Porsche lug nut lock key failure.

[Bryan topping]

My car didn't have the locking lugs when I got it & I added that to my initial to-do list. After thinking about it more I came to 2 conclusions:
1) I pay for insurance for such an instance, sure I would be inconvenienced but would have a set of new rims & tires.
2) How many times have you heard of a Porsche getting it's rims stolen, usually it's the whole car. Again what I buy insurance for.
Just my 2 cents.

[tsunamiboy]

This is how you fix the security bolts

[BlueStar]

I don't know if security lug nuts are worth the trouble. Years ago my daughter was visiting us over Christmas in her new 2001 Audi TT Quatro. She had security lug nuts. The car was parked just outside her bedroom window with the car alarmed. The next morning we found the car on cement blocks and all 4 alloy wheels and tires were gone. If they want them, they will take them.

Good news - the thief was caught selling them on Ebay. He paid complete restitution to stay out of jail.

[Wret]

My key turned up missing. I found an 11/16 12 point socket pounded over the heads took the bolts right out.

[Constantin]

Originally Posted by schnellman

It seems that most of us have thrown away our Secret Squirrel locking lug nuts because they are a pain in the a$$ and of no real value. Has anyone ever had the wheels stolen from his Boxster? Anyone? I may be wrong, but it seems to me that members of the low-life scum squad who would steal "rims" are not interested in those found on a Boxster. What? No spinners?

I know this is an old thread, but this just happened to me. Picture a set of 14 yo 16" 2.5l Boxster standard rims with Blizzaks on them. On the driver rear tire, four standard bolts were missing, one (security) remaining. I didn't figure this out until I tried to swap my summer tires on. I drove the car with only one bolt remaining… The standard front lugs were loose too, but not gone, except for the security bolt (which was snug).

So, it appears that the unusual shape of the Porsche OEM security lug bolts is sufficient to prevent your garden variety amateur hour theft of wheels + rims. I'll be retrofitting the McCard variety on the Audi Wagon as well, though I am not nearly as enamored with a brand that sells its entire master key set to any tom dick and harry on Amazon for $205.

I wonder if the Porsche bolts would fit an Audi - the thread and pitch is the same, though its not clear if the radius of the ball is identical or if the thread length is the same either. But if they fit, they seem like a pretty good bet to prevent theft since their pattern is sufficiently different from most theft prevention brands to make it harder to source the right key. Naturally, the snap-on approach to destroying them may still be an option.

All that said, at least I hope it was an attempted theft. The other option (i.e. someone trying to do me harm) is less than happy. FWIW, the car was parked in the street or an open driveway, so there is ample opportunity to approach the car. Given that multiple cars in Cambridge have been subject to complete tire thefts (Acura, Scooby, etc.) I'd like to think that theft to order was the motivating premise, not bodily harm. However, the cops and I were wondering why the thieves would have left with the OEM lug bolts… Perhaps its time for a camera… (sigh).

[Kurt V]

Nobody wants those wheels. And if they did, they can buy this for $20 and get them off faster than you can with your expensive lug nut key.

[jmatta]

Got rid of them the first couple days I bought the Box...PITA and not worth the trouble. As stated, who steals wheels (I even have the Carrera 5 spokes)?

If I had twists, they could have them for free!