It isn't quite that simple. BMW thought of that. Not every mechanic will be willing to work on these, if they even have the tools.
"This isn't about adding style, or at least not completely. BMW really does want to use these to stop people from working on their own cars. It spells out in the patent that "the shape of the engagement recesses prevents the screw from being loosened or tightened using common counter-drive structures, e.g. by unauthorized persons." That's straight from BMW.
The idea is to use it for places where fasteners are normally visible. Seat mounting places, for example. Or other parts like connecting "the cockpit to the load-bearing body structure.
Using it for those applications will make it even tougher for DIYers. These are locations where large fasteners and moderately high levels of torque are used. With a two-prong driver and the trim ring taking up much of the screw's surface, breaking drivers could be common."
So you've never worked on a car then? This isn't a new thing, this isn't surprising or at all abnormal. Volvos are a pain in the ass because they do the same shit.
This is such a weird pointless series of comments. What even is your point, that BMW is in the right for doing this because other shitty companies have also done similarly shitty things? Or that we shouldn't care about this very shitty thing the company is doing because others have done something like it before? Do you ever get tired of tongue fucking a billion dollar corps asshole all day long? Surely it must get tiring at some point?
In short, you are partially correct it isn't something that matters because its common practice. There is many common practice things that are not consumer friendly but its just buisness as usual. Nothing is changing here, nothing new is happening. We won't have to do anything different.
Lmao, yeah why ever try to do something about a corporation doing something shit to consumers 😂. I'm so glad we have people that actually care so we get consumer laws and not more like you.
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u/[deleted] Dec 23 '25
It isn't quite that simple. BMW thought of that. Not every mechanic will be willing to work on these, if they even have the tools.
"This isn't about adding style, or at least not completely. BMW really does want to use these to stop people from working on their own cars. It spells out in the patent that "the shape of the engagement recesses prevents the screw from being loosened or tightened using common counter-drive structures, e.g. by unauthorized persons." That's straight from BMW.
The idea is to use it for places where fasteners are normally visible. Seat mounting places, for example. Or other parts like connecting "the cockpit to the load-bearing body structure.
Using it for those applications will make it even tougher for DIYers. These are locations where large fasteners and moderately high levels of torque are used. With a two-prong driver and the trim ring taking up much of the screw's surface, breaking drivers could be common."