X spoke alloy wheel trim

[Cotty]

I have a 325i Touring with the optional X spoke alloy wheels. They have a little trim panel that covers the wheel nuts. Just discovered that I have lost one and another was so loose that I have taken it off to avoid losing it. does anyone know how they are held on.

When I had my 316 I had BBS X spokes and the center trim was held on with a screw type device but the BMW wheels seem to just clip into a plastic disk, but would like claification. I obviously need a new bit of trim but wonder if I can purcgase the plastic bit for the other wheel seperately.

[Sohlman]

My experience of cross spoke wheels on BMW's is that they should clip in. Some are made of plastic, while others have a wire frame inside. I would recomend Motormec they are a BMW only parts specialist who I use for my car and they should be able to answer any questions you have and supply you with any parts. There number is 01502 500590

[castex]

Cotty,

You should have a big, thin hexagonal/octagonal plastic spanner in the car somewhere which locks and unlocks the centre trim properly. Mine was deep down in the left hand side boot cubby hole.
The clips inside the centre caps do wear-out, and you'll have to shell out around £40 for a new one from BM, or £30-ish from independants (variable quality).
What a pain in the bum!

[Chris_N]

You can normally just put them on by hand in my experience. Push in place then twist to lock. I think it is quite common when they've been in a workshop for them not to be locked in place fully when put back on. I lost one on my car like that. When I checked the rest none of them had been locked properly.

I found a replacement from a breakers but not before I realised there are at least three different versions of centre cap and none are interchangeable.

Chris

[sohlman]

Two 15" cross spoke alloys centre caps have just come up for sale in E-bay. It might be worth a look. Not sure if these are the right ones, but are off a 325.