number on the key?

[Frankenstrat]

There are about 20 different patterns. You can still buy them. Possibly there's a number on the key?

Hi Brad, thanks for the response. The only identification is the letter 'N' stamped on the hex of the key and on the threaded end of the stud. The stud is on the left. You may be able to make out that the edges of the outer profile of the key are now bevelled.

[nat225]

Hi Brad, thanks for the response. The only identification is the letter 'N' stamped on the hex of the key and on the threaded end of the stud. The stud is on the left. You may be able to make out that the edges of the outer profile of the key are now bevelled.

long time ago i had the same issue. the lock bolts were over-tightened and when i tried to remove them, both the key and the bolts got rounded...

a workshop finally was able to help me removing them using rattle gun, hammer and 2 people.

since then, i have always been mindful of places touching those bolts. when i do it myself, i always follow strict procedures (82-85 ft lbs instead of 88 ft lbs, loosen first when removing and tighten last when re-fitting).

a key and the 4 lock bolts should cost around $60+ fr VW parts

[Frankenstrat]

a key and the 4 lock bolts should cost around $60+ fr VW parts

Nat, thanks for the response, a new set of locking bolts and key won't be much use to me if I can't remove the old ones - unless by some miracle the pattern of the new key is identical to my current key. However, just around the corner from me is a VW Tiguan owned by an acquaintance of mine, I shall ask if I can compare the keys and *IF* they are the same I can purchase a new set and not have to worry about the pattern.

[nat225]

Nat, thanks for the response, a new set of locking bolts and key won't be much use to me if I can't remove the old ones - unless by some miracle the pattern of the new key is identical to my current key. However, just around the corner from me is a VW Tiguan owned by an acquaintance of mine, I shall ask if I can compare the keys and *IF* they are the same I can purchase a new set and not have to worry about the pattern.

a VW dealer service centre should have a set of master keys. it was a dealer service centre that helped me removing the rounded bolts (with a hammer, rattle gun, 2 guys, etc...).

prior to that, i went to jaxquickfit and a breaker bar did nothing but made it more rounded!

[brad]

As Nat said, most VW or Audi dealers own a set of keys as it's easier to use the workshop ones rather than try and find where the owner has put theirs.

They have just the nut on eBay (and the dealer will have them too)

letter N locknut | eBay

I think you'll find your bolts are sad too

[Frankenstrat]

Nat and Brad, I was lying in bed this morning thinking about what had happened to my key, and I think I know the sequence of events;

At 90,000km I rotated the wheels, the wheel lugs were hand-tightened from the last time I rotated them and came off easily.

At approximately 92,000km it went in for its 90k service. I suspect the garage removed (as in 'rattled' off) the wheel lugs to check the brake pad wear, then rattled them back on.

At 95,000km I tried removing the wheel lugs on the back rear passenger side and front driver's side - to no avail.

Now that I know the key is referred to as a "Letter N" it makes searching for one so much easier, thanks for the heads up there Brad.

[EDIT] I'm leaning more towards replacing the anti-theft lock bolts with standard hex-head wheel bolts together with a set of four appropriate covers [/EDIT]