BMW, Cars
Published on Dec 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM (UTC+4)
by Jason Fan
Last updated on Dec 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain
If you thought BMW patents were all about performance and precision, think again, because this one appears to be designed to force owners into dealer-only servicing.
The German brand has filed a patent for a screw head shaped like its iconic roundel.
While it may seem like a cool new design-forward creation, it appears to have been designed with a specific purpose in mind.
Its purpose? To prevent owners from trying to fix their own cars.
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Instead of using familiar Torx or hex fasteners, BMW’s new screw features a head shaped like the BMW logo itself.
Two quadrants are recessed to accept a matching tool, while the other two remain flush, meaning standard tools can’t grip it at all.
To really drive the point home, the company’s logo is embossed around the edge of the screw head.
From a design perspective, it’s undeniably cool, and very BMW.
From a practical perspective, it’s a nightmare for anyone who enjoys working on their own car, or those who aren’t keen on dealer-only servicing.
According to the patent, these screws are intended for structural and semi-structural areas, such as seat mountings and interior-to-body connections.
These are already places where you want proper tools and experience, but BMW doesn’t stop there.
The patent outlines multiple variations, including flat heads, socket heads, and round heads, suggesting the design could spread far beyond a few hidden fasteners.
The stated goal is to prevent loosening or tightening with common tools by ‘unauthorised persons’, which in real-world terms means anyone without a BMW-specific tool and access to official parts channels.
This fits neatly into a broader industry trend that frustrates car enthusiasts and consumer advocates.
Manufacturers increasingly use proprietary fasteners, locked software, encrypted ECUs, and restricted diagnostic tools to limit who can repair a vehicle.
Even basic tasks like battery replacement or brake servicing can require dealer authorization.
Some brands have gone further, disabling features or throwing error codes if non-approved parts are detected, essentially locking you into dealer-only servicing.
The right-to-repair movement has been pushing back hard against these practices, arguing that consumers should be free to fix what they own.
After all, when dealerships give you sky-high quotes to fix your car, it’s nice to have the option to do it yourself or find someone you trust.
Other carmakers are actually moving in the opposite direction.
Mercedes-Benz has publicly discussed making future cars easier to repair, not harder.
Meanwhile, BMW is inventing new ways to put a velvet rope between owners and their vehicles.
To be fair, this logo-shaped screw exists only as a patent (at least for now).
And not every patent reaches production.
So, if you enjoy fixing your own car, you probably won’t be thrilled if this patent does, in fact, cross the line.
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# Tags – BMW, Cars
Jason Fan is an experienced content creator who graduated from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore with a degree in communications. He then relocated to Australia during a millennial mid-life crisis. A fan of luxury travel and high-performance machines, he politely thanks chatbots just in case the AI apocalypse ever arrives. Jason covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on technology, planes and luxury.
Supercar Blondie finds and covers the coolest cars, tech, luxury and gaming in the world.
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