Titanium wheel bolts

[M3G]

Morning all.

I noticed that there’s been a few complaints about some wheel bolts snapping. I’ve just started working for an engineering company that actually manufactures here in the UK. The company has grown out of providing fastenings (nut and bolts to you and I) to motorcycle race teams, including the biggest teams out there - Superbike and Moto GP.

We have the capability to manufacture just about any design for any vehicle. As a fellow M3 owner I’d like to offer the services to all Cutters. If anyone’s interested in a set of 20 Titanium wheel bolts please reply to this thread and I’ll look into it. I guess I’d need a minimum of 10 people.

 

[kevinm]

I have read that titanium studs should be replaced annually, they are not a long-term solution like steel. Is there any truth to this?

 

[M3G]

Titanium has a high fatigue resistance so a high quality part should not need replacing annually. Some race teams with big budgets obviously will for many reasons such as the wear and tear on the bolts. No forgetting that the quality of titanium varies just like that of steel. Ours are made of high quality titanium bar machined to suit with the threads rolled - not cheap imported ones that are possibly forged.

 

[Mr K]

Morning all.

I noticed that there’s been a few complaints about some wheel bolts snapping. I’ve just started working for an engineering company that actually manufactures here in the UK. The company has grown out of providing fastenings (nut and bolts to you and I) to motorcycle race teams, including the biggest teams out there - Superbike and Moto GP.

We have the capability to manufacture just about any design for any vehicle. As a fellow M3 owner I’d like to offer the services to all Cutters. If anyone’s interested in a set of 20 Titanium wheel bolts please reply to this thread and I’ll look into it. I guess I’d need a minimum of 10 people.

Most people will only use 16 bolts as the locking bolt comes in to play, unless you are doing the locking bolt in titanium of course !!

 

[M3G]

Most people will only use 16 bolts as the locking bolt comes in to play, unless you are doing the locking bolt in titanium of course !!

That’s true, so we could do kits of 16 or 20

 

[S18PNY]

What would be the rough price?

 

[ericliew]

Ti tensile yield strength is half of stainless steel. Under normal operation, a wheel bolt is under tension. Ti elasticity is also half of stainless, so it will crack and break sooner with repeated use. Unless you're a race team willing to replace bolts every race then stick with steel.

Steel vs. Titanium - Strength, Properties, and Uses

This article presents a brief comparison of the properties, strength, and applications of steel versus titanium.

www.thomasnet.com

 

[M3G]

What would be the rough price?

Without a quantity it’s difficult to say, as the set up time is a big part of the cost. The price would be very competitive compared to other suppliers though as we have no middle men and you’d be dealing direct with the manufacturer. At the moment I’m just gauging interest. If I have 10+ people interested I can put it to my MD for pricing.

 

[M3G]

Ti tensile yield strength is half of stainless steel. Under normal operation, a wheel bolt is under tension. Ti elasticity is also half of stainless, so it will crack and break sooner with repeated use. Unless you're a race team willing to replace bolts every race then stick with steel.

Steel vs. Titanium - Strength, Properties, and Uses

This article presents a brief comparison of the properties, strength, and applications of steel versus titanium.

www.thomasnet.com

There are different grades of titanium alloys and steel alloys. Whilst in general titanium is ‘weaker’ than steel, the bolts operate well within the fatigue window. So, you’re inaccurate when you say stick with steel. I’d like to keep this thread about gauging possible interest rather than the merits of titanium versus steel. Thanks

 

[Adamantium]

Do you know/could you calculate the approximate weight savings per wheel?

 

[M3G]

The titanium bolts will typically save 1/3 to 1/2 of the OEM bolt’s weight. Maybe around 1kg saving on the total unsprung mass. Worthwhile in racing applications for sure, less so in road cars admittedly.

 

[Adamantium]

I’d be interested if you want a name.

 

[Das Chin]

over kill for road applications. a half decent poo will save your more weight and it's free.

i have always preferred wheels studs and nuts (get open ended lockers too) as it just feels safer. a must for track cars and makes wheel changes a lot easier.

 

[M3G]

I’d be interested if you want a name.

Thank you. If I can get 10 people who are interested I’ll put it forward and get it priced up.

 

[M3G]

over kill for road applications. a half decent poo will save your more weight and it's free

Completely agree from a performance viewpoint for road cars …….. but there again people spend money on all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons. Be it for the small performance gain, bragging rights, looks etc

 

[Rutkowski]

@M3G Please put me down on the list

 

[M3G]

Getting a bit of feedback from the factory. I would expect us to be able to sell these as a set of 16 for around £170, inclusive of VAT and delivery. This is a provisional price for the moment based on us manufacturing a quantity of 200 pieces. So we’d need a minimum of 12 people to order a set of 16 bolts.

 

[Rutkowski]

Getting a bit of feedback from the factory. I would expect us to be able to sell these as a set of 16 for around £170, inclusive of VAT and delivery. This is a provisional price for the moment based on us manufacturing a quantity of 200 pieces. So we’d need a minimum of 12 people to order a set of 16 bolts.

Good price.

Before you made you post, I was going to buy from these guys:

BMW Titanium Lug Bolts

This is a complete 20 piece Titanium Lug Bolt Set for all BMW E F and G series including the new M4, BMW 7 series F01 / F02 (2009 model year and forward) 740/750/760/Alpina. Manufactured from aerospace grade 6AL4V Titanium, these titanium lug bolts will not corrode or rust and offer a...

www.acerracing.com

 

[bmw760]

Hi.........put me down for a set please.

Paul

 

[TBR]

Completely agree from a performance viewpoint for road cars …….. but there again people spend money on all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons. Be it for the small performance gain, bragging rights, looks etc

I have had Ti bolts on my car, for a good 6 or 7 years now.
One of the benefits is no unsightly rusty OEM bolts.
Oh, and the wheels have not fallen off yet!