Mastodawn

BMW’s latest “innovation” isn’t about performance or safety. It’s a logo-shaped screw designed to keep owners out of their own cars. We dug into the patent, the intent behind it, and why Adafruit is already working on a custom bit to undo BMW’s attempt to block repair. Learn more at the link below.

http://ifixit.com/News/115528/bmws-newest-innovation-is-a-logo-shaped-middle-finger-to-right-to-repair
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#iFixit #RightoRepair #FixTheWorld

08/15 R.I.P. Natenom🖤Feb 9

BayerischeMistWagen

@iFixit @OhWeh Bei Mercedes Weggeworfen

@iFixit @OhWeh @Laird_Dave Bring Mich Werkstatt

Feral Fury 🏴‍☠️ 🏳️‍🌈 🫂🔞Feb 9

@iFixit Remarkable how capitalists tilted so quickly to "you might have bought the thing but you do not own it".

Sieur Balarate Feb 9

We have known the principle since 70'
I laugh when I think of the mechanic rummaging through the glove compartment, the boot, the cup holders 🙂
I laugh when I think of the thieves who will quickly find the key and continue stealing 🙂
In short: BMW has always been a stupid shower-off, so why would that change ? 😀
@iFixit

Neil Moffatt Feb 9

@iFixit The pathological sour side of economic systems allowed to operate with profit as the principle concern.

Exploitative Capitalism and even vulture Capitalism ... I had a £2,000+ quote for roof repair work that was way beyond what was needed. I found out cause and can fix for £10.

Their quote should have been deemable a criminal offence in my opinion.

Sire of Swamp Dragons 🔻Feb 9

@iFixit I have ridden a BMW motorcycle for years, with the idea that I could do minor maintenance tasks myself (which I did, even with my modest skills). With this kind of corporate bullshit, I will not be buying a BMW anymore.

E. C. Bigribs Feb 9

@qboq I've had four BMW motorcycles, three from the 20th century and one from 2007 (still have that one; owned basically since new). Buying expensive parts and the occasional proprietary tool was always frustrating, but with the 2007 they were definitely trending in the "we don't want you working on it" direction. I do my own maintenance, but it elevates my blood pressure every time.

For my own sanity, I also have a Moto Guzzi, on which I can adjust the valves in my sleep, with my eyes closed, one hand tied behind my back, etc.

BoloMKXXVIII Feb 9

@iFixit BMW has been a poor choice for many years unless you just plan on leasing it. With their extensive use of plastics, which degrade over time, these vehicles become endless money pits as they age.

@BoloMKXXVIII @iFixit only to name cfaas: car functions as a service :p

Ed Davies Feb 9

@BoloMKXXVIII I'd be surprised if fewer than 90% of new BMWs are leased (or similar arrangements for company cars). That's the market BMW are selling to and this sort of nonsense (like silly screw heads and degrading plastic) is the result. The residual value of the car after the first lease is a rounding error so people running cars which are more than 3 years old are their enemy.

BoloMKXXVIII Feb 9

@edavies @iFixit I have no idea about the percentage of BMWs that are leased, but I would not be surprised if you are right.

🦆 √ 🐄 Feb 9

@iFixit Dallmayer ist bio?

BoneHouseWasps🔶🇬🇧🇪🇺Feb 9

@iFixit Predatory business practices aside, building their logo in the screw head is pretty cool...

@iFixit @BonehouseWasps should do it the other way round - screw the logo into their heads ;)

BoneHouseWasps🔶🇬🇧🇪🇺Feb 9

@jackeric @iFixit 😂

decapitae Feb 9

@iFixit All the more reason I will never purchase their junk. ☝️

Paul Tichonczuk Feb 9

That is a lot of effort for something that has a simple solution to the proble. Don't buy BMW. This is the same company that tried putting basic features behind a subscription paywall.

Daniele Pantaleo 🦥

@iFixit not only anti-repair, but also e-penis, as they used their logo of all the shapes they could've used...

Daniele Pantaleo 🦥

@iFixit
"Because this head prioritizes branding over utility, neither the bit nor the screw head can withstand the torque of a standard Torx or Hex fastener."

Calling it, the main usage will be engine shrouding, so to deter entering the engine bay at sight.

And it'll be so fragile on purpose so to deny warranty claims after the first visit to an independent mechanic.

David Scott Moyer Feb 9

@iFixit Every mechanic who works on BMWs will have the necessary bit in weeks. If this is really an attempt to keep people from repairing their vehicles, it is pretty dumb.

@iFixit I hope that at least the threads are standard. Use some force and you have a flat head driving slot added to them. Later replace with standard screw.

WvOostveen Feb 9

BMW? Isn't that the company where you pay extra for heated seats and than have to pay a montly rent extra to use them?

@iFixit @WvOostveen linked in the article, yes

Mr. Lance E Sloan (IRL) 👤Feb 9

@iFixit
How effective are screw extraction bits on the BMW screw? Once the screw is out, replace it with an ordinary one with the same threads and length.

UkeleleEric Feb 9

@sloanlance @iFixit wouldn't be surprised if there was something nonstandard about the thread direction, pitch or depth.

nicolaottomano Feb 9

@iFixit BMW is basically dying. I don't see new BMWs on my way to work. They started with a subscription-based seat heather, yet developing ad idiotic patented screw.
Compared to more innovative car makers (chinese ones on top of all), they look like Blackberry or Nokia when the first iPhone was unveiled.

Jaime Robertson Feb 9

@iFixit
When faced with something like this I get the dremel out and cut a notch in it, then get it out with a flat screwdriver.
Worked on my former MINI (a BMW), with torx screws on the tail light cover, didn't have bit for them at the time.

TrimTab 🇺🇦Feb 9

@iFixit Capitalist free markets need wise regulation. It shouldn't be legal to innovate for the purpose of blocking interoperability or entrapping customers. Corporations HATE free markets because true competition is hard and profits are slimmer. External force is required.

Absent regulation to establish rules to protect society, free markets must race towards monopoly, corruption, and enshitification. Regulated markets can work - uncontrolled markets foaters Lord of the Flies conditions.

EndicottRoad59 Feb 9

@iFixit Not surprised. There's money to be made in repairs. BIG money.

Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmar Feb 9

@iFixit Perhaps the German car industry isn't as worthy of saving as Ursula vdL thinks.

glasspshr Feb 9

@iFixit cylindrical head on the bolt, I'd use a vise grip on it

F4GRX SÃ©bastien Feb 12

@iFixit @glasspusher the bit for this already exists.

glasspshr Feb 12

@f4grx @iFixit right, but if I didn't have the bit...

F4GRX SÃ©bastien Feb 12

@iFixit @glasspusher dremel a flat blade

glasspshr Feb 12

@f4grx @iFixit I was using my vise grip on cylindrical head screws long before I owned a dremel

F4GRX SÃ©bastien Feb 12

@iFixit @glasspusher there are many solutions, hack the planet.

@iFixit Just don't buy BMW. It's as simple as that. Big let-down of a car.

Stephen Bannasch (316 ppm)Feb 9

Nasty bits! But fun to think of ways to get around it.

Cheap bit: rub top of head with paste wax; apply heat to melt wax; clean sides of head; wrap sides of head with strong strapping tape to make cylinder; fill cylinder with low viscosity epoxy and when it hardens at bit embed 1/4” hex torx bit into epoxy, make sure it ends up in center and pointing straight up.

NormanDunbar Feb 9

@iFixit Isn't it a fact that as soon as a new "tamper proof" fixture comes out, there's a new bit kit comes out to in tamper proof it!

Why they waste their time trying to stop us maintaining our own stuff, gets on my lady bumps!

F4GRX SÃ©bastien Feb 12

@iFixit @NormanDunbar no need for anything new here.

Dmian 🇪🇺Feb 9

@iFixit How do you say “Desperate idiots” im German?

/Users/marlena Feb 9

@dmian Bayrische MistWagen?

George Liquor, American Feb 9

@iFixit I was under the impression that BMW's design choices alone were enough to block an owner's ability to do repairs

Robert Berger Feb 9

@iFixit
Just a question of time...(B)it will pop up at Alibaba in a few weeks.

F4GRX SÃ©bastien Feb 12

@iFixit @Robbe_Duesseldorf no need. The toolbit is already available.

John Faithfull 🌍🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🧡✊🏻✊🏿Feb 9

@iFixit 🤬🤮

@iFixit
After 38 years working in biomedical equipment service I've seen all nature of pathetic tricks to prevent end user service. I even recall seeing IC chips with their ID markings abraded to become unreadable.

Sir Anders Feb 9

@iFixit a great usecase showing when dumb managers should be kept out of the loop, I’m sure bmw spent billions on tooling upgrades across their world factory’s for this stupid idea and it won’t have any practical impact, or actually companies mentioned here will profit from selling tools to fix the dumb management decisions.

EU might enforce right to repair

@iFixit
Huh weird that the german Autoindustrie is losing share on international markets
Bunch of white old dudes evermore "improving" this 10- years obsolete technology.

Openhuman Feb 9

@Hippie @iFixit Im a Product designer and i always hated over designing

caravantravellers 🌈Feb 9

@Hippie @iFixit

This is about loosening a bolt, not about losing share on markets.

Don't overlook the spelling of "to lose" and "to loosen".

@iFixit It’s not the best time to associate yourself with adafruit. Ask SparkFun for details.

F4GRX SÃ©bastien Feb 12

@iFixit @oscherler ayadahfroooth is looking for eaay buzz. There is no need for a new bit, the one for "snake eyes" will work.