BMW Patents Proprietary Screws That Only Dealerships Can Remove

Vendor lock-in, planned obsolescence, and “anti-customer” design

• Many see the patent as another step in a long trend: cars becoming harder to repair, more software-locked, and more disposable.
• Commenters cite proprietary wheel/brake screws, “smart” sensors that require dealer resets, and weaker or more fragile components as part of a broader pattern.
• There’s frustration that no mainstream manufacturer markets a “will never die, fully serviceable, no-lock-in” car despite clear demand.
• Some argue this is driven by business models focused on financing, subscriptions, and post-sale service revenue rather than durable hardware.

Right-to-repair and ease of circumvention

• Many expect compatible bits to appear quickly via AliExpress, 3D printing, CNC, or generic tooling, making the lock-in practically weak.
• Others note the head design and high torque could make these screws harder to remove once corroded, and harder to drill out, especially on wheel hubs.
• Some suggest the only real effect is to add friction and cost, not true protection.

Regulation, EU policy, and double standards

• Strong disagreement over whether the EU will act:
  • One side claims EU only “throws the book” at foreign firms (e.g., Apple’s Lightning) while tolerating European manufacturers’ proprietary hardware.
  • Others say this accusation lacks evidence and mixes unrelated legislation.
• There’s broader disillusionment that regulators clamp down on chargers but not on repair-blocking hardware.

Is it about stopping owners or thieves?

• The patent text explicitly mentions preventing access by “unauthorized persons.”
• Most commenters interpret this as targeting owners and independent shops.
• A minority argues “unauthorized” may primarily mean thieves (e.g., wheel theft prevention), not owners, though this is contested and considered unclear.

Market behavior and consumer responsibility

• Some say the solution is to stop buying such cars; others counter that:
  • Many buyers lease, don’t care about long-term repairability, and accept higher service costs.
  • Oligopolistic markets and heavy marketing blunt the impact of individual “vote with your wallet” actions.

Comparisons to other sectors

• Parallels drawn with Apple’s pentalobe screws, Nintendo’s logo-based tricks, Swatch’s non-serviceable watches, and lock-in across appliances and electronics.
• A few see this as yet another example of patents being used for moats rather than meaningful innovation.