F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > Regional Forums > UK > Centre cap removal/refitting
GetBMWParts
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      08-11-2017, 11:54 AM   #1
MrChumley
Major
453
Rep
1,116
Posts

Drives: F33 440i convertible
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Midlands

iTrader: (0)

Centre cap removal/refitting

I've just noticed that one of my wheel centre caps is misaligned. Being as how I've got terrible CDO I want to straighten it up.

Can anyone advise the best way to get it off and back on without damaging it or the wheel please?

A quick Google suggests either duct tape (would that take the paint off?) or a screwdriver wrapped in cloth. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's actually done it successfully.
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2017, 11:58 AM   #2
LiquidMercury
Lieutenant
Canada
213
Rep
589
Posts

Drives: 2012 F30
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Vancouver

iTrader: (7)

Well, if you're truly OCD, you'll take the wheel off and pop it off from the inside of the wheel pushing outside.

Me, I'd use a butter knife wrapped in a cloth, pry it from the outside and it'll pop right out. Or a plastic pry tool will do preferably of course.
Appreciate 2
MrChumley453.00
Soul_Glo13305.00
      08-11-2017, 12:05 PM   #3
greatbm
Major
greatbm's Avatar
United Kingdom
147
Rep
1,060
Posts

Drives: G15 840i Coupe
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North East

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MrChumley View Post
I've just noticed that one of my wheel centre caps is misaligned. Being as how I've got terrible CDO I want to straighten it up.

Can anyone advise the best way to get it off and back on without damaging it or the wheel please?

A quick Google suggests either duct tape (would that take the paint off?) or a screwdriver wrapped in cloth. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's actually done it successfully.
duct tape is fine just make sure applied very firmly to most of the face of the centre cap and give it a good yank it will come off with no damage.
__________________
G15, 840i M Sport
Appreciate 1
MrChumley453.00
      08-11-2017, 12:17 PM   #4
MrChumley
Major
453
Rep
1,116
Posts

Drives: F33 440i convertible
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Midlands

iTrader: (0)

Thanks for the replies. I'm a bit of clumsy twunt so I'll probably give the duct tape a try.
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2017, 12:36 PM   #5
ronime
Captain
344
Rep
834
Posts

Drives: BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport MHT
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: West Yorkshire, UK

iTrader: (0)

Suction cup/rubber sucker type of thing as found on windscreen mounts for portable sat navs and phones.
__________________
BMW X1 sDrive20i ///M Sport MHT
Appreciate 2
MrChumley453.00
XWV53.50
      08-11-2017, 12:46 PM   #6
MrChumley
Major
453
Rep
1,116
Posts

Drives: F33 440i convertible
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Midlands

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronime View Post
Suction cup/rubber sucker type of thing as found on windscreen mounts for portable sat navs and phones.
Thanks, interesting suggestion. I think I've got one at the back of the man cave somewhere. Have you done it successfully yourself?
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2017, 01:02 PM   #7
ronime
Captain
344
Rep
834
Posts

Drives: BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport MHT
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: West Yorkshire, UK

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MrChumley View Post
Thanks, interesting suggestion. I think I've got one at the back of the man cave somewhere. Have you done it successfully yourself?
Yes I have. Do be prepared to be surprised and disappointed at the amount of rust on the spigot in the centre of the hub though.
__________________
BMW X1 sDrive20i ///M Sport MHT
Appreciate 1
MrChumley453.00
      08-11-2017, 01:04 PM   #8
MrChumley
Major
453
Rep
1,116
Posts

Drives: F33 440i convertible
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Midlands

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronime View Post
Yes I have. Do be prepared to be surprised and disappointed at the amount of rust on the spigot in the centre of the hub though.
Thanks, I'm not worried about that - as long as it stays there.
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2017, 01:19 PM   #9
dubdemand
Captain
dubdemand's Avatar
United Kingdom
416
Rep
941
Posts

Drives: F80 Individual
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Hampshire, UK

iTrader: (2)

Sucker is definately a good option but they do tend to slip out of alignment again quite quickly though...
__________________
Individual SY F80 / insta:@dubdemand
Appreciate 1
MrChumley453.00
      08-11-2017, 01:38 PM   #10
MrChumley
Major
453
Rep
1,116
Posts

Drives: F33 440i convertible
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Midlands

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dubdemand View Post
Sucker is definately a good option but they do tend to slip out of alignment again quite quickly though...
Oh well, I'll give it a go. It's just been off for a minor repair so I guess the guy didn't put it back straight. All the others are more or less right.
Appreciate 0
      08-11-2017, 02:42 PM   #11
sensible
Lieutenant Colonel
sensible's Avatar
807
Rep
1,703
Posts

Drives: BMW 420i M-Sport Gran Coupe
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: West Midlands UK

iTrader: (0)

We have a suction cup for removing the halogen GU10 lights. That works perfect.

Last edited by sensible; 08-11-2017 at 06:39 PM..
Appreciate 1
MrChumley453.00
      08-11-2017, 02:56 PM   #12
LiquidMercury
Lieutenant
Canada
213
Rep
589
Posts

Drives: 2012 F30
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Vancouver

iTrader: (7)

Ask the missus to get down there. Easy peasy.
Appreciate 2
      08-11-2017, 05:55 PM   #13
Hugrov
Captain
411
Rep
643
Posts

Drives: F36 LCI
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Yorkshire

iTrader: (0)

Sucker cup for removing GU10 halogen bulbs as previously mentioned, it works a treat. Got mine off eBay for around £4, I do remove the centre caps every now and again to clean and dry inside the wheel to try to keep the inevitable corrosion at bay!!
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 1
MrChumley453.00
      08-12-2017, 01:24 AM   #14
Tux
Private First Class
United Kingdom
23
Rep
130
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: England

iTrader: (0)

I bought and use this:

Small MR16 Black Sucker - Suction Pad for Removal of GU10 and Halogen Lamps - Bulb Remover Tool https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008HSPL..._C8PJzbW9ZT2PA
Appreciate 1
MrChumley453.00
      08-12-2017, 04:18 AM   #15
Rhino at Work
Major
Rhino at Work's Avatar
United Kingdom
701
Rep
1,231
Posts

Drives: G21 330i Portimao Blue
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Yorkshire

iTrader: (0)

If you ever need to explain the concept of first world problems to anyone then look no further than this thread. 😀
Appreciate 4
MrChumley453.00
Ss66344.50
stu14t450.50
      08-12-2017, 01:09 PM   #16
onstat
Second Lieutenant
Wales
89
Rep
274
Posts

Drives: 335d Touring
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: North Wales

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugrov View Post
Sucker cup for removing GU10 halogen bulbs as previously mentioned, it works a treat. Got mine off eBay for around £4, I do remove the centre caps every now and again to clean and dry inside the wheel to try to keep the inevitable corrosion at bay!!
They've got the gu10 removers like these in Wilkos for £2 and they work perfectly on mine.
__________________
F31 335d M Sport | Estoril Blue & CR | M Sport+ | Pro Nav | Comfort Pack | Adaptive M Sport suspension | Active Cruise
Appreciate 2
Ridg205.00
MrChumley453.00
      08-12-2017, 02:53 PM   #17
MrChumley
Major
453
Rep
1,116
Posts

Drives: F33 440i convertible
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Midlands

iTrader: (0)

I couldn't find a sucker pad in the end and I couldn't be bothered to go shopping, so I used duct tape. Worked a treat.Thanks again for all the suggestions.
Appreciate 0
      08-16-2017, 04:31 PM   #18
greatbm
Major
greatbm's Avatar
United Kingdom
147
Rep
1,060
Posts

Drives: G15 840i Coupe
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: North East

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugrov View Post
Sucker cup for removing GU10 halogen bulbs as previously mentioned, it works a treat. Got mine off eBay for around £4, I do remove the centre caps every now and again to clean and dry inside the wheel to try to keep the inevitable corrosion at bay!!
Just bought same from screwfix £2.99. Tried and works no problem, my previous method was duck tape this tool is much easier.
__________________
G15, 840i M Sport
Appreciate 2
MrChumley453.00
Hugrov411.00
      10-05-2017, 10:29 AM   #19
John in VA
Colonel
974
Rep
2,181
Posts

Drives: 2015 228i M Sport
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Leesburg, VA

iTrader: (6)

MrChumley, how often do you find you need to re-position the centre caps? Some of mine rotate on a daily basis.
__________________
____________________________________________
2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
Appreciate 0
      10-05-2017, 12:12 PM   #20
Drek
Major
Drek's Avatar
United Kingdom
579
Rep
1,215
Posts

Drives: Ferrari F430 F1
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: West Berkshire

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MrChumley View Post
I've just noticed that one of my wheel centre caps is misaligned. Being as how I've got terrible CDO I want to straighten it up.
It can't be that bad..
__________________
Ferrari F430 Spider F1
RRS Autobiography
2CV6 Special
www.bmwland.org.uk
Appreciate 1
XWV53.50
      10-05-2017, 12:23 PM   #21
MrChumley
Major
453
Rep
1,116
Posts

Drives: F33 440i convertible
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Midlands

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by John in VA View Post
MrChumley, how often do you find you need to re-position the centre caps? Some of mine rotate on a daily basis.
I just did it once, after the wheel had been off. It's been fine since.
Appreciate 0
      10-05-2017, 12:24 PM   #22
MrChumley
Major
453
Rep
1,116
Posts

Drives: F33 440i convertible
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: East Midlands

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drek View Post
It can't be that bad..
The wheel or my CDO?
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:30 AM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST