Dealers who use self-tappers to fit number plates - why?
Discussion
beambeam1 said:
I'm staggered that to them it is still acceptable to just drill into the bodywork but doesn't surprise me given what I read in this thread last night.
Who cares? Next to no one picking up a new car will have that car three years later so it's not their problem. The dealer just wants to get the plates on as cheaply and quickly as possible. The employee doing the work doesn't care as they won't be at that dealership for much longer. The manager doesn't care as they don't plan to be at that awful job any longer than they have to be. And on top of no one caring, no one is going to notice. On top of no one noticing, no one is going to say or do anything even if they did. There literally isn't anyone involved who cares, would notice or would ever say anything. It's usually an owner years down the line who notices the rotted out hole and even then they wouldn't normally care as it's just a shed on its last bit of work before being scrapped.
You, being a person who noticed the issue, were annoyed by the issue and then actually went and did something about the issue are an anomaly, or what the modern consumer society would call 'a massive fking weirdo'.
It's a very sad reflection of just how many have cared so little for so long about the small things that really matter.
If I see a car for sale on autotrader and the plates have clearly been screwed in not using the correct holes on the boot I instantly discount it. Had cars before that this has been done and it left a right mess.
Front/rear bumper is less of an issue but the bootlid having holes in would really bug me
Front/rear bumper is less of an issue but the bootlid having holes in would really bug me
Just to update, car was away for two days last week and returned to me with the damage repaired and a new hole-free plate. I have examined it and can't really tell where the holes were made so I'm satisfied with that. When I dropped the car off the staff member I had been dealing with throughout was genuinely apologetic and said it wasn't good enough.
beambeam1 said:
2024 and supplying dealers still too lazy to use the factory drilled fittings or some sticky tabs.
Brand new, delivery mileage, lazy. It's not even level FFS... and spaced so wide I can't even use a shortened plate when I stick my private reg on.
Brand new, delivery mileage, lazy. It's not even level FFS... and spaced so wide I can't even use a shortened plate when I stick my private reg on.
Edited by beambeam1 on Wednesday 17th April 00:33
My front plate is very similar, although somehow i have 3 different screw holes on each side. Frustratingly can't fit a shorter plate without the holes being visible (unless I fill them or get a new grill). It's just laziness and not always something you can spot until after you buy a car.
Surprisingly the rear is fine, and the correct holes have been used. Although I suspect that's because of the foam backing that goes behind the plate.
Magikarp said:
Why'd you want a short plate? They look dreadful, especially if they're fitted to a plinth for a standard width plate. But I guess it's extra attention points for those that have a cherished plate.
If you only have a few digits why would you want loads of blank plastic either side?Looks dreadful.
Magikarp said:
Why'd you want a short plate? They look dreadful, especially if they're fitted to a plinth for a standard width plate. But I guess it's extra attention points for those that have a cherished plate.
I have a 6 digit plate, there's no reason for a standard length plate as you just end up with loads of blank space. A lot of people do modify the bracket to shorten them as well so it doesn't look out of place.AlexIT said:
Funny that when I was living in France I got fined because my (French) plates were sticked. Apparently it's mandatory that they have to be fitted with rivets, even screws are not allowed.
I think it's the same in several other countries.
Does this law only apply to French registered vehicles? I often wondered how they could enforce this on foreign cars where such legislation does not exist. I suspect most police and gendarmerie don't pay any attention.I think it's the same in several other countries.
aturnick54 said:
AlexIT said:
Funny that when I was living in France I got fined because my (French) plates were sticked. Apparently it's mandatory that they have to be fitted with rivets, even screws are not allowed.
I think it's the same in several other countries.
Does this law only apply to French registered vehicles? I often wondered how they could enforce this on foreign cars where such legislation does not exist. I suspect most police and gendarmerie don't pay any attention.I think it's the same in several other countries.
ETA: I bet they would have a lot of fun with the Swiss plates otherwise...
What always amazes me is how many cars have plates that are not fittled level, generally rear though that might just be because you spend longer looking at the back of cars than the front so notice them more!
But them to my shame, I realised when walking up to the rear of my car from a distance, mine (a '73 plate car, so not that old, but I have had it 5 months) is also not level. So that needs sorting out this weekend. t just remains to be seen whether the plate is fixed using the holes I assume BMW have provided...
But them to my shame, I realised when walking up to the rear of my car from a distance, mine (a '73 plate car, so not that old, but I have had it 5 months) is also not level. So that needs sorting out this weekend. t just remains to be seen whether the plate is fixed using the holes I assume BMW have provided...
I got a brand new car last year and was rather annoyed to take off the self tapper attached plate to find nice pre drilled holes underneath sitting unused. It doesn't help when they attach the self tappers at the outer edge leaving no room for shorter plates. I had to attach with sticky pads and tidy up the leftover holes the best I could but they are still visible if looking for them.
Yes I have a 6 digit plate and yes it looks better being shortened by a couple of inches than having a full size plate and lots of yellow space.
Yes I have a 6 digit plate and yes it looks better being shortened by a couple of inches than having a full size plate and lots of yellow space.
PSRG said:
What always amazes me is how many cars have plates that are not fittled level, generally rear though that might just be because you spend longer looking at the back of cars than the front so notice them more!
But them to my shame, I realised when walking up to the rear of my car from a distance, mine (a '73 plate car, so not that old, but I have had it 5 months) is also not level. So that needs sorting out this weekend. t just remains to be seen whether the plate is fixed using the holes I assume BMW have provided...
Arnold Clark specialise in squinty plates. It's like their "signature dish".But them to my shame, I realised when walking up to the rear of my car from a distance, mine (a '73 plate car, so not that old, but I have had it 5 months) is also not level. So that needs sorting out this weekend. t just remains to be seen whether the plate is fixed using the holes I assume BMW have provided...
DonkeyApple said:
beambeam1 said:
I'm staggered that to them it is still acceptable to just drill into the bodywork but doesn't surprise me given what I read in this thread last night.
Who cares? Next to no one picking up a new car will have that car three years later so it's not their problem. The dealer just wants to get the plates on as cheaply and quickly as possible. The employee doing the work doesn't care as they won't be at that dealership for much longer. The manager doesn't care as they don't plan to be at that awful job any longer than they have to be. And on top of no one caring, no one is going to notice. On top of no one noticing, no one is going to say or do anything even if they did. There literally isn't anyone involved who cares, would notice or would ever say anything. It's usually an owner years down the line who notices the rotted out hole and even then they wouldn't normally care as it's just a shed on its last bit of work before being scrapped.
You, being a person who noticed the issue, were annoyed by the issue and then actually went and did something about the issue are an anomaly, or what the modern consumer society would call 'a massive fking weirdo'.
It's a very sad reflection of just how many have cared so little for so long about the small things that really matter.
When I did my work experience at the now long gone Tom Garner Peugeot in Manchester at the age of 16, they had me doing pre delivery inspections on then brand new 307s, 206s, 406s, etc. They just let me, a daft 16 year old lad who they didn’t know, loose on these brand new cars with a drill, screws and screwdrivers, fitting the numberplates, as well as other jobs like adding washer fluid, topping up coolant, etc. With one of the cars, a 307 HDI, the washer fluid reservoir wasn’t properly attached, so several litres of washer fluid ended up all over the workshop floor.
MG CHRIS said:
100% current this is sadly what main dealers are like these days. Not helped by every single person being on different bonuses so people only care about how much they can make rather than doing whats best for the customer.
The retail motor trade hasn't been about doing the job right for years!But then if you base bonus on productivity* Then hack all the labour times for the jobs down, it makes people cut corners and rush! Factor in Manufacturer information that is sometimes wrong and often simply not available. Dealers that wont buy the correct special tools because they are trying to squeeze every penny out for the shareholders.
And I often wonder how I'd cope if I couldn't work on my car myself and didnt know a handful of VERY good trusted friends who run garages for everything else.
*You must sell 8 hours of labour per day every day. Regardless of whether you get 8 first services every day (easy to do 8 hour services in a day) or intermittant comunication errors on networks that are a pig to diagnose and can take days )
carlo996 said:
rallycross said:
Because the double sided tape is not long lasting like a screw and if you use the colour coded plastic caps and good screws they don't rust and you don't notice them.
Exactly. I use the 6mm thick sticky pads from Halfords. It is the biggest pain in the arse imaginable trying to remove a plate that's been fitted using these pads, I have absolutely no worry whatsoever that they'll ever fall off. Even better, you don't have rusty screws or holes drilled through the plate, causing the plate to delaminate and fail an MOT down the line.
I recently refitted the plates, on my wife’s 2023 car
It came fitted with plate holders,with prominent dealers logo.
The rear plate holder was on top of the cars fitted holder. Stood out a mile. I binned the dealer one, the plate taped to the standard one only.
The front, I had to use self tappers into the bumper.
Carefully drilled into the ‘white’ part of the plate, great job. Wasn’t enough bumper to tape it to on her car.
Good to get rid of the advertising hoardings !
It came fitted with plate holders,with prominent dealers logo.
The rear plate holder was on top of the cars fitted holder. Stood out a mile. I binned the dealer one, the plate taped to the standard one only.
The front, I had to use self tappers into the bumper.
Carefully drilled into the ‘white’ part of the plate, great job. Wasn’t enough bumper to tape it to on her car.
Good to get rid of the advertising hoardings !
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