So no big deal for me.
The real danger though, is that other automakers will start getting “ideas”.

 

“What is the difference between a BMW and a porcupine?"

 

“What is the difference between a BMW and a porcupine?"

The porcupine makes a nice pet?
No, I don’t know.

EDIT: I know Y’ loves his BMWs, perhaps he can make additional comments.

 

So no big deal for me.
The real danger though, is that other automakers will start getting “ideas”.

Jaguar uses 5-pointed tamperproof Torx to hold their rear-light clusters together.
So I bought a set of 5-pointed tamperproof Torx screwdriver bits and removed all the screws.
Then I found that they were also glued together.
Then I bought a new rear-light cluster.
Does anyone need a set of 5-pointed tamperproof torx hex-bits?

And can't you get that BMW screw out with a pair of fine-nose pliers?

 

Jaguar uses 5-pointed tamperproof Torx to hold their rear-light clusters together.
So I bought a set of 5-pointed tamperproof Torx screwdriver bits and removed all the screws.
Then I found that they were also glued together.
Then I bought a new rear-light cluster.
Does anyone need a set of 5-pointed tamperproof torx hex-bits?

And can't you get that BMW screw out with a pair of fine-nose pliers?

The standard two prong bits should work too. IMO it's a BMW bling thing, not tamperxxx.

 

Ah yes - the hairdryer screws!

 

Ah yes - the hairdryer screws!

You've reminded me of how much I hated the triangular socket screws used in these games that I played with when I was a kid:

​

 

As someone mentioned in YOUTUBE’s comments section, within a couple of months either Aliexpress or Temu would have already offered a cheap clone bit.

 

There is "Right to Repair" legislation in the works, especially in Europe.

 

To be completely honest, I'd rather own an expensive custom screwdriver than a BMW.

Maybe I can buy one from NASA.

 

More discussion to be found here:

https://www.theautopian.com/patent-...-make-working-on-your-bmw-even-more-annoying/

 

Might want to buy some Snap On Tools stock...

 

The next step, of course, is to bevel the triangles so that you can turn the screw only one way.

 

There is nothing in the claims to say that they have patented the screwdriver that operates it, so hex bits that fit it may already be showing up in the kits on AliExpress.
If you really wanted to stop unauthorised persons removing screws, then wouldn't you try to make it difficult to obtain the tool that removes them, not the screws themselves?
After all, what other self-respecting manufacturer would want to use a screw that looks like a BMW logo?

 

“What is the difference between a BMW and a porcupine?"

Porcupines can take curves in the rain?

My brother learned BMW’s problem with wet roads about a month after purchase. Total loss, fortunately he was OK. Perhaps the X-drive models do better.

 

The porcupine makes a nice pet?
No, I don’t know.

EDIT: I know Y’ loves his BMWs, perhaps he can make additional comments.

Well... this is a patent filing, not a practical fastener. My guess is it is intended to be an aesthetic choice, not some sort of anti-right-to-repair move. It would be exceedingly easy to fabricate a two-pin spanner bit that would work on these, so if the driver portion is covered by the patent the precise shape is unimportant anyway.

If these fasteners ever do show up on cars, it will be a non-event. The whinging about "yet another exotic screwdriver bit" seems... petty. If you are going to work in something like a BMW, having the right tools seems a low-barrier prerequisite.

In fact, maybe these have a consumer friendly application in preventing the casual tinkerer from opening things where it is possible to do a great deal of damage with little effort (ECU and the like). I am entirely confident that I could remove one of these without purchasing anything, using what I already have.

I'd say one of these standard and readily available bits stands a good chance of working
​

 

Porcupines can take curves in the rain?

My brother learned BMW’s problem with wet roads about a month after purchase. Total loss, fortunately he was OK. Perhaps the X-drive models do better.

BMWs oversteer which is what a skilled driver expects when the rear end of a car breaks loose. But, if you are not skilled as driving in such conditions, a natural reaction can cause the car to spin. Panicked application of accelerator, brake, and steering can do it.

But, there is also the going-too-fast-for-conditions problem. I don't know your brother but I do know that BMWs with good tires are eminently controllable in the rain and on dry roads as well. But, if you take a turn too fast for conditions physics takes over, and even if it is recoverable, it takes some skill and practice to do that.

Some manufacturers choose the somewhat safer understeer in their designs, but that still doesn't help if you exceed the ability of the tires to have traction of you lock up your brakes making the tires useless for channeling the water.

The truth is, BWMs have a reputation for exceptional handling in slides.

Traction control can help and the X-Drive system is very good but nothing can help if you tell the car do something crazy and it does it.

 

Since I don’t attempt to draw donuts with my car, I prefer the understeer of an Audi.

When bought my first one I test drove it and the comparable BWM on the same curvy road. It was effortless in the (FWD) Audi and scary as hell in the (RWD) BWM at the same speed. Does that make me an unskilled driver or does it make the BMW wrong car for most people? Don’t answer. It is a personal preference. To quote Billy Joel, “I don’t want to work that hard.” My car at that time was a Toyota Supra, more similar to the BMW, but, IMHO, better behaved. I have owned several AWD Audis since and have been very happy with them. The handling in snow has saved my life twice.

 

Does that make me an unskilled driver or does it make the BMW wrong car for most people?

Well my opinion on this matter is that ...

Don’t answer. It is a personal preference.

Never mind! ...

 

Put too much power through front wheel drive and you end up with torque-steer. I had a Jaguar X-type (basically a Ford Mondeo in a posh frock with a bit of extra power) so much torque-steer you could almost get it round a roundabout without using the steering wheel. The rear-wheel drive XE is far better, and I haven't particularly noticed oversteer either.