First wash and looking over the car. The wheel bolt covers are looking a bit scruffy from wheel cleaning chemicals (new ones are on their way).

Got them off eventually and most were a bit reluctant to pop straight off. Around 5 minutes per wheel. There goes my F1 job.

Recently had a blow out on the M1 and the speed of a wheel change is very important.

Any suggestions how to keep them free-ish? I'm thinking a bit of car polish inside the covers.

In the spare wheel set, there should be a fat pair of plastic tweezers that clip onto the bolt covers and pull them off.

As Les says, there is a set of plastic tweezers with the spare Wheel holder which just clicks in place & pulls out the cap in a couple of seconds.

You can order them from any VAG garage for a 50p or so I think.

Worth to have a spare one in the glove box for that price.

Anything polish-wise is liable to make them easier to fall off when you don't want them to. Just use the correct tool as LL advises and there shouldn't be a problem.

IME the issue that makes the bolt covers stick is more usually them not being put on "straight" than anything else.

Normally a tug with the old tool gets the nut covers off.

Like above greasing etc might make them Slip off (Although this has yet to happen to mine). I give then a quick clean with a QD and wipe the bolts before I put them back on.

Come off everytime with the tool.

Thanks. Not thinking of using grease. Struggled with the tool even after making sure they were on straight. I had no trouble with my previous car. What's a QD ?

QD = Quick Detailer.

Thanks. Not thinking of using grease. Struggled with the tool even after making sure they were on straight. I had no trouble with my previous car. What's a QD ?

Sorry yes QD = Quick Detailer. I've found that when they have been "harder" to get off it was due to corrosion of some sort on the bolts. The QD seems to have kept that at bay. Or it has on mine.

Cleaned the wheels and dirty bits around bolt recesses then brushed in some Autoglym Resin Sealant. Given caps a spray with "back to black" type stuff and pushed on. Still well retained and hope my treatment will make them easier to get off and also limit local corrosion.