Adafruit: From Ultimate Driving Machine to Ultimate Rent-Seeking Machine: The BMW Logo Screw Patent.
If you haven’t already heard, BMW’s R&D teams have been busy “innovating.” Unfortunately, they aren’t focusing on the things that actually matter—like stellar engine performance or the legendary driving dynamics that gearheads love. Instead, the C-suite execs decided that the best use of their engineering budget was to design a proprietary security screw specifically intended to prevent BMW drivers from fixing their own cars.
“specifically intended to prevent BMW drivers from fixing their own cars.”
Give me a break.
I hate to break it to people but every manufacturer has a lot of brand specific tools. You need a special socket for Toyota head bolts, 10 point sockets for Honda suspensions, a special multipoint socket for Audis, a special socket for Mercedes lug nuts and it’s good to have a 21.5mm for Fords. 5 point security torx are starting to pop up on GMs.
That’s just an example of a few sockets, the deeper you go into a car, the higher the possibility that you need a $400 special tool or kit for a specific manufacturer, or even specific year or engine.
Sure, they can afford a luxury foreign automobile, but one particular drill bit? We’re not made of money!
Why do manufacturers do that, do you think? Why would car manufacturers design the vehicles such that they require proprietary tools? Surely they can just use commodity parts and fixings?
I don’t really know. I purposely picked the things I mentioned because they’re similar to the BMW bolt, but the tools required are cheap and simple for all of them.
Part of my point was that there are other, more complicated and more expensive tools that are brand specific too. I think a lot of it is really just the nature of the beast. Brands do thiings differently, so a special shaped tool to get into the nook and cranny of a certain car won’t work on a different brand that has different nooks and crannys. And you can substitute “brand” with “engine,” “model,” or even “year.”
Right, but the article suggests a potential motivation - adding friction to dissuade motorists from repairing and servicing their own vehicles - which seems very likely to me. I was wondering why you dismissed that claim.
I don’t see how it could be effective. The brand specific things I mentioned are almost identical and none of them stop people from repairing their car. The BMW design is simpler than the ones I mentioned. A flat screwdriver with a gap cut down the middle would work.
Sure, I agree that it wouldn’t pose an insurmountable barrier for people, but it absolutely does cause friction - someone might have taken a crack at fixing something themselves, seen that it needs some proprietary tool, and decided “meh, fuck it, i’ll take it to the dealer”.
I can’t think of any other motivation than that.
I also highly doubt this screw is made with intention to keep users out of repairing their cars. I guarantee they are dress ups for engine bay/ interior. Having the bmw logo along panel screws looks far more puff than a bunch of torx screws. Every car requires either special tools or special software to work on, NO exceptions in modern vehicles. You cannot truly clear error codes from a Chrysler without a subscription to their gateway and internet access. You can go in limp mode where there’s no service and ur 3k autel scanner won’t help you without wifi as it cannot connect to the gateway. I don’t give a crap about special fasteners that’s the name of the game, my gripes are what they do on the computer side of things to lock you out. Right to repair just means you have the right to pay dealer networks thousands a year for the privilege of accessing your own modules on ur car with your scanner. What a fucking racket.
Just take out your rotary tool, grind a notch into a bit, et voila! You have a tool for your BMW.
Or grind a slot in the screw and you can use a flat head screwdriver.
Be sure to upload the process and tag BMW with a FU.
I’d buy 20 knockoff security bits before ever intentionally adding a flat head screw to a car
Spite is the only reason I would.
It’s just so that you can take it out and replace it with a standard one.
[](Best Way Tools Spanner #8 X 1 in. L Spanner Tamper-Proof Security Bit S2 Tool Steel 1 pc Mfr# B86822 - Ace Hardware https://share.google/KHdg0HfO6zC9bab9O)
Ive got a couple of these that came with various bit kits.
As soon as the rollout for BMW dealers starts, Chinese toolmakers will churn out compatible bits and screwdrivers. They might even be on the market before the BMW dealers have them in the mail.
Ifixit does this with apple’s fasteners. I bet they have plans for the BMW ones now too.
My dad bought me an ifixit repair kit for my birthday or Christmas or something and it is absolutely up there with the best, most frequently used presents of the last decade. It had the weird Ring doorbell bit when I tore down Amazon’s spy doorbell. It has an odd bit for my ebike, it has all the computer and phone repair tools to crack open modern devices. This was more of a phone/tablet/computer kit. Maybe Ifixit or someone else will make a repair kit specifically for vehicles with anti-consumer “features”
that’s not the only issue, it’s also just a plainly worse design that will likely lead to lots of broken screws and bits.
Torqued to spec AND properly aligned.
I’m sure they will but that requires owners to go out and buy a kit of specialty tools for that one job, which may be too much investment. And many people are just not savvy enough to do that, they see “specialty tools” and throw up their hands.
It’s a special bit, that’s it. Do you have any idea how many bits/sockets/adapters I already own that only fit one vehicle? TONS. That’s just the nature of vehicles and maintenance. And I’m pretty sure if you own a BMW, you can afford a $5 bit. This is a nothing burger. It’s just people jumping on the BMW hate, which if you were smart, there’s plenty of actual things they overcharge up the ass for. This isn’t one of them. You might as well complain about locking lug nuts as a whole because that’s really all this is.
It’s a special bit, that’s it.
More likely it’s a whole set of bits. Why do you think they’re doing this? Apple invented a new screw. Why do you think they did that? None of it is intended to slow down professional repair businesses, it’s to stop DIYers.
You might as well complain about locking lug nuts as a whole because that’s really all this is.
LOL locking lugnuts prevent theft. Do you think that’s what the purpose of this is?
You mean apples proprietary bit that comes with any cheap as fuck set of security bits? I have an electronics screwdriver set that cost me $10 and does ALL THE BITS, including Apples.
Locking lug nuts: you mean the thing most people with nice rims use? People who own things like a BMW? So instead of the one specific locking bit they now have this specific locking bit? So a 1:1 swap for one custom bit to another? Except locking lug nuts are individualized and need the very specific adapter for each one, where this one is generic and would work on ALL BMW locking bolts.
Also, you realize this is a standard bolt, right? As in, you can take it out and put a standard one in if it bothers you.
This is nothing but morons being outraged. It’s like people complaining about tax cuts for the rich as if you’re gonna be a billionaire someday. Your civic is gonna be just fine and for the people actually in this situation who already pay things like $300 for a replacement window switch, this $5 tool is meaningless.
You mean apples proprietary bit
One and only (AFAIK)
instead of the one specific locking bit they now have this specific locking bit?
Did you just completely ignore what I said about this being a security item?
The only moron here is the one who doesn’t read comments before replying to them. If you can’t tell me what you think the purpose of this bolt is, then don’t reply to me again.
locking lug nuts prevent theft
Yeah, I addressed that, can you not read? There’s a whole paragraph there. I think you might be a bit slow buddy. In fact, your only quote about security was mocking it. But now your pro security? Really I think you’re just a jackass 🤷♂️
I read the entire paragraph and at no time did you address your failed analogy that these are not for theft prevention. But thank you for acknowledging that you have no idea what they’re for. You’re being blocked now.
It would go with the tool I bought just to loosen a single plumbing fixture.
If you work on your own car you have enough savvy to go out and get a specialty bit.
You might also elect not to. Tell me, what do you think is the purpose of this special fastener?
To make it inconvenient enough for non-authorized mechanics to touch the car. Forcing the owner to pay the manufacturer to fix the car.
Have you done any work on your own vehicle? Because buying a tool just to do one job happens all the time.
I’m a professional, I have thousands of tools I use on a regular basis, and I use them to make money
Whoh thousands and not hundreds?
I mean depends on how you count them, but probably something like that.
Good point, right!
Huh?
You could almost manufacture it based on this image, granted that’s a 1/4" impact bit. All it would take is one bolt being smuggled to their factory or one photograph of a spec sheet.
But these screwdrivers will be illegal, due to copyright infringement. Checkmate!
Every dollar store has a variety pack of “security screw” drivers
Unless im missing something about the design, theres a fairly common bit already on the market that works for this, and Id assume most auto shops already have laying around. My dewalt 50 piece came with one…
Bit looks like ( https://share.google/KHdg0HfO6zC9bab9O)Ouch with that google share link
Remember kids, every screw is a flathead with an angle grinder
A dremel with a metal cutting wheel is easier to carry!
Or they can be replaced
looks like it can be opened with a pair of needlenose pliers
$1.49 on temu
Oh no. Another reason to not buy a BMW.
There is a really, really simple solution to this problem. This might sound crazy, but hear me out. Maybe don’t buy their cars? Not like there’s a lack of competition.
The new bimmers are ugly as sin.
I say that as someone who loved his e90
I loved my E36. Every one I see now is a clapped out POS except an occasional M3
If BMW truly wants to innovate, they should work on fixing their turn signals. They must always be in a state of disrepair, because I rarely see a BMW driver use them…
Apparently it’s by subscription only…
If you can afford a BMW in the first place, you can afford the blinker fluid subscription…
BMW turn signals are only decals.
BMW drivers use blinkers to signal other brands to clear the left lane of the Autobahn for them.
Didn’t R2D2 have one of these?
I went looking for a screenshot of that scene but got distracted by all the shop-vacs painted as R2D2. Off to buy white and blue paint.
Personally it kinda reminds me of that tool they use to open toilet paper containers in some public restroom stalls.
Innovation under capitalism will always benefit capital. Any benefit to consumers is incidental.
Is there no uBlock “captcha whitelist” around, for anything but default blocking mode?
Not to defend BMW here but it’s likely a very specific part that this screw is used for and 99% of home mechanics probably are never going to encounter it. Most likely having something to do with the high-voltage system which you shouldn’t be messing with anyway.
It’s not their right to decide if I get to work on my own property.
Well, they don’t in this case either - they just add an extra step to it. You can buy a bit like that off eBay.
If you cant figure out how to get past this screw you shouldn’t be working on things. Mechanics have a million speciality tools, what’s one more little bit, doesn’t affect us the slightest.
So when I’m working on my car, and find I need to find a specialty bit to undo a single screw, and they don’t sell it anywhere in town and I have to wait 2-3 days for shipping (or 2-3 weeks if I order from overseas) then it’s fine cause I shouldn’t be working on my car myself?
Is this a BMW bot?
What happened to the right to own and maintain my own property?
It’s more nuanced. If even 1 of these screws is used for something that might ever need repairing, BMW mechanics will need to get the tool to be able to provide full support. It might even be possible that official BMW mechanics will be required to use the proprietary tool and are not allowed to use knock offs.
I like to fix or upgrade people’s PCs here and there. I always tell people not to buy HP. There are 100 reasons, but one big one is they won’t just use regular fucking screws.
WTF are you talking about? They use Philips or torx.
It’s always torx. I don’t need them for anything else. And yeah I own a couple of torx bits but I have a really nice selection of Philips I keep right at hand. But like I said, that’s just one of many reasons.
Don’t start don’t construction and commercial IT, torx all over.
Yup, torx are great. Nearly impossible to strip. Philips heads strip if you look at them wrong.
I can say this is 100% true, I think it’s a combination with it’s mechanism, cheaping out on materials and the screwdriver itself.
sorry, but torx is vastly superior to philipps, and my preferred style of screws
Ok but they were selling shitty laptops with 4g of soldered RAM very recently. I also had to deal with a 64gb soldered SSD, that piece of shit wasn’t even that old, it was a Windows 11 PC . The torx still annoy me, but they’re a garbage company. Don’t even start on their printers.
Clippy would never do that!
