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BMW’s Newest “Innovation” is a Logo-Shaped Middle Finger to Right to Repair (www.ifixit.com)

submitted 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) by Beep@lemmus.org to c/technology@lemmy.world

112 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Adafruit: From Ultimate Driving Machine to Ultimate Rent-Seeking Machine: The BMW Logo Screw Patent.

If you haven’t already heard, BMW’s R&D teams have been busy “innovating.” Unfortunately, they aren’t focusing on the things that actually matter—like stellar engine performance or the legendary driving dynamics that gearheads love. Instead, the C-suite execs decided that the best use of their engineering budget was to design a proprietary security screw specifically intended to prevent BMW drivers from fixing their own cars.

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[+] Iconoclast@feddit.uk -8 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

Not to defend BMW here but it's likely a very specific part that this screw is used for and 99% of home mechanics probably are never going to encounter it. Most likely having something to do with the high-voltage system which you shouldn't be messing with anyway.

[–] x00z@lemmy.world 6 points 18 hours ago

It's more nuanced. If even 1 of these screws is used for something that might ever need repairing, BMW mechanics will need to get the tool to be able to provide full support. It might even be possible that official BMW mechanics will be required to use the proprietary tool and are not allowed to use knock offs.

[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 6 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

It's not their right to decide if I get to work on my own property.

[–] skozzii@lemmy.ca 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

If you cant figure out how to get past this screw you shouldn't be working on things. Mechanics have a million speciality tools, what's one more little bit, doesn't affect us the slightest.

[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 2 points 14 hours ago

So when I'm working on my car, and find I need to find a specialty bit to undo a single screw, and they don't sell it anywhere in town and I have to wait 2-3 days for shipping (or 2-3 weeks if I order from overseas) then it's fine cause I shouldn't be working on my car myself?

Is this a BMW bot?

What happened to the right to own and maintain my own property?

[–] Iconoclast@feddit.uk 0 points 17 hours ago

Well, they don't in this case either - they just add an extra step to it. You can buy a bit like that off eBay.