A hollow body element for attachment to a sheet metal component (280) and having one of at least substantially square or rectangular external outline with a first broad side (2) and a second broad side (3), having a hollow cylindrical projection with no undercut (244) which projects beyond the second broad side (3) and is surrounded by a ring recess (212′) in the second broad side and also with a hole (204) which extends from the first broad side (2) through the hollow projection or through the piercing section (210), with the hole optionally having a thread cylinder (206), wherein the ring recess (212′) is polygonal in plan view and in that the ring recess (212′) is provided with a plurality of surfaces set obliquely to the central longitudinal axis of the hollow body element, which belong to the sheet metal contact surface of the hollow body element and run out into the second broad side (3).