QUESTION... ANSWER....

[Southernboy]

Has anyone removed these torx nuts in the past, and if so, please can you let me know what size Torx is required. I have tried a torx 40, but it seems a fraction small, a torx 50 is far too large...Is this a BMW "special tool" scenario?
I'd like to strip the parts of the wheel, and give the rims a good clean and polish behind the bolted section...any help will be appreciated..

[seasurfer]

You have simply too much time on your hands

[Southernboy]

...... that's enough from you SS...if you have nothing positive to contribute...do it elsewhere...

[Daz3]

How many points do the stars have? Looks like an m8 10point spline pics a bit blurry though.

[wonderloaf]

Well, by splitting the difference (ouch!) maybe they're a Torx 45?

[Southernboy]

.... Torx 45 ! I'll try that...don't have one, but I guess I need one...
M8 ? I can't check the # of splines right now...good highveld African thunderstorm happening at the moment... I'll check and let you know...

[gookah]

I have tried a torx 40, but it seems a fraction small, a torx 50 is far too large...Is this a BMW "special tool" scenario?

maybe they're a Torx 45?

I have some 18" tyres and some 16" tyres.
the wheels I have seem too small for the 18" and too large for the 16"... Do you think they are a BMW special?


Really Barry...I thought you were better than this...

[Southernboy]

... I guess I'm ignorant of Torx tools...I have quite a few and they all go up in 10's except the really small ones...so I didn't think there was a size between 40 and 50...but hey, one learns I guess...

[Brian4]

Hi Barry

I think they are splined bolts and are 12 point tool should look like this only in the correct size as this is M16.
http://www.bennetts.com/spline/laser-to ... 684121.php

Do the bolts look like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Titanium-Spli ... 0546208114

[Southernboy]

Hi Brian...They do look like the bolts on the link...definitely more splines than the usual Torx drive. Is there a way of determining what size tool is required if as I said at the beggining, a Torx 40 goes ito the bolt head, and although it doesn't turn in the head, it is obviously not the correct size, and if any of those bolts are super tight, as I suspect they would be, then the Torx 40 tool will not be up to the task.

[Southernboy]

...right rainstorm is over...I measured across the bolt splines and < to > is as near as dammit to 6mm. And it certainly has 12 splines...so what size is that?

[Brian4]

I think they are either M7

Just measured my set the M8 is 7.2mm into the splines and 6.5mm inside diam

and the M6 is 6.1mm into the splines and 5.7mm inside diam

so knowing german manufacturers it will be M7. My set didn't come with an M7 and the link I sent for the BBS bolts mentions M7 bolts.

[Southernboy]

I saw that....100% of the bolts are M7....but if I measured correctly, then 6.1mm is the correct measurement at the widest possible <->
I'll take a run to "The Tool Man" tomorrow...and check which fits correctly. At least now I know what type of tool I need...Not a Torx 45......

[Southernboy]

Thanks Brian....very kind of you to provide knowledgeable advice and direction....
Is there such a thing as a Torx 45...or is it a Colt....

[Brian4]

Yes there is obviously like M7 not a common size.
Here they all are

Thanks wikipedia

Size Point to point distance Maximum torque range ~ E Torx
(in) (mm) (lb•ft) (N•m)
T1 0.031 0.81 0.01 – 0.02 0.02 – 0.03
T2 0.036 0.93 0.05 – 0.07 0.07 – 0.09
T3 0.046 1.10 0.10 – 0.13 0.14 – 0.18
T4 0.050 1.28 0.16 – 0.21 0.22 – 0.28
T5 0.055 1.42 0.32 – 0.38 0.43 – 0.51
T5.5[7][8][9]
T6 0.066 1.70 0.55 – 0.66 0.75 – 0.90
T7 0.078 1.99 1.0 – 1.3 1.4 – 1.7
T8 0.090 2.31 1.6 – 1.9 2.2 – 2.6
T9 0.098 2.50 2.1 – 2.5 2.8 – 3.4
T10 0.107 2.74 2.7 – 3.3 3.7 – 4.5
T15 0.128 3.27 4.7 – 5.7 6.4 – 7.7
T20 0.151 3.86 7.74 – 9.37 10.5 – 12.7 E4
T25 0.173 4.43 11.7 – 14.0 15.9 – 19 E5
T27 0.195 4.99 16.6 – 19.8 22.5 – 26.9
T30 0.216 5.52 22.9 – 27.6 31.1 – 37.4 E6
T35[10][11][12]
T40 0.260 6.65 39.9 – 48.0 54.1 – 65.1 E8
T45 0.306 7.82 63.4 – 76.1 86 – 103.2
T47[13][14] GM-Style
T50 0.346 8.83 97.4 – 117 132 – 158 E10
T55 0.440 11.22 161 – 189 218 – 256 E12
T60 0.519 13.25 280 – 328 379 – 445 E16
T70 0.610 15.51 465 – 516 630 – 700 E18
T80 0.690 17.54 696 – 773 943 – 1048 E20
T90 0.784 19.92 984 – 1094 1334 – 1483
T100 0.871 22.13 1359 – 1511 1843 – 2048 E24

[Southernboy]

.... Went to the tool man...found the correct tool !!
It's made by Gedore and it's a number 8. More specifically, it has 8-100 stamped on the side of the socket section... £8.50.

[Del]

One does sometimes encounter unusual tamper-proof bolts. I recently wanted to change the MAF sensor on a Japanese car in my family and saw what I thought to be a normal internal Torx which turned out to be a five-point TS bit - the tool for which was quite hard to find.

I don't profess to have any expertise with these wheels but if those bolts are holding the rim together my natural caution would ask the questions whether they are specifically torqued, whether any Loctite type substance is needed and whether or not it is recommended to use new bolts when putting together.

[Southernboy]

Judging by the bolts advertised on eBay for the BBS Split rims, it would seem they are pre-coated with Blue Loctite material. I will investigate the specific torque question before I start though. I have seen another member on the forum who has unbolted his split rims, for cleaning etc and re-used the same bolts again.
In any event, I would use Blue Loctite simply as a precautionary...
Once I get the correct torque info, I will submit here for anyone else's reference who may have these BMW wheels.