Wheels Stolen! What to do next?
Discussion
Howdy folks,
Posting this on behalf of my housemate.
He got all four of his 18s nicked off his E46 M3 last night in the street at about one in the morning. Tilt alarm went off, but by the time everyone got down (including a couple of neighbours) the scum had scarpered.
A bit of a shame really, because our street has no history of vandalism or wheel-nicking in spite of there always being a couple of desirable motors parked, and he had only just last weekend lashed out on new rubber for all four corners! Possible connection with the tyre-fitting company? Hmmm...
So one side is left jacked up, the other is tilted low and resting on the sill (which has come out a bit). The petrol filler cap has also popped out for some reason and will not go back in, so there's possible panel damage of some kind.
It looks a right ugly sight on the street - all four discs on full view.
So, the question now is what are his options? Can anyone quote good sources for both new and second-hand 18s and 19s? How much would he be looking to pay for a set?
Is it likely that once targeted and nicked, the car will be a usual future target on the "rounds"? If so, apart from parking elsewhere is there anything he can do to avoid losing his wheels again? Special locking wheel nuts? Clamps?
Thanks for any help.
After spending good dough on new rubber last weekend (painful enough), he is now faced with the prospect of a huge bill for a new set of alloys. Could claim on insurance, but excess is £700 and would lose no claims - so not sure whether it's worth it.
D
Posting this on behalf of my housemate.
He got all four of his 18s nicked off his E46 M3 last night in the street at about one in the morning. Tilt alarm went off, but by the time everyone got down (including a couple of neighbours) the scum had scarpered.
A bit of a shame really, because our street has no history of vandalism or wheel-nicking in spite of there always being a couple of desirable motors parked, and he had only just last weekend lashed out on new rubber for all four corners! Possible connection with the tyre-fitting company? Hmmm...
So one side is left jacked up, the other is tilted low and resting on the sill (which has come out a bit). The petrol filler cap has also popped out for some reason and will not go back in, so there's possible panel damage of some kind.
It looks a right ugly sight on the street - all four discs on full view.
So, the question now is what are his options? Can anyone quote good sources for both new and second-hand 18s and 19s? How much would he be looking to pay for a set?
Is it likely that once targeted and nicked, the car will be a usual future target on the "rounds"? If so, apart from parking elsewhere is there anything he can do to avoid losing his wheels again? Special locking wheel nuts? Clamps?
Thanks for any help.
After spending good dough on new rubber last weekend (painful enough), he is now faced with the prospect of a huge bill for a new set of alloys. Could claim on insurance, but excess is £700 and would lose no claims - so not sure whether it's worth it.
D
Really sorry to hear this, makes me paranoid about the fact I'm about to upgrade to 19's.
If I do go ahead with the upgrade I would be selling my 18's so let me know if your friend needs some wheels urgently.
From the research I've done recently 19's tend to fetch somewhere between £1,000-1,500 depending on condition and tread and 18's can be had for anything from £400-700.
If I do go ahead with the upgrade I would be selling my 18's so let me know if your friend needs some wheels urgently.
From the research I've done recently 19's tend to fetch somewhere between £1,000-1,500 depending on condition and tread and 18's can be had for anything from £400-700.
A few sets on Ebay, but I'd tread very carefully 
These look pretty original......
eBay Item #7930769966
But there are loads of copy wheels, that may be fine on a 316i but I wouldn't put them on an M3
If was me, I'd be looking at these......
eBay Item #2497038842
But before shelling out on new wheels, I'd get BMW to look at it first and assess if any damage has been done to the car, an associate has his vectra wheels nicked and they levered the car up using a scaffold bar and bent the sill, this meant the car needed a new shell, which turned it into an insurance write off
These look pretty original......
But there are loads of copy wheels, that may be fine on a 316i but I wouldn't put them on an M3
If was me, I'd be looking at these......
But before shelling out on new wheels, I'd get BMW to look at it first and assess if any damage has been done to the car, an associate has his vectra wheels nicked and they levered the car up using a scaffold bar and bent the sill, this meant the car needed a new shell, which turned it into an insurance write off
Locking wheelnuts don't need a key. Anyone who's had a puncture and needed a wheel change without their key in the car might know this. Obviously PHers are honest but others look in on our chat so I'm not going to describe the technique, but it took me about 30 seconds, with no special tools and no noticeable noise, to remove my own locking wheel nut on an AMG Merc in this situation, and that's from start to off and ready for the next with the standard wheel brace. It was one of the best on the market too, not cheap and with rave reviews. Locking wheelnuts deter the chavchancer but anyone who wants some wheels off the street can get them easy. Sorry not to be writing with more comforting words - obviously major sympathy to the victim.
>> Edited by turbobloke on Wednesday 27th October 12:10
>> Edited by turbobloke on Wednesday 27th October 12:10
S.....
Zod said:
Not much compensation now, but I suggest that your mate gets some extra secure McGard Ultra locking nuts for his replacement wheels.
I refer the honourable Zod to the reply I gave a few posts ago
turbobloke said:
Locking wheelnuts don't need a key. Anyone who's had a puncture and needed a wheel change without their key in the car might know this. Obviously PHers are honest but others look in on our chat so I'm not going to describe the technique, but it took me about 30 seconds, with no special tools and no noticeable noise, to remove my own locking wheel nut on an AMG Merc in this situation, and that's from start to off and ready for the next with the standard wheel brace. It was one of the best on the market too, not cheap and with rave reviews. Locking wheelnuts deter the chavchancer but anyone who wants some wheels off the street can get them easy. Sorry not to be writing with more comforting words - obviously major sympathy to the victim.
These were those of which you speak, I didn't want to give details in case a Mod thought I was naming and shaming. 30 seconds and no special tools / very little noise.
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