{"id":34350,"date":"2022-10-22T17:07:06","date_gmt":"2022-10-22T21:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=34350"},"modified":"2022-10-22T17:07:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-22T21:07:06","slug":"center-locking-wheels-bmw-m-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=34350","title":{"rendered":"Center-Locking Wheels May Be Available on BMW M Cars"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmw.at\/de\/topics\/services-angebote\/original-bmw-accessories\/bmw-original-zubehoer.m-performance-zentralverschluss.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Early screenshots<\/a> seem to indicate that optional center-locking wheels will be making a debut on at least a few of BMW\u2019s M cars. Mentioned by name are the M3 sedan and touring, as well as the M4 Coupe and convertible. But that doesn\u2019t exclude additional, unnamed models. Ironically, the most concrete evidence of their existence is that they <em>might<\/em>\u00a0have been spotted out and about on both the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2022\/10\/14\/2023-bmw-30-csl-spy-video-nurburgring\/\">hyper-exclusive 3.0 CSL<\/a> <em>and<\/em> the G87 M2.<\/p>\n<p>As far as I know, BMW has never offered center-locking wheels to the public, so this is pretty big news. It makes sense for BMW \u2013 they\u2019re really just following manufacturers like Porsche and Lamborghini who have been putting center-lock wheels on their most aggressive cars for years. Anyway, if you\u2019re thinking about the possibilities, we\u2019re here to let you in on some center-lock secrets.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_437254\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-437254\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7.jpeg\"><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-437254 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-712x830.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"712\" height=\"830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-712x830.jpeg 712w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-878x1024.jpeg 878w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-768x895.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-1318x1536.jpeg 1318w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-1757x2048.jpeg 1757w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" title=\"image of \"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-437254 size-medium\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20712%20830%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-712x830.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"712\" height=\"830\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-712x830.jpeg 712w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-878x1024.jpeg 878w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-768x895.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-1318x1536.jpeg 1318w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7-1757x2048.jpeg 1757w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2023-BMW-M2-G87-M-Performance-Parts-7.jpeg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\" title=\"image of \"\/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-437254\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photos by BMW M<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Advantages of Center-Locking Wheels<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Center-lock wheels offer a couple of advantages over traditional wheels. But you\u2019ll only really see benefits if you are using them for their intended purpose. Weight savings is the most readily obvious benefit. Center-lock wheels use one center-mounted locking nut, instead of traditional four or five-lug setups. They also are more compact, so there are momentum advantages too (albeit minimal).<\/p>\n<p>Historically, however, center-lock wheels have only really served one purpose \u2013 to facilitate quick wheel changes in endurance racing. Using a high-torque impact wrench, a trained pit crew member can tighten a center-lock wheel in just half a second. Which is ridiculously impressive, but your results may certainly vary \u2013 since most of us don\u2019t have a pit crew at our side.<\/p>\n<p>The final positive to center-lock wheels is that they do look a bit \u201ccleaner\u201d than a standard lugnut setup. This is also aided by the fact that center-lock wheels are generally only present on extremely high-performance vehicles \u2013 like track-oriented Porsches and Ferraris. Or apparently BMWs.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03.jpg\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-429595\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-830x555.jpg\" alt=\"bmw 3.0 csl 2023 03 830x555\" width=\"830\" height=\"555\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-830x555.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-1532x1024.jpg 1532w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of bmw 3.0 csl 2023 03 830x555\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload alignnone size-medium wp-image-429595\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20830%20555%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-830x555.jpg\" alt=\"bmw 3.0 csl 2023 03 830x555\" width=\"830\" height=\"555\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-830x555.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-1532x1024.jpg 1532w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/bmw-3.0-csl-2023-03.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of bmw 3.0 csl 2023 03 830x555\"\/><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>Disadvantages of Center-Locking Wheels<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The first and biggest disadvantage of center-lock wheels is that they make removing the wheel an incredibly tall task. This is by design, of course; but that won\u2019t be of much consolation when you\u2019re on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Center-locks require a ton of force \u2013 in fact, BMW claims 1180 pound-feet of torque \u2013 to remove, and it\u2019s very unlikely you will be able to remove them on your own unless you\u2019re also carrying around some pretty serious hardware.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, center-locking mechanisms generally require some light regular maintenance. Most OEMs recommend a routine inspection and regular lubrication, without which you may need to replace the part. While I\u2019m not sure on price, I\u2019ve got a feeling it will be more expensive than replacing a couple lug nuts.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, there is an aspect of redundancy here. The need for center-lock wheels suggests that you are racing <em>very<\/em> often; but apparently not often enough to have a dedicated track car. With a dedicated track car there would be no need to swap wheels; one would imagine you would simply have the race-spec rubber already on the car.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, that\u2019s a quick look at center-locking wheels. Though perhaps not my favorite race-inspired upgrade, it makes me think BMW M is at least looking in the right direction as far as M Performance parts. Can you think of a use for center-lock wheels we haven\u2019t mentioned here?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Early screenshots seem to indicate that optional center-locking wheels will be making a debut on at least a few of BMW\u2019s M cars. Mentioned by name are the M3 sedan and touring, as well as the M4 Coupe and convertible. But that doesn\u2019t exclude additional, unnamed models. Ironically, the most concrete evidence of their existence [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":34351,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}