Center Cap removal

[Professor]

By mistake, I didn't order colored center caps on my build. After the fact, I discovered that they are actually less expensive from Suncoast ($169) than they are as an option from the factory ($190) so no real harm done.

I'm curious, though, as to how the caps are removed. Older style caps had small holes in them through which you could hook a tool or small allen wrench and then pull off the cap. My GT3 center lock caps had a notch which allowed them to be pried off with a supplied tool or a small screwdriver.

The photos of the Taycan caps on the Suncoast web site don't appear to show holes or notches. So how do they come off? Does the wheel have to be removed or is there some other trick? It might be obvious to me if I had wheels to examine but my car isn't here yet.

My base 2021 Taycan did not have holes in center cap. I purchased from Amazon Kaisiking Heavy Duty Suction Cups. They came off easily. Since the caps are not flat, simply wet the cup and press firmly.

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[tfurbay]

My base 2021 Taycan did not have holes in center cap. I purchased from Amazon Kaisiking Heavy Duty Suction Cups. They came off easily. Since the caps are not flat, simply wet the cup and press firmly.

It’s much easier than that. I used a tiny flathead screwdriver like the ones you use to tighten sunglasses to get under the edge of the caps to pull one side out enough to then use my figures to pull the caps off the rest of the way. A small knife edge may work the same.

 

[feye]

I didn't order the caps because everything here was tax 115%( now 132%)...

I am just wondering for those that have seen it in person, does it make the car look much better?

I have the turbo aero wheels on a Volcano Grey.

I thought the mono ones are not as bad as I originally anticipated...

Is it worth the effort to get them replace?

I just ordered a set on Taobao for 580 RMB. My car is in the shop to get the wheels painted in black.

I'll post pics afterwards with the new caps, then you can judge...

 

[brec]

Update fours years later...

Just got a new Taycan 4 with 20 in. Turbo Aero wheels that didn't have the colored center caps that my wife, especially, wanted -- although I like them, too. So I bought four of the colored caps from Suncoast Parts.

I found I was unable to get anything into the border between the cap and the wheel to pry off the cap, so I ordered a pair (they come in pairs) of iFixit Heavy-Duty Suction Cups from Amazon. The caps came right off using a suction cup, and it took me less than a minute to replace the caps on all four wheels.

 

[Sly_North]

One can just use a plastic card (like a credit card). Without doing any mark on the cap, the rim nor the card.

 

[brec]

One can just use a plastic card (like a credit card). Without doing any mark on the cap, the rim nor the card.

Yes, some have reported success with that and similar plastic tools, but none worked for me. The corner of the credit card inserts only far enough to flex the card and doesn't budge the cap.

 

[Sly_North]

Yes, some have reported success with that and similar plastic tools, but none worked for me. The corner of the credit card inserts only far enough to flex the card and doesn't budge the cap.

It takes several tries, it won't go on the first try. But maybe your caps are a bit larger/tighter?
For me:
- first insertion, one side barelift; often I'm not able to grab it.
- second card insertion on the opposite side: often the first side almost completely close; but not fully.
- third insertion at the original location, while keeping the opposite site lift up: does the job.

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