BMW screwing diy mechanics
BMW screwing diy mechanics
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gusko

Original Poster:

152 posts

183 months

Monday 22nd December 2025
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Just in the local Bulgarian news that BMW have patented new screws to stop home mechanics

https://www.24chasa.bg/biznes/article/21957228

must admit I like the look of them

RECr

504 posts

74 months

Monday 22nd December 2025
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They look fairly easy to use a slot screwdriver and hammer on. Easier than most security screwssmile

darker grapefruit

366 posts

123 months

Monday 22nd December 2025
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There will be a Chinese adapter available very quickly no doubt.

hidetheelephants

33,763 posts

216 months

Monday 22nd December 2025
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gusko said:
Just in the local Bulgarian news that BMW have patented new screws to stop home mechanics

https://www.24chasa.bg/biznes/article/21957228

must admit I like the look of them
How does this comply with 'right to repair' legislation?

cliffords

3,623 posts

46 months

Monday 22nd December 2025
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Some most recent BMW motorcycles have them. You can already buy tools that fit . I think EBay from Germany.

Inbox

1,337 posts

9 months

Monday 22nd December 2025
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They will always fail because they can't stop the knowledge leaking, the harder they squeeze the bigger the leak.

Not a nice attitude and a cheap move.

Still I am amazed they managed to patent that, can't imagine nobody has thought of that pattern. Probably got it accepted based on their logo which is probably protected too.

hidetheelephants

33,763 posts

216 months

Monday 22nd December 2025
quotequote all
Inbox said:
They will always fail because they can't stop the knowledge leaking, the harder they squeeze the bigger the leak.

Not a nice attitude and a cheap move.

Still I am amazed they managed to patent that, can't imagine nobody has thought of that pattern. Probably got it accepted based on their logo which is probably protected too.
As wk an attitude to customers as the John Deere proprietary software debacle.

Berlin Mike

307 posts

220 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2025
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Well, BMW have not yet patented this, it is only at the application stage and only in Germany. I don't think there is much risk of them getting a patent either, there are prior art screw heads which anticipate several of the claims.

What's more, the patent only concerns the screw (and a catch-all claim of a car including the screw). There is no claim to the tool so anyone will be able to manufacture it, import it, sell it or whatever.

It's not really such a bad idea, having pretty screws on the outside of parts facing the real world. Parts are clipped together in really convoluted ways or screwed together with the heads hidden by plastic covers which always break when you try to take them off. At least with these intentionally visible screws, they will be easily accessible. I would argue that it can make a car easier to repair.



Inbox

1,337 posts

9 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2025
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It is crap design that will fill up with crud and be impossible to remove even with the correct tool anyway.

Any mechanical engineer wanting to do a decent job wouldn't willingly put this st design on a BOM.

VeeTenM

821 posts

137 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2025
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