BMW patents wild screw shaped like its logo
BMW has patented a screw shaped like its famous logo, designed so normal tools cannot remove it. The idea could limit repair access to official BMW service centres, raising fresh debate among car owners and enthusiasts. The move highlights growing control carmakers want over modern vehicle repairs.
German car fans already know this story very well. You buy the car, you fall in love with it, and then one day your regular neighbourhood mechanic looks at the engine bay and quietly shakes his head. German brands love special tools, special bolts, special shapes, and parts that refuse to cooperate with normal spanners. Now BMW seems ready to push that experience to an even sharper level.
A new patent spotted by CarBuzz shows BMW working on a screw that is literally shaped like the BMW logo. Sounds funny at first, but this screw is not meant to be friendly. It is designed so that standard tools cannot remove it. That means only people with BMW’s special equipment or authorised access will be able to open it.
BMW’s very BMW decision
German cars have always had complicated fittings. Anyone who has owned a VAG cars, Mercedes, or BMW already knows the drill. Triple-square bolts, giant Torx bits, unusual E-Torx fittings, and even big socket tools just to open something as basic as an oil filter. Many local mechanics in India and abroad simply avoid these jobs because they do not have these tools. That usually sends owners straight to official dealerships.
Now, if this patented BMW logo screw actually reaches production cars, it could push repair control even more tightly into the company’s hands. The patent itself mentions that only a restricted group should be able to manipulate such a screw connection. It also states that the screw has a specific drive structure that cannot be handled using a small number of normal tools. In simple words, BMW clearly wants only selected people to touch those parts.
What this could mean for car owners
From a business sense, this kind of design can keep repairs inside official service centres, limit unauthorised modifications, protect sensitive parts of the vehicle, and reduce tampering possibilities
From a car owner’s point of view, it also brings up worry about cost and accessibility. Dealership repairs are rarely cheap. Service charges already touch premium levels, and something as simple as removing a panel may require visiting a showroom. For markets like India, where independent garages are popular and affordable, such design choices can change ownership behaviour.
A small screw with a very big conversation
Right now it is only a patent. It may or may not reach real cars. But the idea itself speaks loudly about how car control is shifting. As cars get smarter and more expensive, brands want more authority over who repairs them. BMW’s logo screw has already started a big conversation in the car world. And to be honest, it shows how something as tiny as a screw can spark a headline.