BMW’s latest “innovation” isn’t about performance or safety.

Mensch, Marina

@iFixit we need right to repair for everything by Independent Services

BoneHo-ho-houseWasps🔶🇬🇧🇪🇺

? Offline

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?

Mr. Lance E Sloan (IRL) 👤

@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.

nicolaottomano

@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

@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.

gwentlarry

@iFixit

Car manufacturers keep trying this sort of thing. The 6-point Torx srew/bolt head of the 1960s was such an attempt. That didn't last long as something only "approved" car repair technicians could access.

TrimTab 🇺🇦

@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

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

Peter H. Fröhlich

@iFixit They took out a PATENT to protect the shape of their NUTS? These people are so amazingly insecure, it boggles the mind not only of psychiatrists but also of just regular old engineers.

Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmar

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

UkeleleEric

@Loki @iFixit yes, but how good will those bits be, and how likely to cause a stripped screw, which will then prove warranty denied...

UkeleleEric

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

UkeleleEric

@phf @iFixit actually, considering the other slang use of the term 'nuts', this is exactly what they are doing - it's a load of b... Nuts.

Piggo :verified_horse:

@yngmar @iFixit I think this stupid screw can be trivially defeated worth pointy pliers

Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmar

@piggo @iFixit I'm not sure what's more offending, the stupid anti-repair design or the horrendous quality of the depicted threads.

mcSlibinas

@yngmar @piggo @iFixit bit not looking good too

Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmar

@mcSlibinas @piggo @iFixit Oh, nevermind, the article says its "A 3D printed screw and matching bit derived from the patent filing (Source: Adafruit)"

E. C. Bigribs

@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.

@iFixit