So what is the expert opinion of the above? Are they any good and if so why don't manufacturers fit them?
Alloy wheel bolts.
- Thread starter Z Victor 1
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Hub and bolt are two parts as opposed to a three-part stud application; the hub, stud, and nut. Therefore, cheaper.
Ze Germans ztarted zis as X thousands of vehicles times 20 studs each is expensive.
Und wir müssen effizienter und billiger sein! ja?
Ze Germans ztarted zis as X thousands of vehicles times 20 studs each is expensive.
Und wir müssen effizienter und billiger sein! ja?
I think you have misunderstood my question which is simply concerning the strength/ durability of alloy bolts.
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They coulda gone extra billig und just had 4 studs. (Or french and have just 3)
But to get back on topic. Do you mean bolts for alloy wheels or bolts made from an alloy. What alloy would you mean? I mean steel is an alloy. Wheel bolts are made of steel so I suppose we're all using alloy bolts already. But those being marketed specifically as 'alloy' are likely a 10.9 carbon steel with chrome plated finish. (ie not aluminium)
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Just meant to be a simple topic! Standard fitment seems to be rusty steel bolts, rusty very quickly that is. There are lots of adverts for 'alloy' bolts claiming they will not rust ,but not specifying the particular alloy. I had spacers on my last zed which came with longer alloy bolts and never had a problem with them.
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Steel is an alloy so all steel nuts and bolts are "alloy steel". If you want to convert from standard wheel bolts to studs you need to make sure that the studs are the same grade of steel as the standard wheel bolts. Untreated steel will corrode unless it has anti corrosion treatment such as zinc / galvanizing or perhaps a chemical coating such "chemi-black". You need to know the grade of steel you intend to use so that you can use the correct torque value. If you over torque a thread that works in "shear" as a wheel bolt does, you may compromise your safety
Yes, again I know all that, but the question I'm asking is are all the so called 'alloy' (won't rust - advert) versions inferior to those fitted by the manufacturers. Should we just keep the inevitably rusty bolts and fit 'caps' to improve appearance or are the 'alloy' (I'm using the term as used by the suppliers) ok? Difficult to know exactly what you're getting I suppose, depending on supplier.
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I think the keyword (or words) is "depending on supplier". There's a lot of pretty looking cr*p out there. Posh looking spanners and sockets that break as soon as you look at them. Can't see why there shouldn't be the same problem with wheel bolts. Personally I'd feel safer with hex caps on the heads. Unless I knew of a reputable supplier.
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When you consider the stress wheel studs are under there is no way I would use anything other than steel studs. You can always put sets of wheel nut plastic chrome nut covers over the nuts to bling them up. Have sets on both Z3 and Z4 loads on eBay.
That's pretty much my view. If BMW or any other manufacturer don't fit them there would seem to be a reason. Obviously, if something is cheap there's usually a reason so I wouldn't touch some of those I see advertised. However, I got my spacers from a company called Mitech, I think, based in the midlands and they seem to manufacture quality products. They supplied the longer 'alloy' bolts with the spacers and I can't imagine they would supply inferior bolts. Certainly never had a problem with them and they did three tours of the Lakes passes as well as many other miles without breaking or coming off.
If you are concerned about appearance, give the bolt heads a dab of paint when installed (I use matt black Hammerite); a 5 minute job, easily repeatable. 
Yes, I painted mine silver on my last Z3. I simply put the thread up to see what people thought about the various 'rust free' bolts advertised.
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You’re all nuts 
I'd make a bolt for it if I were youYou’re all nuts
Apart from the tensile strength issue with 'alloy' bolts, there is a high probability of galvanic corrosion if an alloy bolt is screwed into the steel thread of the hub. Then you would never get the bolts out without breaking or stripping something.
I always just paint my bolts with Hammerite every year or so. works a treat.
I always just paint my bolts with Hammerite every year or so. works a treat.
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Bronze/steel/aluminium and many others are all "alloys", the word itself doesn't mean anything more than that it is a combination of materials. You really need to know what it is an "alloy" of, a bit like when advertisers talk of something being made of "aircraft-grade aluminium" or "military-grade" whatever, it'll vary depending on what precise use it'll be put to. There's a world of difference between the kind of aluminium used for aircraft toilet door handles and the kind used for internal parts of an engine.
Or so I hope.
On a lighter note, here's a picture of a cake, which itself could be described as an alloy of flour/butter/sugar/baking powder and many other things.
Or so I hope.
On a lighter note, here's a picture of a cake, which itself could be described as an alloy of flour/butter/sugar/baking powder and many other things.
This was not meant to be a discourse on Materials Technology, with which I am very familiar. My personal view was that if manufacturers didn't fit any of the various 'rustproof/alloy' bolts on offer then it was probably best to avoid them. I was just opening the topic up for comment as other members could have personal experience using non original bolts for an extended period. I recently purchased 4 oem bolts for my daily to replace the locking nuts which made me wonder.
Is a cake an alloy, or an 'amalgam' of different things?
Whole new can of worms there....which I am sure the OP will be delighted with.
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The relevant word being "could".
I've been known to put a bit of paint on wheel bolts, costs next to nothing and keeps them tidy. And if they get a bit manky, do it again. And again.....
The point I was failing to make is that the word "alloy" doesn't mean a whole lot, just means that there's more than one ingredient in the mix.
I've been known to put a bit of paint on wheel bolts, costs next to nothing and keeps them tidy. And if they get a bit manky, do it again. And again.....
The point I was failing to make is that the word "alloy" doesn't mean a whole lot, just means that there's more than one ingredient in the mix.