JAKARTA - At a time when a number of automotive manufacturers are racing to make cars more maintenance-friendly, some others are taking the opposite direction. Mercedes-Benz, for example, is simplifying the process of repairing headlights by replacing glue with screws.
However, its century-old competitor, BMW, is experimenting with a design idea that could make the disassembly and installation process more complicated. In an Autoblog report, Wednesday, December 24, BMW is known to have filed a patent for a unique screw head design that is directly inspired by their iconic logo.
Instead of using standard fasteners, the German manufacturer carries a screw head in the shape of a BMW emblem complete with four quadrants. The patent document shows four different screw head variants, ranging from socket, flat, to round types.
All of them adopt the BMW logo motif with a combination of concave, flat, and protruding surfaces. The result is indeed artistic, but this design almost certainly requires the use of special tools to open it.
Visually, these branded screws are indeed attractive, especially if placed in an easily visible cabin or engine room area. However, for independent mechanics or car owners who like to do self-care, the design is actually a source of new problems.
The unusual pattern of the screw head makes standard screwdrivers no longer useful, so access to important components can potentially be hampered. Unless you come to an official BMW dealer or a specialist workshop, a single bolt can thwart the repair process.
No wonder this idea immediately garnered criticism on social media, where netizens' reactions tend to be negative. Many automotive fans consider this idea as another attempt that makes it difficult for vehicle owners.
Some hoped that aftermarket suppliers would soon produce a compatible version, while Reddit users joked that a replica of the BMW logo screw would likely appear on AliExpress or Temu even before the official version was installed on a production car.
Even so, there is no certainty whether this logo screw will actually enter the production line. Like many other patents, it is possible that this idea will only stop on paper, even though it was filed on June 7, 2024 and published on December 11, 2025.
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