There is more than one kind of the 'not-really-a-factory' lock. Unless there is a universal key for sale at the dealership, you got lucky just buying 'a' key from the dealership.

The lock is made by Gorilla. VW uses this brand of locks. There is another company called McGard.

A lot of the Auto brands have an optional wheel lock 'package' they sell. VW rolled this either into the base or some other package for a while.

 

are you sure you got the right key? there are a few of them. I hope you did.

 

yeah I'm sure I have the right key, my brother asked for the vin, I counted how many points were on the bolt, and I made sure before he left that it matched, and I'm driving my car after nearly a week. I've read before that gorilla does make these bolts. Honestly these bolts are made to well, I know this sounds completely dumb, but for factory 15 inch rims, who in there right mind would steal a rim to which a majority of cars couldn't even fit the rim on there car (but I don't doubt what stupid thieves will do). these bolts are one of the best anti theft devices I've ever seen, I'm not a thief at all, but I do try and break into my own cars and try and find the best security to correct that so others can not do the same, (I have owned a few civics integras and dsm). and I can't believe that this bolt is the only thing in my life were I have had the worst experience trying to get off. There is not a universal key to these, they come in different sizes such as mine was a 14 point and a friend with a VW bug has one with I believe 32 points, I've also seen online 10,12,16, in total I believe there around 9 to 12 that VW makes.

The only reason I posted this experience was to the fact that if someone is looking at a used car there is a good likelyhood that there key is going to be missing, and I would hate to have someone post, there wife and child was stuck hours away with a flat on the side of the highway especially with the cold weather around the country. because honestly if I couldn't get that sucker off I'd assume the majority of the average joe will never get it off.

 

if you only knew how easy our cars are to get into or the hood open from outside lol

 

...insure that if you have the lug nuts that use the special key that you have the key before driving off. ...
(note: the key should be in a little black pouche in the trunk that I holds your factory car jack)

I agree! I wasn't familiar with this locking lug nut when I purchased my passat this past summer and when I brought it in for some service that needed to take my tires off they came into the waiting room and asked if I knew where it was and I freaked! we ended up finding it in the car jack bag, but I would have never known about this if they hadn't asked!

 

Sucks. Yet another reason to be sure you have a tube of Slime and a 12v compressor in the car at all times. Often that's better than changing the tire, even when you do have the lug key.

(also, FWIW, I thought my wife's key was missing for months and I suddenly found it tucked into a pocket in the corner of her trunk toolkit. I had overlooked it TWICE before, even when looking for it.)

 

I replaced my locking bolts with 4 standard lug bolts. Problem solved.

 

Wow, sounds like this was a MAJOR PITA. I've had this problem before and swapped out the locking key with non-locking lugs.

 

x's 3. Locks are worthless.

 

this is a PITA honestly, the minute they were off I threw it all in my trunk and ordered 4 regular lug nuts, the funny thing was I checked my front two tires, and they were already missing the "keyed" lugs nuts, so some @$$ hat removed the front, took the key and forgot the backs...

 

Never saw a car without wheels on the street (except in the movies). Where do they steal wheels still? I'm in NYC and drive through the worst neighborhoods every day.

 

LA! :lol: My grandfathers 4runner, had the car completely stripped in broad daylight, in less than ten minutes, right next to a store! Everything gone, wheels/tires, doors, rear hatch, headlights, taillights, seats, steering wheel, etc.

They may not seem like valuable items to you, but to a lowlife/junkie, they just made a quick 300-600 dollars in less than 10 minutes.

 

They should work in reputable repair shops
Dealer charges for 11 hours of labor to do TB, these guys that undressed your relative's car could probably do it in 20 min

 

On a second thought, I saw very very very many stripped cars in Moscow, Russia when I lived there, but then again, Moscow is a zoo

 

yeah i had the same problem, i just hammered a socket over mine and took them off.

 

took the locks off right away
they are a pain.... easy to loose

 

I kinda thought the wheel locks were foolish too, especially the first time we needed them and couldn't find them (in the dark up a hollow). I mean every car has alloy wheels now, and the stock ones are nice but nothing special. But since thieves are now stealing catalytic converters for the metals inside (Jeeps are especially popular due to the high ground clearance), I guess thieves will take anything.

 

Thanks!