A component assembly comprising a fastener element and a sheet metal part, wherein the fastener element has a flange part of a larger diameter and a shaft part of a smaller diameter which extends away from the flange part and merges at its end remote from the flange part into a cylindrical rivet section the outer side of which is at least substantially flush with the outer side of the shaft part, i.e. has the same diameter, wherein the side of the flange part facing the shaft part forms a sheet metal contact shoulder, and wherein features providing security against rotation are provided at the shaft part and/or in the region of the sheet metal contact shoulder, characterized in that the fastener element is configured for use with sheet metal parts having thicknesses in the range of 3 mm and larger; and in that the sheet metal part lies in one plane both in the direct region of attachment of the fastener element and in radial directions adjacent to the point of attachment prior to and after attachment of the fastener element and, a) for relatively thin sheet metal parts having a thickness of 3 to 4.5 mm, the sheet metal part has a smoothly pierced cylindrical opening which has a diameter which corresponds at least substantially to the diameter of the shaft part, with the cylindrical rivet section being reshaped into a rivet bead which contacts the side of the sheet metal part remote form the sheet metal contact shoulder or, b) for sheet metal parts of medium thickness having a thickness of 4.5 to 6.5 mm, the sheet metal part has a stepped hole having a cylindrical hole part facing the sheet metal contact shoulder of a smaller diameter which corresponds at least substantially to the diameter of the shaft part, and having a hole region of a larger diameter which receives the rivet section which has been beaded over to form a rivet bead or, c) for relatively thick sheet metal parts in which the sheet metal part has a thickness which corresponds at least substantially to the total length of the shaft part and the rivet section or is thicker, the sheet metal part is provided with a conical hole which diverges in the direction from the side of the sheet metal part facing the sheet metal contact shoulder to the side remote therefrom, with the cylindrical rivet section being reshaped into a conical rivet bead which is wedged in the conically diverging hole. a) for relatively thin sheet metal parts having a thickness of 3 to 4.5 mm, the sheet metal part has a smoothly pierced cylindrical opening which has a diameter which corresponds at least substantially to the diameter of the shaft part, with the cylindrical rivet section being reshaped into a rivet bead which contacts the side of the sheet metal part remote form the sheet metal contact shoulder or, b) for sheet metal parts of medium thickness having a thickness of 4.5 to 6.5 mm, the sheet metal part has a stepped hole having a cylindrical hole part facing the sheet metal contact shoulder of a smaller diameter which corresponds at least substantially to the diameter of the shaft part, and having a hole region of a larger diameter which receives the rivet section which has been beaded over to form a rivet bead or, c) for relatively thick sheet metal parts in which the sheet metal part has a thickness which corresponds at least substantially to the total length of the shaft part and the rivet section or is thicker, the sheet metal part is provided with a conical hole which diverges in the direction from the side of the sheet metal part facing the sheet metal contact shoulder to the side remote therefrom, with the cylindrical rivet section being reshaped into a conical rivet bead which is wedged in the conically diverging hole.