Giga is no longer in the shed: BMW has patented a screw that can only be unscrewed at a service station

What did BMW patent?

In a patent application filed with the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office, BMW detailed the design of the bolt, whose head faithfully replicates their famous blue-and-white logo.

The screw head is divided into čfour quadrants: two are recessed and two are flush with the surface. It is precisely in these two recessed parts that a special unscrewing tool enters, which makes it impossible to use any standard tool such as a cross, flat, Allen or torx key.

So that there is no confusion about the intention, BMW has very clearly stated the purpose of this design in the patent itself. The document states that “the shape of the grip recess prevents loosening or tightening of the screw using common tools by, for example, unauthorized persons”. In other words, the goal is to completely exclude vehicle owners who like to work on their cars themselves (DIY enthusiasts) and independent mechanic workshops. The portal CarBuzz, which was the first to discover the story, sarcastically noted in its article that BMW is preparing to “screw up” independent mechanics with this move.

The war against the “right to repair”

This move comes at a time when there is an increasingly loud fight for the “right to repair” (Right to Repair) around the world. The movement advocates that consumers and independent repairers must have fair and competitive access to spare parts, technical information and tools needed to maintain and repair products. If BMW really goes into mass production and installation of such bolts, owners could become completely dependent on authorized service centers.

Critics warn that such a practice would inevitably lead to higher repair costs, longer waits for a service appointment, and a reduction in the freedom of choice for consumers. Even if over time copies of the special tool appear on the market, it will be a long time before they become widely available outside the network of authorized distributors.

Manufacturers, on the other hand, defend themselves with arguments about the protection of intellectual property, safety and maintaining high quality standards, claiming that only their technicians can guarantee the correctness of the repair.

Where could these screws be used?

According to the description from the patent, BMW intends to use these screws in places where they are otherwise visible, in order to achieve a certain aesthetic impression. Examples include seat attachment points and joints between the cockpit and the load-bearing structure of the body. These are precisely the locations where larger screws are used that require moderately high levels of tightening torque.

Using a tool with only two contact teeth in such places could lead to repeated breakage of the tool, even the original one.

Although the news caused stormy reactions, it is important to note that the patent application does not guarantee that this technology will ever be applied in production vehicles. Companies often patent ideas solely to protect their intellectual property from competitors.