Locking wheel nut key missing, needed by Monday AM

[Chris_H]

My B8 Audi S4 has gone in for a front end respray and to have the wheels powder coated. Tonight the garage called me to say they can't find the locking wheel nut key. The only time it would have been used is when I had the wheels balanced about 18 months ago (assuming that Audi use their own key during service).
The wheels are being collected first thing Monday morning so not sure what my options are, especially as the garage is shut tomorrow.. Any ideas?

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Audi would most likely use your key when doing a service.

Try buying one from a dealer first thing tomorrow? shouldn't be too expensive?

Try owners forums and see if anyone local has one you can borrow?

Look at them really sternly and scare them off?

[Krikkit]

Hammer a socket (preferably impact) over them, hope they're not done up too tight!

[miniman]

Garage should really have one of these:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

Could well be Machine Mart store open tomorrow near you.

[Faxo]

We have a master set at my Audi garage, just go down match it up and buy the key from the set, work then orders a new one for the set

[Chris_H]

Faxo said:

We have a master set at my Audi garage, just go down match it up and buy the key from the set, work then orders a new one for the set

Can they match it from the VIN as the car is in the body shop?

[gizlaroc]

Chris_H said:

Can they match it from the VIN as the car is in the body shop?

Not normally, they have to have the car there and test them all till they find the one that matches, around 50 normally.


Halfords sell ones that bite into your existing nut and take it off.

Should be able to get all four off with one of them, around £15. Then buy a new set of nuts.

Have they looked everywhere? I always get a call from the tyre centre to say they can't find it, and then I go down and it is in the tool kit.

[Faxo]

No as there's no routine as to which number bolts go on what car

Take a photo and take it with you?

[Chris_H]

gizlaroc said:

Have they looked everywhere? I always get a call from the tyre centre to say they can't find it, and then I go down and it is in the tool kit.

They say they have. There's apparently a nice space in the tool kit where it should be.

[Faxo]

gizlaroc said:

Not normally, they have to have the car there and test them all till they find the one that matches, around 50 normally.


Halfords sell ones that bite into your existing nut and take it off.

Should be able to get all four off with one of them, around £15. Then buy a new set of nuts.

Have they looked everywhere? I always get a call from the tyre centre to say they can't find it, and then I go down and it is in the tool kit.

If their the new type with spinning sleeve these are useless, as just grips the sleeve, and spins

[South tdf]

If your car is an Avant you have the normal lift up floor with the handle where the spare wheel / tools / battery are. Between this and the back of the rear seats is a section about 30cm wide (marked below) which is actually hinged the same direction as the boot floor.

This is the original alloy key location which fools many garages. From memory you might need to have the spare wheel flap lifted slightly to access it.

[Chris_H]

South tdf said:

If your car is an Avant you have the normal lift up floor with the handle where the spare wheel / tools / battery are. Between this and the back of the rear seats is a section about 30cm wide (marked below) which is actually hinged the same direction as the boot floor.

This is the original alloy key location which fools many garages. From memory you might need to have the spare wheel flap lifted slightly to access it.

Yes, they checked here. This is where they found the space it should be in.