I recently bought a 328is, and today I noticed the rear wheel is missing one of the lugs. I've been driving it for the past two weeks with no issues, but I was wondering if I am pushing my luck. Is it safe to drive like this?

e30 owners do it all the time.

You will be fine, but if you could, then do it, if for some odd reason you cant, dont worry about it.

yea you will be fine just make sure they are nice and tight.

You could drive with 3 if you wanted.

I've got an e30 and I had driven on 3 lugs for a long time because some idiot screwed in a lug and stripped it trying to get it out.

That being said, I don't think it's a bad idea to get another lug.

I would think the wheel/axle would be more prone to damage without even pressure. But that's only under strenuous circumstances. Correct me if i'm wrong.

e30 owners do it all the time.

:lol

e30 owners do it all the time.

Darn, I was hoping I could say that..

I am starting to get this intranet humor thing :stickoutt

e30 owners do it all the time.

:rofl

e30 owners do it all the time.

Yup it hasnt failed me yet.

I would say your bearings will end up wearing out very quickly, and may cause other problems.

It isn't very hard to replace these things.

Dude, just buy a new lug bolt. So easy.

Dude, just buy a new lug bolt. So easy.


I will go out on a limb and suggest that, if the engineers designed it with five, you should drive with five. Just go to your FLAP and buy one. Then, the next time you are near your BMW shop, you go buy a matching one.

If four is ok, how about three? Two? I would drive with four only long enough to get a new one.

Four is fine, torqued to specifications.

I've driven with only 1 lug bolt on before and i didn't have any problems :dunno

I've driven with only 1 lug bolt on before and i didn't have any problems

This should go under "kids! do not try at home" .
Come on guys, you can buy a lug for a couple bucks.

Usually the lugs are pretty common such that if a shop (especially a BMW shop) lost one, they could throw another in, which may mean that the reason there is one missing is because the old one sheared off inside. If its sheared off inside, it may not be as easy as dropping a new one in.

That said, some idiot stipped one of the threaded lugs on my dads eclipse, and I had to shear it off trying to remove it. Its been fine for over a year.

Remember that the wheel hub does a good job of centering the wheel on the hub and supplying extra drive friction.

Wow you guys are crazy...i didnt no you can do that

You'll be ok on 4, but why do it when a new lug is only a couple bucks? On the other hand, if you're looking at an expensive fix then maybe don't worry about it. Either way, make sure the lugs are torqued correctly.

its fine to drive with 4, but overtime that missing lugnut brings stress to the wheel bearing which will cause it to deteriorate faster

paying a shop to replace it is 100 btw, and you have to supply your own part