Wanted to remove fan so I can turn over the engine and check lifters. Was expecting hex but found this male torx instead. Fortunately I had a socket for it. Came right off, never had it that easy!

Is this something someone retrofit? It worked great!

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

Some aftermarket fan clutches used to come with these bolts with some threadsealant on it too. They are easier to work with as you dont need that super shallow 8mm hex socket.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

That is an E-Torx bolt, they are the fastener of choice starting with the W211 and onwards. Almost every fastener on the OM642 is one of this style.

Definitely get a good set of E-Torx sockets. I recommend Lisle, found them on the big A to Z, made in USA, about 2x the price of HFT but much better quality. That is because HFT is doing a near copy of the design (I think the patent is still in force, and they didn't want to pay the license fees) so if you use HFT be careful because they don't fit correctly.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech